The Way to Success and Salvation:
‘Reflections on Súrah al-‘Aßr

By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

By the time, indeed man is in loss, except those who believe and do the deeds of righteousness and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to patience.
(Al-‘Aßr 103)
This is one of the shortest Surahs of the Qur’an; but it is also one of the most comprehensive Surahs of the Qur’an. Imam al-Shafi is reported to have said about this Surah:
“If people reflect on this Surah, it will be sufficient for them.”(Ibn Kathir)
“It is also reported that whenever any two companions of the Prophet used to meet each other, they would not leave without reciting this Surah to each other and then they would say Salam.” (Al-Tabarani as reported by Ibn Kathir)
Allah refers here to time as a witness; but the time that is mentioned here is not al-Waqt or al-Dahr or al-Zamån. All these words are used in the Qur’an and Sunnah for time. The word that is used here is al-‘Aßr which means “the running time,” “the moving time,” or “the time gone by.” We may also call it “history.” The time is watching everyone, individuals and nations. The time has witnessed everything.
Allah says that the time is a witness that man is in loss. By ‘man’ is meant here human being, male and female. Al-Insån is used here in the generic sense as the whole species of humankind. They are all in loss. They are not just losers who lost something; they are perpetually in loss. What they are losing is not some money or some material things; they are losing much more than that.
We human beings are constantly struggling in this world. A large number of people have to work for food, shelter, clothes, education of their children, medical treatment etc. Some have to struggle for safety and security of themselves, of their country and people. Some have to struggle against injustice and oppression. The life is full of struggle. We may achieve few things and we may not achieve. Even if we achieve whatever we want, we have to die and leave everything behind. Allah says in the Qur’an:
O thou man! Verily thou art ever toiling on towards thy Lord - painfully toiling - but thou shalt meet Him. (Al-Inshiqaq 84:6)
Our problems would not end with death. Even after death we have to give account of our life. The Day of Judgment will come and everyone shall stand in front of Allah and shall have to give the account of his/her life. The real loss and the entire loss will be if one becomes the loser on that Day. Allah says to His Prophet:
….Say: "Truly, those in loss are those who lose their own souls and their People on the Day of Judgment: Ah! that is indeed the evident Loss!" (Al-Zumar 39:15)
Jesus –peace be upon him- also reminded his followers about this in another way. He is reported to have said:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:13-15)
The Surah tells us that there is a way out of this loss. Man can be saved and salvation is possible. Salvation is, however, not cheap or easy. It is expensive and it requires some effort on our part. There are four things that we must do: Èmån, ‘Amal Íale°, Tawåßí bi-al-¯aqq and Tawaßí bi-al-Íabr. All these four are interconnected and are important for our protection from loss and for our ultimate salvation.
1. Èmån: Deep and sincere faith in Allah, His Prophets and His Message
2. ‘Amal Íale°: Righteous action. Every action that can improve our individual as well as collective, spiritual as well as moral and material life.
3. Tawåßí bi-al-¯aqq: This means continuous reminder about what is right. The word “al-¯aqq” has three meanings in the Qur’an:
i. That which is certain and real
ii. That which must happen
iii. That which is right or a moral obligation
4. Tawaßí bi-al-Íabr: This means that we must be patient, be steadfast, work together and remind each other to be patient and steadfast.
O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper. (Al ‘Imran 3:200)
(Khutbah at ISOC, Shawwal 6 1425/November 19, 2004)

Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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