Al-Asr

Sūrat al-‘Aṣr (Arabic: سورة العصر‎, "The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch, Time") is the 103rd sūrah of the Qur’ān, the Muslim holy book. It contains three āyāt. Surat al-‘Asr is the second shortest sura after al-Kawthar.

Timing and contextual background of revelation

This sūrah is a Meccan sūrah, meaning it was revealed in Mecca, instead of Medina. According to some, it follows sūrah 94 in the chronological order of the Quran.

Theme and subject matter

This sura teaches that all human beings are in loss, except those who have Iman (concept), do righteous deeds and remind others of the Haqq (truth, rights, reality) and remind others of Sabr (patience).

The text of the Sura can be translated as the following:

1. وَالْعَصْرِ‌

By Time.

2. إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ‌

Indeed man is in loss,

3. إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ‌‌

except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and enjoin one another to [follow] the truth, and enjoin one another to patience.