Mankind is in Loss, Except…
Surah Al-‘Asr
وَٱلْعَصْرِ * إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ * إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
{By time. * Indeed, mankind is in loss. * Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and enjoin one another to truth and enjoin one another to patience.}
[Al-‘Asr:1-3].
Imam Ash-Shaafi’i said about this Surah: “If Allah had not established an evidence against His creation except this Surah, it would have sufficed them.”
This statement of Imam Ash-Shaafi’i does not mean that Surah Al-‘Asr suffices over the rest of the Quran. Rather the intended meaning is that this Surah is enough of an evidence for mankind to know how salvation can be attained, by Allah’s permission.
Allah mentions that mankind are all in loss and then He says “except” and mentions four qualities in which salvation lies in.
Those who believe.
Do righteous deeds.
Enjoin one another to truth.
Enjoin one another to patience.
Between each quality, Allah uses the word “wa” (و) meaning “and”, not the word “Aw” (أَو) meaning “or”. This necessitates that for an individual to be from those who are not in loss they must come with all four qualities.
1. Those Who Believe
Those who believe in Allah and believe in the matters that pertain to correct faith, read The Pillars of Emaan (Faith).
Having strong faith can only be through having knowledge of what it is you have belief in. The more an individual learns about his Lord and Creator and the matters of his religion and the unseen, the stronger his faith grows.
2. Righteous Actions
The second quality is doing righteous actions. For any action to be righteous so that it is recorded as a good deed and an act of worship it must fulfil two conditions:
Sincerity; The action must be done sincerely for Allah alone with no partners.
In accordance to the legislation; The action must be legislated from Allah, by means of the Prophet ﷺ.
Allah says:
وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ
{And they were not commanded except to worship Allah (being) sincere to Him in the religion, inclining to truth.}
[Bayyinah:5].
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أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَـٰٓؤُا۟ شَرَعُوا۟ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنۢ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ
{Or do they have partners (with Allah) who have legislated for them from the religion that which Allah has not authorised?}
[Shuraa:21].
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وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ
{And whatever the Messenger has given you (then) take it, and whatever he has forbidden you from (then) refrain from it, and fear Allah.}
[Hashr:7].
Read What is Worship for more detail.
3. Enjoining to Truth
The Muslims are those who advise and enjoin one another to the truth out of love and wanting good for each other. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The believer is a mirror to the believer. The believer is the brother of the believer, he protects him against loss and defends him behind his back."
[Abu Dawud; Graded Hasan by Al-Albaani].
Just as if someone were to see something in the mirror they dislike on themselves they would remove it to better their appearance, likewise are the believers with each other. They advise each other and enjoin one another to the truth for each other’s benefit.
4. Enjoining to Patience
The scholars mention that the Muslim must strive to exercise patience in three areas of his life.
Patience upon the obedience of Allah.
Patience in keeping away from sins.
Patience during trials, tribulations and difficulties from what Allah has decreed.
Without doubt, the obedience of Allah day to day requires patience and consistency, particularly the Salaah. Allah mentions:
وَٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلْخَـٰشِعِينَ
{And seek help through patience and Salaah (prayer). And indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah).}
[Baqarah:45].
Likewise keeping away from sins and going through trials and calamities requires much patience, the reward of which lies with Allah, He mentions:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ * ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
{And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient. * Those, who when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return."}
[Baqarah:155-156].
Read Sabr (Patience) for more on this topic.
The Companions With This Surah
It has been narrated that on some occasions, when the companions wanted to depart from one another they would recite this great Surah, Surah Al-‘Asr. They understood its meaning and would remind themselves of it in order to take benefit.
May Allah make us from those who adopt these four tremendous qualities and make us from those who remain firm upon them. May it be a means of us being exempted from those who are in loss and a means of us attaining salvation.
And Allah knows best.
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