Surah Al-Asr – Ahmed Akl

Al-Asr ("The Declining Day", also translated "Time") is the 103rd surah of the Quran, in Juz' Amma. Meccan, it has only 3 verses, making it one of the shortest surahs, and is the 13th surah in the traditional order of revelation, after Ash-Sharh. It opens with an oath by al-'asr, meaning time itself or the late afternoon.

The whole surah is a single sentence: by time, mankind is in loss, "except those who believe, do righteous deeds, and urge one another to the truth and urge one another to patience" (103:2-3). It sums up the path to salvation in four conditions: faith, good works, and mutual counsel in truth and in patience, the last two making piety a shared duty.

Imam ash-Shafi'i is reported to have said that if people reflected on this surah, it would suffice them. Abu Madina ad-Darimi related that when two of the Prophet's Companions met, they would not part until one had recited Al-Asr to the other, then they greeted each other with peace (at-Tabarani, with a sound chain).

The closing verses of Al-Balad likewise praise those who urge one another to patience and compassion.