What are indicators of SUCCESS in human life?

What is threshold requirement for such success?

الرحيم الرحمن الله بسم

�َع�ْص�ر َو�الر� ُخ�س� �ِف ي ل اَن� نس� اِإْل� � َن ِإ

�ِذ ين� ال � اَّل �واِإ َح�اِت آَم�ُن الْص�ال �وا َو�َع�م ل�َح�ِّق) ال ب �و�اَص�و�ا �ر َو�َت الْص�ْب ب �و�اَص�و�ا َو�َت

CONSIDER the flight of time!Man INDEED is in the state of LOSS,

UNLESS he be of those who attain to faith, and do good works, and enjoin upon one another the keeping to

truth, and enjoin upon one another patience in adversity.

All subjects of Quran are presented in itThe companions of Prophet, whenever met each other, would never depart, unless they recited Surah Asr to each other. After that they used to greet and depart.The group of Companion was the best aware about the value of Quran

If people would ponder upon this single Surah, it would suffice them for their guidance

(Imam Shafa’i)

If Quran would have no other Surah except Asr, this Surah was sufficient for guidance of mankind

(Imam Shafa’i)

guidance

�ر ِّذ)ْك

philosophy and wisdom

�ر� �َد�ب َت

ر� َم0َد�ْك َم ن َف�َه�ْل� �ر لِذ)ْك ل آَن� �ُق�ر� ال �ا ن ر� ��س ي �ُق�َد� َو�ل

Hence, indeed, We made this Qur'an easy to bear in mind (i.e. understanding and remembering): who, then, is willing to take it to heart?

For guidance Quran is easy to follow, whatever recipient’s level of intellect is.

�َه�ا �ْق�ِف�ال َأ ْق�ل�وٍب� َع�ل�ى �ْم� َأ آَن� �ُق�ر� ال َوَن� �ر� �َد�ب �َت ي �َف�اَل� َأ

Will they not, then, ponder over this Qur'an? - or are there locks upon their hearts?

Quran’s depth is infinite, boundless – no none can fathom it in entirety.

Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) said, he spend 8 years pondering over one chapter, Surah Baqara

The term denotes "time" that is َع�ْص�رmeasurable, consisting of a succession of periods (in distinction from دهر dahr, which signifies "unlimited time", without beginning or end: i.e., "time absolute").

Hence, asr bears the connotation of the َع�ْص�رpassing or the flight of time - time which can never be recaptured.

An unguided person may link success with Money, business, propertyPower, authorityFame, popularity

Quran negates above factor as criteria of successSuccess lies in nothing but

4 indicators mentioned in the ‘Asr’

Indicator of success in our minds Indicator of success in our minds determines determines

the direction of effort in our livesthe direction of effort in our lives

According to Quran success lies NOT in wealth - (Was Qarun successful?)NOT in power and authority – (Were Pharoah and Namrud successful?)

Wealth, Power, Fame have NO VALUE before AllahProphet (PBUH) said, there are some people of Allah, who if want to join some gathering, they are not welcome; if they propose others for relations, they may be rejected; If request others, are not attended/heard. But before Allah, they have such a standing that even if they take Allah as witness unintentionally on some point, Allah would grant them, whatever they ask.

Prepare Prepare yourselfyourself

Spread Spread truth truth

around around youyou

Keep firm against Keep firm against vested interest vested interest

forcesforces

Amending ONESELF is necessary but NOT

sufficient

Work together to create a system based on truth and JUSTICE

Struggle should reach a level where ‘status quo’, vested-

interests are challenged

We need to learn about meaning and implication of each of these 4 indicators, in the light of Quran itself