Elucidating the Model of Human Salvation in the Light of Surah Al-‘Asr: A Qualitative Study with an Inductive Approach
Document Type : مقاله پژوهشی
Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.
10.22084/qss.2025.30920.1131
Abstract
One of the most fundamental existential questions concerning humanity is its ultimate destiny and the means of attaining salvation. Surah Al-‘Asr, with its remarkable rhetorical brevity and unparalleled depth of meaning, presents a comprehensive framework for understanding the human condition and the path to salvation within just three verses.
The present study aims to extract the key concepts and underlying themes of this Surah through a qualitative approach using inductive content analysis. After dividing the Surah into semantic units and conducting initial coding, the extracted concepts were organized into conceptual categories. Ultimately, four major themes were identified: awareness of time, warning against universal loss, individual salvation (faith and righteous deeds), and collective salvation (enjoining truth and patience). According to the findings, Surah Al-‘Asr, by presenting a coherent and systematic conceptual structure, delineates the human journey from individual awareness to social action, thereby promoting spiritual growth and social responsibility. This Surah can thus serve as a comprehensive model for educational, ethical, and epistemological studies within Islamic sciences. Moreover, the Surah regards “loss” as the rule and “salvation” as the exception, asserting that only those who embody inner faith, outward righteous action, and social participation through enjoining truth and patience actualize an integrated pedagogical model. This interpretation aligns with the perspectives of many Qur’anic exegetes.
The present study aims to extract the key concepts and underlying themes of this Surah through a qualitative approach using inductive content analysis. After dividing the Surah into semantic units and conducting initial coding, the extracted concepts were organized into conceptual categories. Ultimately, four major themes were identified: awareness of time, warning against universal loss, individual salvation (faith and righteous deeds), and collective salvation (enjoining truth and patience). According to the findings, Surah Al-‘Asr, by presenting a coherent and systematic conceptual structure, delineates the human journey from individual awareness to social action, thereby promoting spiritual growth and social responsibility. This Surah can thus serve as a comprehensive model for educational, ethical, and epistemological studies within Islamic sciences. Moreover, the Surah regards “loss” as the rule and “salvation” as the exception, asserting that only those who embody inner faith, outward righteous action, and social participation through enjoining truth and patience actualize an integrated pedagogical model. This interpretation aligns with the perspectives of many Qur’anic exegetes.
Keywords
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Volume 4, Issue 1
September 2025Pages 132-155
- Receive Date: 02 May 2025
- Revise Date: 12 August 2025
- Accept Date: 17 September 2025