ISLAMIYAT ASSIGNMENT #2

SP22-BBA-073 Name: Haisam Bin Zia

Identify the general tragedy of human beings and the solution of that
problem presented with reference to Surah Asr.
Surah Asr is the 103rd chapter of the Quran. It speaks of the fact that all
human beings are in a loss unless they believe in God and do good deeds.
Losing time, oneself and the passing of age is something that all human
beings experience and we must use this time well if we want to reap the
rewards of this life in the Hereafter.

Man’s Loss according to Surah Asr

‫سانَ لَ ِفي ُخ إ‬
﴾2﴿ ‫س ٍر‬ ِ ‫ِإنَّ إ‬
َ ‫اْلن‬
Man is indeed in loss,

In this verse, man refers to people in general, i.e. the human species and
‘khusr’ (‫ )خسر‬refers to deficit of capital.

So the latter word applies both to man, as well his actions. In the verse, it is
used in indefinite form in order to explain that man is in a great loss or it
alternatively mean that he is in a particular kind of loss; not economical or
related to honor, but rather to his essence.

The loss of money can be compensated; however, the loss of oneself and
humanity cannot.

The Passing of Life in Surah Asr

The loss mentioned in Surah Asr could also refer to the passing of life
which is man’s capital and every time one loses his capital and he didn’t
use it for obedience it would be a loss for him; as there is no loss greater
than being entitled to eternal punishment.

Exemption from Loss in Surah Asr

 ﴾3﴿ ‫صب ِإر‬ ِ ِّ ‫ص إوا ِبا إل َح‬
َ ‫ق َوت َ َوا‬
َّ ‫ص إوا ِبال‬ َ ‫ت َوت َ َوا‬ َّ ‫إِ ََّّل الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا َوع َِملُوا ال‬
ِ ‫صا ِل َحا‬
Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and enjoin one
another to [follow] the truth, and enjoin one another to patience.

The last verse of Surah Asr exempt a particular group of people from the
loss mentioned in the previous verse.

Believers and Good-Doers in Surah Asr

Those who are exempt from loss are the believers, i.e. those who believe in
God and all the righteous beliefs and those who do good deeds. The good-
doers who perform all the good deeds are the real instances of those saved
from loss and the believers who are sinful are only partly exempted from
loss.

Advising to Truth in Surah Asr

The word ‘tawasi’ (‫ )تواصی‬is to enjoin one thing to another and vice versa.
Enjoining each other to righteousness is to enjoin and advice one another
to follow the truth, persevere and persist in it. Therefore, the true religion is
nothing but following the truth in actions and beliefs and enjoining others to
do the same.

Enjoining others to the truth has a wider scope than that of ‘Amr bil Ma‘rouf
and Nahi anil Munkar’ i.e. enjoining to good and forbidding from evil; since
this latter concept does not include beliefs or absolute encouragement
towards good actions. However, tawasi includes both.

Advising to Patience in Surah Asr

Enjoining to patience is mentioned in the absolute sense and the verse
does not indicate in what instances patience is recommended. As a result,
this patience includes patience in obeying God, patience against sinning,
and patience in times of hardships.

Summary
Surah Asr begins with an oath on the word ‘asr’ and then speaks of man’s
loss and this loss can refer to the passing of time where man is losing time
which has not been well used or the loss of his essence and humanity; this
applies to all except those who believe in God and perform good deeds.