In todays’ sermon we will remember a surah which starts with time, it is Suratul-Asr.

– I swear by the time;

This surah is a summary of the entire Quran, and if it is a summary, one important thing we have to learn from this surah is to respect for time. We have to fix our day, we have to pray on time, we should not waste our time. Everyday we get closer to death, and one day this life will be taken away from us and we will never get it back. So what should we do?

– Indeed, mankind is in loss; the general rule is that mankind is in loss, people will not be successful.

– Except; but there are exceptions, In order for us to be exception, not in loss, we must make certain things. There are four things which can make us exception.

– those who believe and do righteous good deeds; people who have belief and as a result of their belief, do good deeds, they are not in loss.

– and those who encourage each other the truth: the first thing we learn from this part of the surah verse is that find good company to keep your faith alive. And you know a verse from Surat Towbah (verse 119): O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true. So it is actually an obligation to find and be with good company/friends. If we find a good friend, we keep our religion alive, I am not better than you, you are not better than me, we have to look out for each other. Encourage each other the truth: remind each other why we’re on this earth, what is our purpose, what is the purpose of life, and the truth is that we are on this earth to worship Allah, and Allah will test our sincerity with difficulties and blessings.

– recommend one another to patience/sabr: when these difficulties, trials come in life, we must show sabr. We have also to show sabr over temptations, distractions, because we have limited time. We have to have real self-discipline. if we do not have this sabr and encourage each other to sabr, we are not going to be able survive this challenge.

In order for us to be exception, not in loss, we have to have faith, and as a result of this faith, we have to do good deeds, we have to remind each other to the truth and sabr. May Allah grant all of us good company, may Allah remove us from the people who taking us into sin. May Allah make us of the exception.