Al ‘Asr
Al Qur’an: 103
1. Text and Translation
I swear by the declining day (flight of time),
That man is a certain loser,
Save those who have faith and do righteous deeds,
And counsel one another to follow the truth and counsel one another to be steadfast.
2. Background
The 103rd surah and was revealed in Makkah.This short surah outlines the complete system of human life based on the Islamic viewpoint, it defines clearly and concisely the concept of faith comprehensively. It states the whole Islamic constitution and the essential qualities of the community and the nation of Islam.
Historically, other than this worthwhile and trustworthy path in Islam, all others lead to loss and ruin. The straight path is to adopt faith, follow up with good deeds and exhort one another to follow the truth and to be patient and forbearing.
Whenever two companions of the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. were about to depart, they would read this surah, after which they would shake hands. A pledge to accept and preserve the faith, piety and willingly counsel each other to follow the truth and to remain steadfast. This ensures a firm commitment to establishing Islamic society and to preserve its foundations.
Once, the Muslims held the leadership and also the guarantee of light and happiness, promising to turn humanity into a divinely guided society. Now, the loss that humanity is suffering, regardless admittedly or not, is due to the loss of this great message when Muslim nations “abandoned Islam” and they headed towards loss and ruin.
3. The Concept of Time
Time is always in favour of those who have faith, live clean and pure lives, and know how to be patient and in constancy. Time searches and destroys everything material. If we were to race against time, we shall lose. Only the spiritual part of us that conquers time.
Those who do not use time wisely and properly will lose. We have to utilize time fully and consciously with good deeds.
‘Asr denotes time that is measurable, over periods, the passing, declining or the flight of time – time which can never be recaptured.
4. Faith and its Qualities
True Liberation and Freedom
From the limits of man’s short life to the Eternity that Allah alone comprehends. The faithful , the Mu’min attains closeness to God, establishes his link with the world and the universe beyond, realizes all potentialities and laws, endows him enjoyment of this life, elevates himself above servitude to others, knows the equality of all men.
Godliness
The believer knows the sources from which he derives his concepts, laws, doctrines, values, criteria, considerations in his relation to Allah, human beings and the world. Equity and justice replace personal desires and self interests. He values his way of life, his principles and keeps him away from ignorance and the mundane. He derives guidance directly from Allah.
Clarity
Man’s relationship with God is clear and unrestricted without any mediator. It gives him light, contentment, confidence and purpose so as to eliminate fear, anxiety, haughtiness and tyranny.
Steadfastness
Doing good is not casual, coincidental nor indelibrate but springs from definite motives, intentions and aims. This needs will and sustenance.
Dignity of Man
Dignity of man in the sight of Allah is the loftiest position he can attain for himself. Any other ideology, concept which abases this and ascribes a dishonourable origin, separates man from the highest society of Allah. In ideologies such as Darwinism, Marxism and Freudianism, man becomes abject and derogated into being the most horrid disasters of human nature. These ideologies teach downright animalism and abasement as if natural and familiar phenomena without any shame.
Purity of Intention
The believer feels the awesome presence of Allah in his innermost consciousness and this makes him tremble, seek self purification, spiritual cleansing. He becomes refined morally, the natural fruit of faith, resulting from free will and the comprehensiveness of Allah’s supervision over him.
Elevation of Man
The believer rises above worldly greed and chooses Allah’s richer, everlasting reward. He does good only because it is good and because Allah requires it. He is not concerned whether it leads to goodness in his short life span. Allah, for whom he performs his good deed, never dies nor does He forget nor ignore him.
Faith
Faith is the axis to which all the fine fabric of life’s network is connected. Hence all deeds not stemming from faith are completely disregarded. Whoever disassociates himself from God, vanishes and loses the reality of his existence. Faith is a sign of health and soundness in a person’s nature.
On the contrary, the world of unbelievers appears to the believer as lacking and miserable, in a state of ruin and loss.
5. Righteousness and Good Deeds
Faith is a positive and active concept. It is not just sincere and innocent intentions that never develop into actions. Righteousness and good deeds are the distinguishing characteristics of Islam making it a creative power in practical life. Faith means dynamism, activity, creativeness and productiveness devoted to the Allah’s pleasure. Faith propels humanity towards implementing the good, pure, constructive and utilitarian.
6. Counsel and the Islamic Community
Counseling to the truth and to steadfastness reveals the real picture of Islamic society, its special entity, its unique inter-relationship of individuals, duties and a single destination. Islam wants the Islamic community to be integrated, coordinated, righteous and enlightened; upholding right, truth and justice and goodness on this earth.
Mutual counsel is a necessity because it is hard to maintain what is right because the obstacles are many: egoistic passions, falsehood, inequity, despotism and tyranny. Mutual exhortation collects individual efforts into a unified whole, increases brotherhood, that there are others together as well to counsel, encourage, love and support.
Counsel and exhortation to be steadfast are necessary because the sustenance of faith and good deeds and catering for right and equity are the hardest of tasks. Endurance is essential to adapt oneself to the Islamic way of life when confronting others, when afflicted with maltreatment and hardship. It generates vitality in the community where the truth of Islam can survive and be implemented.
7. Conclusion
All the concerns of gain and loss in this life, although is of great importance, is trivial compared to the hereafter. The real gain and the real loss, the attainment or deprivation of
There is only one right path and one only – that of faith, good deeds and the existence of a Muslim community whose members counsel each other to follow the truth and to show endurance and steadfastness.
References:
The Message of the Qur’an, Translated and Explained, Muhammad Asad
In the Shade of The Our’an, Sayyid Qutb
Al Qur’an dan Terjemahnya, Departement Agama Republik
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