Al-Asr
سُورَةُ العَصۡرِ
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
About Surah Al-Asr
Meccan · 3 verses
Main Themes
Time as a witness, the formula for human success: faith, righteous deeds, truth, and patience
Significance
Al-Asr (The Declining Day) is one of the shortest surahs in the Quran but is described by Imam al-Shafi'i as sufficient to be a complete religion — if people reflected on it deeply. In just three verses, it presents a complete human development framework: belief, action, mutual exhortation to truth, and mutual exhortation to patience. The Companions reportedly would not part from each other without reciting it, treating it as a reminder of their communal obligations.
Key Verse Explained
Ayah 1–3 ("By time, indeed, mankind is in loss — except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience") present the four conditions of salvation. Classical scholars emphasise that all four must be present: faith alone without action is incomplete, action without truth is misdirected, and truth without patience cannot be sustained. The social dimension — advising each other — makes salvation a communal, not merely individual, project.
Related Practices
The practice of companions reciting Al-Asr when parting from each other (reported in al-Tabarani) makes it a recommended practice at the close of any gathering or meeting. Many Islamic institutions use it as a closing du'a or reminder. The surah's four-part formula is used as a curriculum framework in Islamic education, character development programs, and community leadership training.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالْعَصْرِ 1
By time,
إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ 2
Indeed, mankind is in loss,
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ 3
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.