Suratul ‘Asr (Q.103) – (The Time)
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ ١ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَفِي خُسۡرٍ ٢ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ ٣
Translation:
In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. By Asr (the time).
2. Verily, man is in loss,
3. Except those who believe (in Islamic monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. one another to perform all kinds of deeds (All which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allah has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, hams, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad).
Commentary
The Surah, which is chapter 103 of the Qur’an, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) in Makkah and it contains only three verses, thereby making it one of two shortest chapters.
In the Surah, Allah (S.W.T) swears by taking an oath with the afternoon. It could also be interpreted to mean the end of time. At the end of time, when the world is coming to an end, Allah informs the Prophet (S.A.W), and by extension Muslims, that human beings at this period are doomed to be in the state of total loss except those who choose to remain on the path of truth. .The exempted ones on the path of truth should take certain steps as their guiding principles to save them from destruction and loss. Such principles include strong ‘Iman’, which is the pivot around which other things revolve and which is connected with righteous deeds and exhortation to truthfulness and patience.
Lessons from the Surah
1. It is Chapter 103 (Suratul Asr)
2. It is a Makkan Surah.
3. Allah uses an oath in the opening of this Surah
4. It shows the importance of the statements that follow.
5. It is also to show the importance of the item by which an oath is made i.e. time.
6. The Surah teaches that time is very precious. We should not waste our time.
7. We should spend time to derive maximum benefit.
8. We should spend our time doing permanent and lasting good works. Otherwise, we are really losing every minute that passes away.
9. The Surah teaches belief in Allah and other articles of faith.
10. It is made clear from the Surah that we should accompany our belief with good works.
11. The doing of good works requires the performance of obligations towards Allah, fellow human beings and oneself.
12. We should be truthful and advise others to tell the truth. We should be patient and exhort others to persevere.
13. We should endure hard work, calamities and bad news.
14. We should not lose our faith because of one problem or another.
15. The Surah teaches that having faith in Allah, doing good work, or admonition on truth and patience would eliminate or reduce problems in this world.
16. Belief in Allah, belief in His Angels, belief in His Prophets and messengers are important virtues of righteousness.
17. The virtues of truthfulness and patience are necessary to save Muslims from loss and destruction.
18. Belief and righteous deeds should accompany one another.
19. Besides being truthful and patient, one should encourage people around him or her to do the same.