The 103rd Chapter of the Qur'aan tells us:
By the fleeting Time! Certainly indeed, humanity is doomed!! Except for those who believe and do good righteous deeds, stand by and for the right, and practise and inculcate patience!!!
Analysis:
The Verse starts with a swearing - swearing by Time! This is significant. Time is fleeting. A moment that passes never comes back! So, never put off to tomorrow what you can do today. It may be that there is no tomorrow in one's life!
The Verse then tells us, in no unmistakable terms, that humanity in general is doomed! The exceptions are the few who believe (that being the first condition).
To believe is to believe in the existence of one , and only one, super most power, (whom we may call Allah, God, or by any other good and appropriate name), Who is the Creator & Sustainer of this universe and of everything therein.
The 2nd criterion of those exempted from being doomed is that they also do good, righteous deeds.
Good, righteous deeds are those that generate well-being all around. Such deeds do not harm or mislead anyone. These may, on the other hand, benefit the society around!
The 3rd criterion is to stand by & for the right.
The right may be against one's own self or against one's near & dear ones! Even then one must stand by the right.
The 4th criterion is to practise & inculcate patience.
One may very well experience roadblocks in the exercise of the first 3 criteria. But one must persist with these, nevertheless! Patience is to be exercised by both the advisor and the advised. The road to Paradise is not easy!
Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, the 17th of November 2021.