Subject: Islamic Studies
Question no 1
Identify the general tragedy of human beings and the solution of
that problem presented with reference to Surah Al Asar?
Answer
This sura teaches that all human beings are in loss, except those who
have iman (faith in Islam), do righteous deeds and remind others of the
Haqq (truth, rights, reality) and remind others of Sabr (patience).
Overall, this surah has only 3 verses and only 16 words but has
very deep meaning
The verses and translation of the surah are
ِب ۡس ِم ال ّٰل ِہ ال َّر ۡح ٰم ِن ال َّر ِحۡی ِم
َو ا ْل َع ْص ِر
“By the time.”
ِإ َّن ا ْل ِإ ْن َسا َن َل ِفي ُخ ْس ٍر
"Verily man is in loss"
ِإ َّلا ا َّل ِذي َن آ َم ُنوا َو َع ِم ُلوا ال َّصا ِل َحا ِت َو َت َوا َص ْوا ِبا ْل َح ِّق َو َت َوا َص ْوا ِبال َّص ْب ِر
“Save those who believe, and do good deeds, and exhort
one another to truth and exhort one another to
endurance.”
The specific time of Asr is being sworn by to convey with certainty that
man is destined to be a loser. The only exception is for those who
accept faith and do good deeds, and they also promote “haq” (truth)
and demonstrate “sabr” (patience). This Surah of the Quran begins
with the word “Asr” (time) and ends with the word “sabr”
Quran is complete book which give you a meaning of whole life and
its surah gives you a light in the darkness of this cruel world and this
we must focus on the surah Asar. In this surah the GOD is
communicating a message the people who loss hope are in loss and
those who believe in the mercy of good do good deeds
The surah highlights the general tragedy of human beings and
then presents the solution of that problem in no time. The surah
reflects how man is responsible of having either success or failure
in his short span of life.
THE MEANING OF VERSES The tone of the surah is evocative
yet optimistic. This loss is of paramount nature; however, the
good deeds, faith in Allah and devotion to truthfulness with
patience can cause the salvation of man. The second line of
Surah begins with the word “Verily”. Allah says that there is no
doubt that Mankind suffers loss. This statement not only informs
the mankind that they are suffering loss but also makes it clear
that Allah knows His creation very well. Although the third verse
of the Surah differentiates between the believers and the non-
believers, the righteous and the evildoers, those who advise
others to be patient and those who do not, and those who advise
others to the right path and those who do not, yet the second
verse rings the alarm bells for the mankind. It sets the tone for
the third verse, which is the largest in terms of words.
Significance significant because it reveals the greatest secret
of human life. Humans strive throughout their life, and it all
comes to nothing in the form of death. Whatever one earns
during life is left behind in this world, and s/he departs to the
next world. Life in this world is just a trial. Those who fail in it
suffer a huge loss. It can also be taken to mean that since Allah
has done the greatest favor to mankind by first bestowing on
them with life and then making them the crown of creation, it is
the responsibility of the mankind to obey the commandments of
Allah. Those who do not do that suffer the loss. Their lives end in
miseries because they die without faith.
There is a beautiful and sudden shift in the third verse. It heralds
good news for the faithful that the believers also do righteous
deeds and enjoin others to patience and enjoin others to the
righteous path. If someone professes faith in Allah and does not
advise others to be patient and does not advise others to be on
the right path, s/he will also face the same the same end. Not
only does this line herald good news for the faithful but it also
means that those go to the contrary path will have to suffer the
loss.
third verse of this Surah also presents the perfect way of dawa or
preaching. It all starts with belief and faith in oneness of God.
This is followed by doing the righteous deed. One cannot enjoin
others to do good if one is oneself immersed in evil or
wrongdoings. The last part of the verse takes it the sublime level
of advising others to be patient and to the righteous path. Hence,
the last verse of the Surah has great pedagogical implication as
well, informing the righteous and faithful Muslims how they
should lead their lives to avoid loss
