In a solemn and faith-filled atmosphere within the precincts of the ancient House of God, the esteemed preacher of the Grand Mosque , Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Awad Al-Juhani, delivered the Friday sermon, which focused on one of the most important issues that affect the life of a Muslim in this world and the hereafter, which is the issue of “time” and how to invest it, taking Surah Al-Asr as a starting point for establishing a sound Islamic approach to managing life.
Surah Al-Asr: The Complete Path to Salvation
His Eminence began his sermon by emphasizing that the Holy Quran is the pure spring and eloquent exhortation that, if adhered to, will never lead astray. He specifically mentioned Surah Al-Asr, explaining that despite its brevity, it represents a comprehensive constitution and a complete way of life for humanity. He pointed out that God Almighty, the Most High, the All-Powerful, swore by "Al-Asr" (time) at its beginning, which refers to the passage of time. It is well-established in Islamic belief that God may swear by whatever He wills of His creation to magnify its importance and demonstrate its significance, while a created being may only swear by the Creator.
Dr. Al-Juhani added that this divine oath by time carries profound implications. Time is the vessel of events, the arena of wonders, and a witness to the vicissitudes of human life, between ease and hardship, health and sickness, heedlessness and vigilance. It is the vessel upon which humanity embarks on its inevitable journey to the Hereafter, and the field in which people sow their deeds to be gathered on the Day of Judgment.
The Philosophy of Time: The Story of the Iceman and the Melting Capital
In a powerful rhetorical gesture that brought the meaning closer to the mind, the preacher of the Grand Mosque the story of one of the righteous predecessors and his contemplation of Surah Al-Asr. It was narrated that he said: "I read Surah Al-Asr for twenty years and did not grasp the depth of its meaning, until I heard an ice seller calling out in the market, 'Have mercy on one whose capital is melting away.'" This simple phrase revealed a terrifying existential truth: a person's life is but a few days; with each passing day, a part of him is gone, just like ice, which, if not utilized, melts and is lost forever.
He emphasized that time is a person's only true capital in this world, and any squandering of it is an irreplaceable loss. Every passing minute is an opportunity to draw closer to God or a step towards utter ruin, warning against negligence and procrastination in repentance and good deeds.
The path to success in this world and the hereafter
Sheikh Al-Juhani concluded his sermon by clarifying the path to salvation from the loss that God has decreed for humankind, except for those He has exempted with four qualities mentioned in the chapter: faith, righteous deeds, mutual exhortation to truth, and mutual exhortation to patience. He pointed out that these are the righteous servants of God who have no fear nor do they grieve, for they are the ones who have realized the value of their breaths and filled them with obedience to God. They remain secure in times of fear and tranquil in times of turmoil, so that their reward with their Lord will be the Gardens of Bliss.
This sermon comes within the context of the guiding and educational role played by the pulpit of the Two Holy Mosques, where the eyes of Muslims in all parts of the world turn weekly to receive divine guidance that corrects the course and elevates the tolerant values of Islam in people’s souls.
