Surah al Asr in my Life – Part 1

Rana Rais Khan – Founder and Editor-in-Chief – Hiba Family Resource Centre

Surah al Asr, is short and a very popular Surah. It is usually among the first Surahs to be taught to children to recite in their Salah as well. 103^rd in order in the Quran, Surah al Asr, holds deep meanings as the remaining divine scripture does.

This Surah offers the means of success in the worldly life. It rests between Surah at Takathur and Surah al Humazah, in the Quran. Both of these chapters conversely discuss the means of loss man earns in the world.  

Imam Shaafi states: “If the Quran had no other Surah in it, Surah al Asr would have sufficed by itself.”

Imam Razi said: “I understood the meaning of this Surah by witnessing an ice seller. May mercy descend upon the one whose asset is dissolving.”

Time is passing by every moment. If we do not invest ourselves in productive actions and tasks, we will end up in an inevitable loss.

It was a Sunnah among the Sahabah to recite this Surah upon meeting each other and before parting. It served as a reminder of the true objective of life. We can earn eternal success through a temporary life.   

But it is critical for everyone to understand what is true eternal success and what are the parameters of true eternal loss.

وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ

1. By time,
2. Indeed, mankind is in loss,

In the first verse, Allah (swt) swears by time throughout the ages. Allah (swt) has also sworn by other creations of His, at multiple places in the Quran to signify realities.

‘Dahr’ is another word that refers to time. ‘Asr’ however implies the time that has passed away swiftly. The essence of time is being explained that how it doesn’t pause at any second. Its quality is to move ahead fast. Even the Asr prayer time noticeably speeds by and dusk enters.

There are two conclusions that can be drawn. Firstly, in the past, Allah’s (swt) decree came to manifest itself as per the choices people made for themselves. For example, the transgressing nations of the world faced punitive actions as a consequence faced in the world and will face more later in the hereafter.

Secondly if we know the reality that our current time is turning into our recent past by the second, should we not be in a state of mindfulness and plan a purposeful life? Our greatest asset is time. How can we waste or neglect it?

Majority of the people in the world are either lost or unaware of the fact that soon their time will be up and they will be standing before Allah (swt) by themselves and answering about their life spent in the world.

The Quran explicitly captures this moment of the day of judgement: “[Allāh] will say: ‘How long did you remain on earth in number of years?’ They will say: “We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate.’ He will say: ‘You stayed not but a little – if only you had known.’” (Al Muminun 23:112-114)

Just like the ice merchant they were busy enjoying the coolness around them, while the ice was melting away. Upon their death and departure from this world they realized the loss incurred due to their heedlessness.

However, there is an upside to this arrangement as well. We can earn huge rewards today in a short life and send them forth to Allah (swt) for our eternal life we will live tomorrow.

In the second verse Allah (swt) tells us that time is irreversible due to which mankind is in loss, by default. There are 3 different ways emphasis has been placed upon this fact. In the Arabic verse the usage of ‘wa’ as an oath, next usage of ‘Inna’ and finally ‘Laam takeed’ indicate the seriousness of the matter. 

Time is witness to this tragedy striking man, how his life is slipping away. Every passing second that goes by will never return. Man’s real capital in the world is actually the time allotted to him.

It is the same for every gender, age, caste, creed and creation. Allah (swt) has granted 24 hours to everyone to make something of their lives as per the Quran and the Sunnah. But repeatedly every generation of mankind has committed the same mistake of wasting their chance to use time wisely for the hereafter. 

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa) had the most well timed and perfectly managed day. He was able to juggle all his roles and responsibilities efficiently to offer us a human model of excellence.

Hiba Family Resource Centre has also published a goal planner for muslims to enable them to live a moderate, fulfilling and successful life. Check out: www.hibamagazine.com.

But know this as a believer that Prophet Muhammad (sa) has reiterated the message of Surah al Asr by the following Hadeeth:

“The feet of the slave of Allah (swt) shall not be moved on the day of judgment, until he is asked about five things:

1. His life and what he did with it,
2. His knowledge and what he did with it,
3. His wealth and how he earned it,
4. And where he spent it,
5. His body and for what did he wear it out?” (At Tirmidhi)

So is there no way we can convert the loss into gain? Read up the second part of this series to find out about Allah’s (swt) success plan to overcome eternal loss.

(Partially adapted from a course titled ‘In depth study of Juzz 30’ taught by Safiya Khan).