The Way to Salvation - The Inter-relation of the First Two Verses of Surah Al 'Asr

The Inter-relation of the First Two Verses:

It is clear that the first verse is an oath and the second is the statement for which the oath has been taken. That is, in the second verse a truth has been stated, and in the first evidence has been presented for it. The question is: what is the logical sequence between the two?

By contemplating over it, we realize that ‘time’, constantly passing, is like a sheet, which is spread up to eternity. It means that ‘time’ is an entity, which is an eye witness to the entire passage of man’s life, from his birth to death and to the life of the Hereafter. 

Hence, the toiling, painful life of man is present before it, and it stands witness also to the momentous events of the rise and fall of nations. The life of the Hereafter, the climax of human tragedy, is also before its gaze. Thus ‘time’ is the greatest witness to the fact that ‘verily man is in a state of loss.

This ascertained truth has an added element of warning implied by “Wal-’Asr’ This warning is, that the real cause of mankind’s ruination, destruction, and utter loss is his negligence, and that by entangling himself in his immediate problems and the trivial affairs of his life, he faces a state of perplexity and self-negation.

The word “Wal-’Asr” is a clarion call to wake him up from his indifference and slumber. It points out: O careless man! your real asset is time, which is passing swiftly, and your real capital is this probationary period of worldly life which is ending quickly, and if you are unable to build up your personality, or according to the words of lqbal, the poet of the East, if you have not achieved any sublimity in your SELF or EGO, then you will have ‘to face eternal loss, and your life will be doomed.

Source: The Way to Salvation (Book by Dr Israr Ahmed)

The Way to Salvation - The Vast Meaning of ‘Khusran’ or Loss

The Vast Meaning of ‘Khusran’ or Loss:

We have translated the second verse as ‘Verily all human beings are in loss’. But even this translation does not convey the real meaning, because the Quranic term ‘Khusran’ is not a monetary loss of a few thousands or millions, but indicates complete destruction, in the Holy Quran many words have been used for achievement and success such as accomplishment, triumph, fulfillment, and blessing. But as an antonym of all these, only one comprehensive word is used and that is ‘Khusran'. It means that the second verse really shows that the whole mankind is standing on the verge of destruction or doom.

The significant reality which has been described in this verse, and the human tragedy towards which this verse points out, can be conceived or realized full in its true perspective in two stages.

Firstly, every one in this worldly life faces a hard struggle for existence. Many people have to undertake rigorous labour from morning till evening, but are unable to provide the bare necessities of life for their dependents. The majority of human beings can not afford even the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care. Even prosperous people have to work hard to maintain their status. From this point of view, a human being is like a beast of burden. But it is even more tragic because he is a creature of feelings and emotions. In addition to all that labour, he has to bear numerous mental hardships. Sometimes, he is deeply moved by the love of his children, sometimes by the troubles faced by his kith and kin. Sometimes he has to put up with the sorrow of a relative’s illness, or the shock of the death of someone loved by him. Not only hard work and labour is his lot but grief and sorrow as well.

You must have known that by observing these very troubles and tribulations of life Buddha was so much disheartened and dismayed that in the prime of his life he left his young wife and innocent son and ran out to the jungles in search of ‘truth’.

The masses generally harbour the misunderstanding that wealthy and prosperous people have no anxieties. As a matter of fact, the kind of psychic agony which they face is rarely experienced by a common man. They face numerous conflicts and frustrations, and very often the people of this class fall prey to mental diseases and psychic disorders. This is the first stage of human tragedy and this has been mentioned very eloquently in the last part of the Glorious Quran, is surah No. 90 ‘Al-Balad’ in verse No. 4 wherein Allah says:

‘Verily We have created man in toil and struggle.’

But added to this tragedy of the terrestrial existence I the doom of the worst type that is manifest in the life Hereafter. The climax of human tragedy is that after tolerating all troubles and hardships of this world, suddenly he will have to present himself before his Creator and give account for all the activities of his life. This is the picture. which has been presented in surah No. 84, entitled ‘Insheqaq’ verse No. 6 wherein Allah says:

‘Verily O man, thou art ever toiling on towards thy Lord —painfully toiling — but thou shalt meet Him’.

And, if in that trial, his thoughts, convictions, actions and activities are found deviating from the straight path, he would undergo a heart-rending and most severe punishment and torture in the hell for ever. And this is the real loss as Allah says in the Holy Quran:

‘That is the sheer loss’

Source: The Way to Salvation (Book by Dr Israr Ahmed)

The Way to Salvation - The Real Meaning of “Wal-’Asr”

The Real Meaning of “Wal-’Asr”:

Let us take the word “Wal-’Asr” which we have simply translated as ‘taking an oath by time’.

The real meaning of ‘Asr’ is not only time, but a period which passes swiftly. 

In Arabic language the two words ‘Asr’ and ‘Dahr’ are very comprehensive. In both of them, not only time, but time-space complex is implied. Curiously enough in the Glorious Quran, there are surahs with the title of both ‘Asr’ and ‘Dahr. The word ‘Dahr’ connotes the vastness of the space-time continuum, or in the terminology of modern philosophy, absolute time or pure duration. 

The word ‘Asr’ connotes the sweep of time or its swift flow. In other words, ‘Asr’ means serial time.

In the word “WaI-’Asr” the letter ‘ ‘ (wa’w) is a preposition, and is used as an oath and testimonial. In short, the real meaning of the word “Wa/-’Asr” is that the swift passage of time through the ages bears witness and provides evidence for the statements that follow.

Source: The Way to Salvation (Book by Dr Israr Ahmed)

The Way to Salvation - Eloquence with categorical Emphasis

Eloquence with categorical Emphasis:

The fourth conclusion obtained by analyzing and paraphrasing this surah (Al 'Asr) is that the above three conclusions are categorical and most emphatic in their nature and that there is no doubt concerning any of them. 

Our whole faith rests upon accepting the Glorious Quran as the word of Allah and accepting this word as infallible. And who can be more truthful in his statements than Allah? Moreover, Allah has not merely stated these truths, but has taken an oath for confirming their validity. 

This oath makes this statement more emphatic, and whatever realities are hidden in it, and whatever moral lessons are conveyed by it, are all of them delivered with complete certainty, free from all doubts and compromise. 

This means that mankind is unknowingly moving towards utter loss and is on the verge of destruction, with the exception of those who have fulfilled these four conditions of ‘faith’, ‘righteous deeds’, ‘exhortation to truth’, and ‘exhortation to patience’, and has passed all tests and ordeals which come in the way of fulfilling these conditions.

These are the four basic conclusions which can be drawn by contemplating on this glorious surah. In fact this is the gist of Surah Al-’Asr, according to the practice of Tazakkur-bil-Quran in order to obtain its basic meaning.

Now I want you to study and understand every word of this surah rather in depth, in order to make clear that inspire of its simple wording great realities are concealed in it, and gems of wisdom and prudence are hidden in it.

Source: The Way to Salvation (Book by Dr Israr Ahmed)