Seeking Guidance from “Surah Al-Asr†of Holy Quran
Seeking Guidance from “Surah Al-Asr†of Holy Quran
Post by on Friday, June 11, 2021
Surah Al-Asr is considered to be the essence of entire Holy Quran because it serves as a great means of salvation
DR. TASADUK HUSSAIN ITOO
Surah Al-Asr is
one of the earliest chapters of Holy Qur'an that was revealed in Makkah. Having
just three verses, Surah Al-Asr is considered to be the essence of entire Holy
Quran because it serves as a great means of salvation, containing focus towards
the four basic qualities that are crucial to apply in one's life in seeking the
pleasure of Almighty Allah (SWT).
As every true
believer of Almighty Allah (SWT) knows that life on earth is temporary and its
real purpose is based on seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT) and living one's
life according to His commandments. The Almighty Allah, the merciful says in
the Holy Quran in Surah Al-Asr:
“By time, indeed,
mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds
and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.†[Quran, 103:
1-3]
In this Surah, Allah (SWT) takes an oath on ‘Time’and impresses upon
that mankind is in sheer loss and only those people are
an exception from the loss who are characterized by four important qualities:(1)
Complete faith— Faith
in Allah (SWT) and His Attributes, faith in the Hereafter
and Reckoning, reward and punishment, the Divine Books and the prophets. (2)
Righteous deeds. (3) Exhorting one another to Truth, and (4) Exhorting one
another to Patience.
Allah (SWT) sometimes approves and strengthens His
Verses through vows; He sometimes uses the names of some beings when He vows to
indicate the importance and value of these beings for man. Allah (SWT)
manifests excellence of Time to make us understand that every moment is
significant for success.This Surah is a complete
specimen of guidance and brevity. A whole world of meaning has been compressed
into its few brief words, which is too vast in content to be fully expressed
even in a book. In it, in a clear and plain way it has been stated what is the
way to true success for man and what is the way to ruin and destruction for
him.
Imam Shafi (RA) has
very rightly said that if the people only considered this Surah well, it alone
would suffice them for their guidance and mentorship. How important this Surah
was in the sight of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) can be recognized
from the tradition cited from Hadrat Abdullah bin Hisn ad-Darimi Abu Madinah
(RA), according to which whenever any two of them met they would not part
company until they had recited Surah Al-Asr to each other. (Tabarani).
A person’s main
goal must be to seek the pleasure of Allah (SAW) through whatever graces and
blessings he has been endowed upon by Almighty. The noble work you do for the
pleasure of Almighty Allah (SWT) and for the benefit of humanity is always worth
full and a way towards seeking Him. Allah (SWT) has blessed you with the
amazing potential and so He has found you to potentiate that noble work. Take
it as a blessing from Almighty Allah (SWT) and in His pleasure - find your
pleasure and be positive.
To realise success
in your life – Faith in Almighty Allah (SWT) and Faith in Self are important.
But don’t ever let your Faith in Self overpower your Faith in Almighty. If it
happens so, you may land into trouble as your Faith in Self has roots and
control from your Faith in Almighty Allah (SWT). Remember! When the work you do
brings you closer to Almighty Allah (SWT) and build in you strong faith towards
Him, do realise that you are in right direction and preaching towards
enlightenment and success.
Moreover, to
realise a dream you will have both right and wrong direction to fore. It
depends upon you which one you choose. But ensuring right direction will bring
you success as well as make you fulfil the true purpose of life (pleasure of
Almighty Allah). If you ensure wrong direction, you will fail to accomplish the
true purpose of life. It will be worth to mention here that you will be
able to give right direction to your life by imbibing true guidance, good
character and values – by following the teachings of Almighty Allah (SWT) and
His beloved Prophet (SAW).
In Islam, we
believe that following the teachings of Holy book of Qur'an (The Word of Allah)
and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) serve as a guiding light to live life of
peace, prosperity, happiness, justice and in best way for service to humanity
through pleasure of Almighty Allah (SWT). Following the Quran and teachings of
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) serve as an ideal motivation and guide in fulfilling the
true purpose of life and also fulfilling our dreams and aspirations in this
world in a rightful, truthful and humanity-serving way.
(Author is Physician, Educator and Columnist. Founder/CEO Dr. Tasaduk’s Medical foundation (TMF). Feedback: drtasadukitoo@gmail.com)