Surah Al-'Asr
العصر
Surah Al-'Asr is a 3-verse Meccan surah stating that every person is in loss except those who believe, do good, and urge one another to truth and patience.
- Meaning
- The Declining Day
- Surah
- 103 of 114
- Verses
- 3
- Revealed in
- Mecca
- Found in
- Juz 30
What Surah Al-'Asr is about
Surah Al-'Asr, "The Declining Day", is one of the shortest surahs in the Quran, yet many scholars regard it as one of the most complete. Verse 1 is an oath by time; the word al-'asr can mean time in general, the late afternoon, or an era.
Verse 2 states that the human being is in loss. Verse 3 names the exception: those who believe, do good deeds, encourage one another to the truth and encourage one another to patience. The first two qualities concern the individual, and the last two concern how people support each other. As time passes, each person is losing something, unless their time is filled with these four things.
Because the surah is so brief, it is easy to memorize and often recited in prayer. Its structure, an oath, a general rule and then a single exception, makes the exception the real focus: the qualities that turn passing time into gain rather than loss.
Main themes
Time is passing
The oath by time suggests that time itself is the setting of loss and gain. Each hour spent is gone, which gives weight to how it is used.
Verses 1–2Four ways out of loss
Faith, good deeds, encouraging truth and encouraging patience are what save a person. The last two make success something achieved together, not alone.
Verse 3
Verses to know
إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَفِي خُسۡرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ ﴿٣﴾
2The human being is in loss. 3Except those who believe, and do good works, and encourage truth, and recommend patience.
A whole moral program in two verses. Imam ash-Shafi'i is widely quoted as saying that if people reflected on this surah alone, it would be enough for them.
When Surah Al-'Asr is recited
Al-'Asr is often recited in daily prayers because of its brevity. A report recorded by at-Tabarani says that when two Companions met, they would not part until one had recited Al-'Asr to the other, though its chain is not considered strong by all scholars.
Surah Al-'Asr in Arabic and English
All 3 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 1
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ
WaalAAasri
By Time.
- 2
إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَفِي خُسۡرٍ
Inna alinsana lafee khusrin
The human being is in loss.
- 3
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ
Illa allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati watawasaw bialhaqqi watawasaw bialssabri
Except those who believe, and do good works, and encourage truth, and recommend patience.
Surah Al-'Asr PDF
The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.
Questions about Surah Al-'Asr
What does Al-'Asr mean?
Al-'Asr can mean time, the late afternoon, or an age or era. The surah opens with an oath by it.
How many verses are in Surah Al-'Asr?
Surah Al-'Asr has only 3 verses, making it one of the three shortest surahs of the Quran along with Al-Kawthar and An-Nasr. It is the 103rd surah.
What did Imam Shafi'i say about Surah Al-'Asr?
He is widely reported to have said that if Allah had revealed no proof to His creation except this surah, it would have been enough for them. The saying is quoted by Ibn Kathir and many others.