العصر
A short but powerful surah. Allah swears by time itself, then teaches the four things that save us from loss: faith, good deeds, truth, and patience.
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
By time,
indeed, mankind is in loss,
except those who believe and do good, and encourage each other to follow truth and to be patient.
About Al-Asr
Al-Asr means "time", the passing of time. It is the 103rd surah and one of the shortest in the Quran, with only three verses. Yet it carries one of the biggest messages of all.
The surah opens with Allah swearing an oath by time. Then comes a warning: every single person is in loss, wasting the precious gift of time, except those who do four things. They believe in Allah. They do good deeds. They encourage one another to follow the truth. And they encourage one another to be patient.
These four qualities are like a recipe for a happy, successful life. That is why this tiny surah is so loved: in just a few words, it tells us exactly how to make our time count.
The great scholar Imam al-Shafi'i said that if people reflected on only this surah, it would be enough to guide them. In just three verses, Al-Asr sums up the whole purpose of life: use your time with faith, good deeds, truth, and patience.
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For Parents
What does Al-Asr mean?
Al-Asr (العصر) means "time," especially the passing of time or the late afternoon.
Allah begins the surah by swearing an oath by time, to show us how precious and important it is.
Why does Allah swear by time?
In the Quran, Allah sometimes swears by one of His creations to make us pay close attention to it. By swearing by time, Allah is telling us that time is precious.
Every moment passes and never comes back, so we should use it well.
What are the four things that save us from loss?
The surah says everyone is in loss except those who do four things: believe in Allah, do good deeds, encourage one another to follow the truth, and encourage one another to be patient.
Together, these four are the recipe for a successful life.
How long is Surah Al-Asr?
Al-Asr is just three verses long and takes only a few seconds to recite.
Despite its small size, scholars have called it one of the most complete surahs in meaning.
What does "in loss" mean?
Being "in loss" is like running out of something precious without gaining anything back. Here it means wasting the gift of time and life without faith and good deeds.
The surah shows us how not to be among those who lose out.
Why did Imam al-Shafi'i love this surah?
The great scholar Imam al-Shafi'i said that if people thought carefully about only this surah, it would be enough to guide them.
That is because it sums up the whole purpose of life in three short verses.
When was Surah Al-Asr revealed?
Al-Asr was revealed in Mecca, in the early years of Islam.
It is one of the short, powerful Meccan surahs that teach the foundations of faith and good character.
How can my child memorize Al-Asr?
Al-Asr is short with a clear rhythm, so it is easy to learn. Play the audio often and recite it together.
The third verse is the longest, so practice it in small pieces. Most children learn the whole surah within a few days.