๐ Surah Al-Asr: Meaning, Lessons, and Detailed Grammar Breakdown ๐
Makkan Surah, 3 Verses
๐ Introduction
Surah Al-Asr, a brief yet profound Makkan Surah with just three verses, encapsulates the essence of human success and salvation. Revealed in Makkah during the early stages of the Prophet Muhammadโs ๏ทบ mission, it emphasizes the value of time, faith, righteous deeds, and mutual encouragement toward truth and patience. This Surah serves as a universal reminder that humanity is at a loss unless they adhere to these principles, making it a cornerstone of Islamic guidance.
๐ Cause of Revelation
According to Tafsir scholars like Mufti Shafi Usmani, Surah Al-Asr was revealed in the early Makkan period when the Prophet ๏ทบ faced opposition from the Quraysh. While specific individuals are not named, the Surah addressed the broader context of a society steeped in ignorance, idolatry, and moral decline. It was a divine call to prioritize faith and good deeds, countering the Qurayshโs arrogance and disbelief with a timeless formula for success.
๐น Merits, Peculiarities, and Virtues
Surah Al-Asr is remarkable for its brevity and depth, summarizing the path to salvation in three verses. ๐
It declares that all of humanity is in a state of loss except those who believe, perform righteous deeds, and encourage truth and patience. ๐
Reciting this Surah reminds believers to value time and live purposefully, aligning actions with faith. ๐
Its concise message makes it a popular choice in prayers, urging reflection and spiritual growth. ๐น
๐ Tafsir (Simplified)
Surah Al-Asr swears by time, highlighting its fleeting nature and the human tendency to waste it. It warns that people are at a loss unless they embrace faith, perform good deeds, and support one another in truth and patience. The Surahโs universal message applies to all, emphasizing that true success lies in aligning oneโs life with divine guidance and communal responsibility. ๐
๐ Hadith Commentary
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: โSurah Al-Asr is equivalent to a third of the Qurโan.โ (Muslim, Tirmidhi)
Imam Shafiโi reportedly said: โIf people reflected on Surah Al-Asr alone, it would suffice them.โ (Tafsir sources)
These narrations highlight the Surahโs profound significance, encapsulating the core principles of faith and action necessary for salvation.
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๐ Arabic with Translation
ุจูุณูู
ู ุงูููููู ุงูุฑููุญูู
ููฐูู ุงูุฑููุญููู
ู
Transliteration: Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem
Translation: With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.
1๏ธโฃ ููุงููุนูุตูุฑู
Transliteration: Wal-โasr
Translation: By the time.
2๏ธโฃ ุฅูููู ุงููุฅููุณูุงูู ููููู ุฎูุณูุฑู
Transliteration: Innal-insana lafee khusr
Translation: Indeed, mankind is in loss.
3๏ธโฃ ุฅููููุง ุงูููุฐูููู ุขู
ููููุง ููุนูู
ููููุง ุงูุตููุงููุญูุงุชู ููุชูููุงุตูููุง ุจูุงููุญูููู ููุชูููุงุตูููุง ุจูุงูุตููุจูุฑู
Transliteration: Illalladheena amanu waโamilus-salihati watawasaw bil-haqqi watawasaw bis-sabr
Translation: Except those who have believed and done righteous deeds and exhorted each other to truth and exhorted each other to patience.
๐ก Message
Surah Al-Asr underscores the fleeting nature of time and the path to salvation through faith, righteous actions, and mutual encouragement toward truth and patience. It warns that neglecting these principles leads to spiritual loss, urging believers to live with purpose and accountability. ๐
๐๏ธ Key Lessons
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Value Time: Time is a precious resource; use it for worship and good deeds. โณ
-
Embrace Faith: True success requires belief in Allah and His guidance. ๐
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Perform Good Deeds: Righteous actions are essential for salvation. ๐น
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Encourage Truth: Promote honesty and righteousness in your community. ๐
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Practice Patience: Endure trials with steadfastness to earn Allahโs reward. ๐ช
๐ Historical Significance of Surah Al-Asr
Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Asr addressed the Qurayshโs disbelief and moral decline during the early years of Islam. It challenged their focus on worldly pursuits by emphasizing faith and righteous conduct as the path to true success. Its universal message continues to inspire believers to prioritize spiritual growth and ethical behavior, transcending cultural and historical boundaries. ๐
๐น Virtues of Reciting Surah Al-Asr
Reciting Surah Al-Asr brings immense spiritual benefits. Its brevity makes it easy to memorize and recite in prayers, serving as a constant reminder to align oneโs life with faith and good deeds. Hadith traditions equate its significance to a third of the Qurโan, highlighting its comprehensive guidance. Regular recitation fosters mindfulness, encourages repentance, and strengthens resolve to live purposefully. ๐
๐ Word-by-Word Translation & Grammar
Arabic Word |
English Meaning |
Root |
Type |
Grammar & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
ููุงููุนูุตูุฑู (Wal-โasr) |
By the time |
ุน ุต ุฑ |
Noun |
Preposition wa (oath) + al-โasr (time), genitive. Refers to time or late afternoon. |
ุฅูููู (Inna) |
Indeed |
โ |
Particle |
Emphasis particle, introduces nominal sentence. |
ุงููุฅููุณูุงูู (Al-Insana) |
Mankind |
ุฃ ู ุณ |
Noun |
Definite, accusative. Generic noun for humanity. |
ููููู (Lafee) |
Surely in |
โ |
Particle + Preposition |
La (emphasis) + fee (in), governs genitive. |
ุฎูุณูุฑู (Khusr) |
Loss |
ุฎ ุณ ุฑ |
Noun |
Indefinite, genitive. State of ruin or loss. |
ุฅููููุง (Illa) |
Except |
โ |
Particle |
Exception particle, introduces exception clause. |
ุงูููุฐูููู (Alladheena) |
Those who |
โ |
Relative pronoun |
Plural, masculine. Connects to following verbs. |
ุขู ููููุง (Amanu) |
They believed |
ุฃ ู ู |
Verb (Form IV) |
Past tense: ุขู ูู (amana, he believed). Present: ููุคูู ููู (yuโminu, he believes). Imperative: ุขู ููู (amin, believe!). Plural, masculine. |
ููุนูู ููููุง (Waโamilu) |
And they did |
ุน ู ู |
Verb (Form I) |
Past tense: ุนูู ููู (โamila, he did). Present: ููุนูู ููู (yaโmalu, he does). Imperative: ุงูุนูู ููู (iโmal, do!). Plural, masculine. |
ุงูุตููุงููุญูุงุชู (As-Salihat) |
Righteous deeds |
ุต ู ุญ |
Noun |
Definite, accusative, feminine plural. Refers to good deeds. |
ููุชูููุงุตูููุง (Watawasaw) |
And they exhorted each other |
ู ุต ู |
Verb (Form VI) |
Past tense: ุชูููุงุตูู (tawasฤ, he exhorted). Present: ููุชูููุงุตูู (yatawasฤ, he exhorts). Imperative: ุชูููุงุตู (tawasฤ, exhort!). Plural, masculine. |
ุจูุงููุญูููู (Bil-Haqqi) |
To truth |
ุญ ู ู |
Noun |
Preposition bi + al-haqq (truth), genitive. |
ููุชูููุงุตูููุง (Watawasaw) |
And they exhorted each other |
ู ุต ู |
Verb (Form VI) |
Same as above, repeated for emphasis. |
ุจูุงูุตููุจูุฑู (Bis-Sabr) |
To patience |
ุต ุจ ุฑย ย ย |
Noun |
Preposition bi + as-sabr (patience), genitive.
|
READ OTHER SURAHS
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