Meditation on Surat Al `Asr

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people], and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him). I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "By Al-'Asr (the time). *  Verily, man is in loss, * Except those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh's Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd)."  [Surat Al `Asr: 1 - 3].

Allah (Glory be to Him) swore by time, and He may swear by whatever He wills of His Creatures, but people must swear only by Allah (may He be Exalted). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) swore by time because it is the vessel for events and changes when they take place and because it is the duration during which people do their actions whether good or bad. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) swore to confirm to His Servants that every man is in loss no matter how money and children he has and how great and honorable he is except those who have these four qualities.

First, faith is an expression with the tongue, confirmation by the heart, and doing actions by bodily organs.

Second, righteous deeds, which are every saying and action that draw a person nearer to Allah on condition that he must do it for the sake of Allah and follow the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Mentioning righteous deeds besides faith although righteous deeds are part of faith is an indication to the importance of righteous deeds and confirming that only hearty faith without righteous actions is not valid.

Third, commending one another with the truth which is enjoining good and forbidding evil, calling to Allah based on knowledge and wisdom, teaching ignorant people, and reminding the heedless. So, the matter is not confined to reforming oneself but a person should reform others. This indicates the necessity of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and it is not a kind of interference in people's affairs as some fool claim. Those who enjoin good and forbid evil want goodness and salvation to the people and want to rescue them from the torment of Allah; and this is the quality by which the nation was given preference to other nations. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh." [Surat Al `Imran: 110].

Fourth, commending one another with patience: When the caller to Allah (may He be Exalted) and those who enjoin goodness and forbid evil are harmed by people, Allah (may He be Exalted) commanded them to observe patience on their harm and endure troubles from people. Luqman said to his son: "O my son! Aqim-As-Salât (perform As-Salât), enjoin (on people) Al-Ma'rûf - (Islâmic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments (ordered by Allâh with no exemption)." [Surat Luqman: 17].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to Allâh; but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs (and that is from the great matters which you must hold on with all your efforts)."  [Surat Al `Imran: 186].

Al Shafi`y (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: If Allah had not revealed but this Surah to His Servants, it would have been enough for them.[1]

Despite the short words of this Surah, it gathered all the reasons for happiness, so it is a proof against the people. The Ayah included many benefits, of which are the following:

- First, the swearing of Allah (may He be Exalted) by something indicates its importance and greatness. In this oath, Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) draws the attentions of people to the value of time and what they should do to keep it and show interest in. Allah (Glory be to Him) swore by parts of time in other positions when He said: "By the dawn;  By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah)." [Surat Al Fajr: 1 - 2].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "By the night as it envelops. * By the day as it appears in brightness." [Surat Al Layl: 1 - 2].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "By the forenoon (after sunrise). * And by the night when it darkens (and stands still)." [Surat Ad-Duha: 1 - 2].

Moreover, time is one of the great favors of Allah to His Servants.

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good."[2]

- Second, the oath of Allah (may He be Exalted) indicates the greatness of the sworn by things, which are these four matters, so man cannot obtain winning and success without which.

- Third, the virtue of faith and its great status where Allah started with it and made it the first obligatory matter upon people.

Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith). And you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Shall I inform you of something, if you do, you love each other.  Promote greeting amongst you (by saying As-Salamu `Alaikum to one another)."[3]

- Fourth, having faith by heart is not enough, but it is necessary to do righteous actions. It is a refutation to the people who say that faith is in heart while leaving out obligatory duties, committing major sins, and transgressing the limits prescribed by Allah (may He be Exalted).

- Fifth, actions are not accepted but when they are righteous, and it will not be righteous but when a person dedicates them to Allah and follows the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

- Sixth, commending one another should be with the truth only, and the truth here is belief in Allah (may He be Exalted), righteous work, and avoiding anything that contradicts them.

- Seventh, exception in the Surah indicated that the people who are characterized by these qualities are few. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Work you, O family of Dâwûd (David), with thanks! But few of My slaves are grateful." [Surat Saba': 13].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And, verily, many partners oppress one another, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and they are few."  [Surat Sad: 24].

- Eighth, the virtue of patience, where Allah (Glory be to Him) made it one of the qualities without which success cannot be gained. This exhortation to patience indicates calling to Allah (may He be Exalted) no matter the hardship and harm a caller undergoes. Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad from the Hadith of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer who mixes with people and endures their injury is better than the person who does not mix with people nor endure their injury."[4]

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people]. May Allah send His Peace and Blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions!