Surah Al-‘Asr is a very small surah of the Quran, translated into english as The Time. Although it is a very small surah of the Quran, yet it is among the most important surah in the Quran. Imam Syafie, a very renowned imam used to say with the approximate meaning; in case this surah is the only surah revealed by Allah to men and men practice what is told in this surah, it will be sufficient for men to attain success in this world and the hereafter. Such a great iman, who dare to speak such words to the entire mankind, must have such a profound knowledge and understanding of the Quran. Allah must have given him the knowledge of the understanding of the Quran which is not given to others during his time. Many Muslims particularly in Malaysia follows mazhab of imam Syafie, a great scholar of Islam. Imam Syafie was the only imam with the opinion that ‘doa qunut’ must be read daily in fajar prayers, because he believes that the Muslims ummah is constantly in calamities after the Prophet Muhammad saw passed away. Muslims of other mazhab will read doa qunut in fajar prayers only at times of calamities. What is the meaning of this surah? Allah says in the approximate meaning; I swear by time all men are at lost, except those who believe and do good actions, who frequently reminding each other about the truth and reminding each other with patient. Many Muslims scholars understand this surah as all men will be at lost except those who have the four main qualities mention in the surah. According to many Muslims scholars, the four main qualities mention in the surah are; iman, good actions (amal soleh), reminding each others about the truth and reminding each others with patient. According to many Muslims scholars all the four qualities mention in the surah must be acquired by all men if they want to become successful in this world and the hereafter. However, most scholars failed to explain to Muslims in their lectures on how to obtain the four qualities, because they themselves do not possess those four qualities. So, how to acquire those four qualities? (more…)
