A Friday Sermon by Habib Nooh on Living a Successful Life

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الحمد لله وكفى، وسلام على عباده الذين اصطفى، وسلام على النبي المصطفى.

Respected brothers and sisters:

Surah Al-‘Asr is a short chapter of the Qur’an. It is Surah number 103. Surah Al-‘Asr is only three verses, but it carries a powerful message.
Allah says:

وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿1

By Time!

إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿2

Surely, mankind is in loss.
(Man is indeed in loss,)

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿3

Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and enjoin one another to [follow] the truth, and enjoin one another to patience.
(Except those who believe, do good deeds, encourage each other to truth, and encourage each other to patience.”)

Without going into a detailed explanation of the Surah, I will briefly share the key lessons we learn from it.

At the beginning of this Surah, Allah takes an oath by time. (Allah makes an oath by time)/(Allah swears by time) reminding us how valuable it is.

He says that all people are in loss, wasting their lives—except those who do four things:

Believe in Allah.
Do righteous deeds.
Speak and stand for the truth.And encourage each other to truth
Have patience in doing good and facing challenges.And encourage each other to patience.

Therefore, this Surah teaches us how to save ourselves from failure in this life and in the Hereafter.
This surah also teaches us that success in life and the hereafter is not about wealth or fame, but about faith, action, truth, and patience.

This Surah also reminds us that Time is running out. Most people are wasting their lives and will end up in loss. Only those who have true faith, do good deeds, speak the truth, and stay patient will be saved from loss.

This is why more than one scholar, including Imām ash-Shāfi‘ī (rahimahullāh), said:
‘If Allah had not revealed anything other than this Surah as a proof for the people, it would have been enough for them.’

Others said:
‘If people truly reflected on this Surah, it would have been sufficient for their guidance.’”

“Therefore, our life in this world is short and uncertain. To make it meaningful, successful, and beautiful, we must live according to the guidance of Surah Al-‘Asr.
Because in the end, everything in our life will be accounted for.
We will be questioned about every blessing—our time, our knowledge, our wealth, and our actions.

This is why the prophet (SWS) said in an authentic hadith that:

عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لاَ تَزُولُ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ عُمْرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ فِيمَا فَعَلَ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَا أَنْفَقَهُ وَعَنْ جِسْمِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلاَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ‏

Reported by imam Tirmidhi in 2417 and narrated by Abu Barzah Al-Aslami (RAD) that the Prophet (SWS) said:

“On the Day of Judgment, no one will be able to move from their place until they are asked about five things:

Their life – how they spent their time.
Their knowledge – what they did with what they knew.
Their money – how they earned it and how they spent it.
Their body – how they used their health and strength.
And about their youth – how they spent those important years.’

This means:
Each of us will be questioned about how we used our time, what we did with what we learned, whether our money came from halal or haram, and if we used our health in good ways or wasted it. Especially in our younger years—when we have energy and potential—Allah will ask us how we used that blessing.”

And finally,
Du‘a:

O Allah, guide us to use our time wisely.
O Allah, help us live by faith, good deeds, truth, and patience.
O Allah, forgive our past, and bless our future.
Make us from those who are saved from loss, and grant us success in this life and the next.
Ameen.