Arif Atique | Physician, Researcher

One succinct chapter in the Quran, called Asr, contains a universal message that is applicable in every epoch.

The name itself, Asr, means the fleeting time; the very nature of our existence in this world is very short. Time passes very quickly, not giving its observer to wrap up their tasks.

God reminds us that humankind is in loss.

Save those who believe, perform righteous deeds, exhort one another to truth, and exhort one another to patience.

The Quranic understanding of loss pertains to losing this world and the Hereafter.

Amilus-salihat refers to righteous deeds. It invites us to beautify our deeds in the best possible manner. Our work, our behaviour, and our dealings with other people need to be sincere, correct, consistent, and impactful, benefiting oneself and society in a broader sense. Righteous deeds, performed consistently over time, build an unshakeable reputation that cannot be purchased or faked. A believer builds genuine relationships based on mutual encouragement toward truth and excellence. In this way, amilus-salihat becomes not merely a spiritual obligation but strategic wisdom—creating sustainable power rooted in authenticity rather than the brittle influence built on manipulation, which inevitably leads to the loss warned against in Surah Asr.

Sabr, or patience, is one of the most powerful human qualities that one can master. From our daily experience, we have seen that when we react impulsively to pressure, we squander the precious time we have been given. Sabr in times of crisis and pressurized environments enables us to make the right decisions. It allows us to step back and withdraw ourselves from a challenge and take a proactive approach rather than being reactive with whimsical actions, which lead to regret later. The patient strategist, like the believer guided by sabr, understands that true power comes not from constant motion but from calculated restraint and timely action.

Arif Atique

16/01/2026

---