The Way to Salvation in the Light of Surah al-Asr is a clear and moving study by Dr. Israr Ahmad of one of the shortest chapters of the Qur'an - a surah so weighty that Imam al-Shafi'i is reported to have said that if people reflected on it alone, it would be enough to guide them. This edition brings the work to Hindi-speaking readers.
In just three short verses, Surah al-Asr sets out the whole human situation: that time bears witness, that humanity is in loss, and that salvation belongs to those who fulfil four conditions - true faith, righteous deeds, and the mutual encouragement of one another to truth and to patience. Dr. Israr Ahmad draws out the meaning of each of these, showing why all four are necessary and how they hold together.
The book brings together two pieces on a single theme: an essay first published in 1966, and a lecture delivered at Aitchison College, Lahore, and published in 1973. Together they move from the surah's broad message to a close reading of its key words - the meaning of 'time', of 'loss' (khusran), of faith, of righteous action, and of calling others to truth - always grounded in the wider guidance of the Qur'an.
Written in warm, accessible Hindi, the book is intended for students of the Qur'an, for those beginning to reflect on its meanings, and for any reader who wishes to understand what a life of true success requires. It forms part of a wider Qur'an study course the author designed, beginning with this surah.
Key themes include the message of Surah al-Asr; the four conditions of salvation; the true meaning of faith and righteous deeds; mutual exhortation to truth and patience; and the criterion of success and failure in the sight of Allah.
