Islam treats the term “success” in a much deeper and vaster meaning of  the term than simply attaining something as transient as wealth, or  fame or position! Islam treats wealth, or fame, or position in the life  of this world as a distribution of the bounty of the Merciful Lord to  any amongst His slaves as He Pleases, and not a barometer of success.

Allah says in the Holy Quran, Chapter 17 of Surah Israa, verses 18-21:

18 If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life), We readily grant them–such things as We will, to such persons as We will: in the end have We provided Hell for them: they will burn therein disgraced and rejected.
19 Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter, and strive  therefore with all due striving, and have Faith; they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah).
20 Of the bounties of thy Lord, We bestow freely on all these, as well as those: the bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).
21 See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation, and more in excellence.

Not that Islam discourages its believers to demean or belittle these favors of fame and fortune from Allah subhana wa ta’ala; but Islam definitely does not relate these to “success”.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran, Chapter 28 Surah Qasas verse 77:

“But seek with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good as Allah has been good to thee and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief.”

Islam treats the term “success” in all its true manifestations; and guides to a path which will lead to “success” or the accomplishment of one’s aim in this transient world, and in the eternal Hereafter; without separating the success of the world from the Hereafter. Islam guides to a Straight Path, which leads to success both in this world, and in the Hereafter. But without a doubt, Islam advocates and encourages its believers to strive and prefer the success of the Hereafter; for that is indeed what Allah subhana wa ta’ala calls the Supreme Success.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran, Chapter 3 Surah Ali-Imraan verse 185:

Every soul shall have a taste of death. All of you shall get your full recompense only on the Day of Resurrection. Then only those will be Truly Successful, who escape the Fire of Hell and is admitted to the Gardens. As regards the life of this world, it is merely a thing that deceives.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 61 Surah Saff verses 10-12:

10 O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save youfrom a grievous Penalty?
11 That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah with your property and your persons: that will be best for you if ye but knew!
12 He will forgive you your sins and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verses 88-89:

88 But the Messenger and those who believe with him, strive with their wealth and their persons (in the Cause of Allah): for them are (all) good things: and it is they who will prosper.
89 Allah hath prepared for them Gardens, under which rivers flow, to dwell therein: that is the Supreme Felicity.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 72:

Allah hath promised to believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting bliss. But the Greatest Bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah: that is the Supreme Felicity.

Thus, the elements of success as described by Allah Subhanah in the Glorious Quran relate to two basic and fundamental criterias: Reprieve from fear, and Reprieve from grief. And it is these two fundamental elements of success which are constantly promised to those who shall be fortunate enough to achieve the Supreme Felicity or Success in the life of the Hereafter: that they shall have no fear of anything to happen to them in the future, and nor shall they have grief for anything that happened to them in the past.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verses 67-72:

67 Friends on that Day will be foes one to another, except the Righteous.
68 (Allah will Declare) “My devotees! no fear shall be on you that Day, nor shall ye grieve
69 (Being) those, who have believed in Our Signs, and bowed (their wills to Ours) in Islam.
70 Enter ye the Garden, ye and your wives, in (beauty and) rejoicing.”
71 To them will be passed round dishes and goblets of gold: there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that the eyes could delight in: and ye shall abide therein (for aye).
72 Such will be the Garden of which ye are made heirs, for your (good) deeds (in life).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran, Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verses 33-35:

33 Gardens of Eternity will they enter: therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.
34 And they will say: “Praise be to Allah, Who has removed from us (all) sorrow: for Our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Ready to appreciate (service):
35 “Who has out of His bounty settled us in a Home that will last: no toil, nor sense of weariness, shall touch us therein.”

And these two all important elements of reprieve from fear and grief are such, that only, and I repeat, only, those who strive for success in the life of the Hereafter will taste these two elements of success even in the life of this world.

Allah Says in the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 41 Surah Fussilat verses 30-32:

30 In the case of those who say “Our Lord is Allah”, and further stand straight and steadfast, the Angels descend on them (from time to time): “Fear ye not!” (they suggest) “nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss) the which ye were promised.
31 “We are your protectors in this life, and in the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for!
32 “A hospitable gift from One: Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Allah Says in the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 46 Surah Ahqaaf verse 13:

13 Verily those who say “Our Lord is Allah”, and remain firm (on that Path), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Thus, the one and only way to attain true success in the life of this world, is to aim and strive towards achieving success in the life of the Hereafter! Success in the life of this world, is nothing but a simple by-product of the success in the Hereafter. And the simple formula of success, as stated by the Merciful Lord in His Glorious Quran, is that one sincerely believes in Allah subhana wa ta’ala, follows and stands firm on the Path approved by Allah subhana wa ta’ala; and he shall achieve that so elusive term and mirage which the world is engrossed in searching day in and day out: freedom from fear and reprieve from grief.

No amount of wealth in the world, and no amount of fame and accolades and status and positions can substitute the peace and tranquility one achieves when he stays firm and steadfast on the Straight Path of Allah subhana wa ta’ala; where the All-Mighty Lord grants and bestows him the freedom of all fear except the fear of Allah subhana wa ta’ala, and relieves his grief by His Solemn Promise to forgive all his sins of the past.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran, Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verses 62-64:

62 Behold! Verily, on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shallthey grieve;
63 Those who believe, and (constantly) guard against evil
64 For them are Glad Tidings in the life of the Present, and in the Hereafter: no change can there be in the Words of Allah. This is indeed the Supreme Felicity.

Such a person will be considered successful in this world, and in the Hereafter. Blessed and Fortunate indeed are those who have taken Allah Alone as their Lord, and stood firm on the Straight Path approved by Him.