The Way to Salvation - Insight

THE WAY TO SALVATION IN THE LIGHT OF SURAH AL-’ASR

SURAH AL-’ASR, a very early Makkan surah is one of the shortest surahs of the Quran. The words used in this surah are also commonly used in Urdu and are familiar to those who have a fair knowledge of this language. This is why a sketchy meaning of the surah is grasped without much difficulty by every Urdu-knowing individual. But studied and pondered over at a deeper level, this Surah opens up a treasure house of knowledge and wisdom.

As a matter of fact, there is a striking analogy between this surah and Surah Al-Ikhlas. Surah Al-’Asr sums up in a few concise words the way and practical guidance that leads to eternal success and salvation just as Surah Al-Ikhlas delineates in a few words the nature and unity of Godhood in Islam. Though very short and compact, both of these surahs are extremely rich in meaning relating to their respective themes. On this ground Maulana Hamid-ud-Din Farahi has categorized Surah Al-’Asr as an aphorism of great wisdom, whereas lmam Al-Sha’feii maintained that a deep and thoughtful study of this surah alone provides adequate guidance for attaining one’s salvation.

This surah is composed of three verses. The second verse is of central importance in meaning and significance. This verse expresses the painful and tragic state of man generally, a state of loss and deprivation. The evidence for this is presented in the first verse, in the form of an oath or adjuration. The third verse of the surah carves out an exception from the general condition of man laid down in the second verse.

In this way, this surah is clearly divided into two parts. Its first part ‘By fleeting time, verily man is doomed (or destined) to loss and ruin’—consists of a statement and its proof and as such is of immense philosophical significance, whereas the second part of the surah —‘Save those who believe, and do righteous deeds, and unite for the sake of truth and steadfastness’—is of utmost practical importance, giving the essential requirements and conditions of a successful life, a precise but nevertheless complete and comprehensive elucidation of the ‘right path’.

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

The Way to Salvation -

The Way to Salvation

In the Light of

Surah A1-Asr

By

Dr. Israr Ahmad

Translated by

Dr. Absar Ahmad &

Dr. Sanaullah Ansari

Revised by

Iqbal Ahmad Siddiqui

Shoba Samo Basr

Markazi Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur’an

 The Way to Salvation by Dr. Israr Ahmad In the Light of Surah Al-Asr:

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1.   By (the Token of) Time (through the Ages),

2.   Verily Men are In a state of loss,

3.   Except those who have Faith,

        And do righteous deeds,

 And join together

        In the mutual teaching

        Of Truth, and of

 Patience and Constancy.

FOREWORD

 This booklet includes two papers on the same topic. The first one was published in the monthly ‘MEESAQ’ Lahore in 1966. The second is a speech which was delivered before a gathering of the staff and senior students of Aitchison College, Lahore (Pakistan). The speech was taped by the Principal, and was transcribed later. It appeared in the monthly ‘MEESAQ’ of June, 1973. The Principal of Aitchison College also published it and distributed it freely. I pray that these sincere efforts of the former Principal of Aitchison College may be accepted by Allah, and may He shower His blessings on him in this world and in the Hereafter. Both the articles are now being published together by Markazi Anjuman Khuddamul Quran, Lahore. As the topic of both articles is the same, naturally there might be some repetition. It might be asked, what was the necessity of publishing both of them. In this connection it may be pointed out that the style and standard of both differ in many respects. The first one is a written document in which, leaving aside the mental horizon of readers, the thoughts have been expressed smoothly and fluently in a particular style of writing and in a special linguistic tone.

The second article is basically a speech and its style portrays the sense of the spoken discourse and the language used is comparatively simpler. In this way the combination of these two articles, it is hoped, has enhanced its utility and efficacy.

Secondly, when studied seriously, it would become clear that wherever something has been repeated, it has also brought out a new point and there are many important items, which are either in the first one and absent in the other and vice versa. Both these articles are based on the sole aim, that is: to explain to Muslims the correct doctrine of eternal salvation and deliverance, and the practical demands of the Islamic faith. For this objective, I have compiled a selected course of the Holy Quran, the starting point of which is Surah AI-’Asr. If Allah so wishes and gives us the means, we intend to bring out the entire course in the form of such booklets for our readers.

Dr. lsrar Ahmad,

Founder President,

Markazi Anjuman Khuddamul Quran,

Lahore 

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

The Qur'an and world peace - race

The role of an important pillar of Islam, Hajj , is also very significant in this context. The spirit of Hajj  is the spirit of sacrifice of vanities, dress and personal appearance, pride relating to birth, national origin, accomplishments, work or social status. It signifies the brotherhood of all Muslims, demonstrated in the greatest of all international assemblies. The privileged cast away their arrogance and pride because they know it is a sin to be harsh or scornful to one’s bother. In bridging the gap between man and man, forgiveness (which is closely related with taqwa ) plays an essential part. Magnanimity is a sign of strength.

Obviously, Qur’anic teachings can give lead to the rest of the world on the question of race relations. Islam has the best record of racial tolerance. Its mosque and pilgrimage gatherings have known no racial discrimination. The message of Islam has completely rejected racial prejudice or superiority of one race over the other. Even the western non-Muslim scholars admit this, the historian Arnold Toynbee among them. He writes: 

The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding moral achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue. The forces of racial toleration, which at present seem to be fighting a losing battle in a spiritual struggle of immense importance to mankind, might still regain the upper hand if any strong influence militating against racial consciousness were now to be thrown into the scales. It is conceivable that the spirit of Islam might be the timely reinforcement which would decide this issue in favor of tolerance and peace. (A. J. Toynbee, Civilization an Trial, Oxford university Press, 1948, pp. 205-6)

The disregard of color and race in the Muslim world is expressed by Malcolm X in a moving account of his experiences in Makkah. He wrote:

For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed at around me by people of all colors…. You may be shocked by these words coming from me.

But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions…. Perhaps if White Americans could accept in reality the Oneness of mankind - and cease to measure and hinder and harm others in terms of their “differences” in color, …. Each hour here in the Holy Land enables me to have greater spiritual insight into what is happening in American between black and white. 

It is most unfortunate that, to the total neglect of such magnificent teachings of universal brotherhood, Muslims themselves are taking to various secular slogans for uniting cross-sections of the world population on the basis of racial and national loyalties. It is height of insanity that people who produced the finest examples of human equality and brotherhood in their past on the basis of their faith alone are now adopting racial and ethnic nationalism as a panacea for their social and political ills. To give an historical example, Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (RAA) who belonged to the respectable Arab tribe of Quraish and was the head of the then largest Muslim State of his time, used to address Bilal (RAA) — a black Muslim and a former slave of humble means — as Sayyidina  (our master).

The upshot of my discussion is that the truth which is essential for  the happiness and peace (of both individual as well as social at the widest level) is all there and complete in the Qur’an and the Sunnah  (i.e., the tradition and practice of the Prophet SAW). Whoever amongst Muslims studies the Holy Qur’an and the life of Prophet of Islam (SAW) in earnest must face the question:

“Are you ready to follow the heights that Allah (SWT) shows you and be a witness to this unto the world?” 

I believe that the need of the hour is to explain and spread the teachings and wisdom of the Holy Qur’an, first among the Muslims themselves and then among the entire humankind. This can be achieved only through sincere and tireless efforts of those young men who decide to dedicate their lives for learning and teaching the Book of Allah (SWT).

Source:(Book) "The Qur'an and World Peace" by Dr Israr Ahmed