You are currently viewing Surah Al-Asr: Meaning, Lessons, and Detailed Grammar Breakdown

Surah Al-Asr: Meaning, Lessons, and Detailed Grammar Breakdown

๐Ÿ“– Surah Al-Asr: Meaning, Lessons, and Detailed Grammar Breakdown ๐ŸŒŸ

Makkan Surah, 3 Verses


๐ŸŒŸ 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 Muhammadโ€™s ๏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.


๐Ÿ•‹ 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 Qurayshโ€™s arrogance and disbelief with a timeless formula for success.


๐ŸŒน Merits, Peculiarities, and Virtues

Surah Al-Asr is remarkable for its brevity and depth, summarizing the path to salvation in three verses. ๐ŸŒŸ
It declares that all of humanity is in a state of loss except those who believe, perform righteous deeds, and encourage truth and patience. ๐Ÿ›‘
Reciting this Surah reminds believers to value time and live purposefully, aligning actions with faith. ๐Ÿ™
Its concise message makes it a popular choice in prayers, urging reflection and spiritual growth. ๐ŸŒน


๐Ÿ“– 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 Surahโ€™s universal message applies to all, emphasizing that true success lies in aligning oneโ€™s life with divine guidance and communal responsibility. ๐Ÿ•‹


๐Ÿ•Œ Hadith Commentary

The Prophet ๏ทบ said: โ€œSurah Al-Asr is equivalent to a third of the Qurโ€™an.โ€ (Muslim, Tirmidhi)
Imam Shafiโ€™i reportedly said: โ€œIf people reflected on Surah Al-Asr alone, it would suffice them.โ€ (Tafsir sources)
These narrations highlight the Surahโ€™s profound significance, encapsulating the core principles of faith and action necessary for salvation.

 


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๐Ÿ•‹ Arabic with Translation

ุจูุณู’ู…ู ุงู„ู„ู‘ูŽู‡ู ุงู„ุฑู‘ูŽุญู’ู…ูŽูฐู†ู ุงู„ุฑู‘ูŽุญููŠู…ู
Transliteration: Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem
Translation: With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.

1๏ธโƒฃ ูˆูŽุงู„ู’ุนูŽุตู’ุฑู
Transliteration: Wal-โ€˜asr
Translation: By the time.

2๏ธโƒฃ ุฅูู†ู‘ูŽ ุงู„ู’ุฅูู†ุณูŽุงู†ูŽ ู„ูŽูููŠ ุฎูุณู’ุฑู
Transliteration: Innal-insana lafee khusr
Translation: Indeed, mankind is in loss.

3๏ธโƒฃ ุฅูู„ู‘ูŽุง ุงู„ู‘ูŽุฐููŠู†ูŽ ุขู…ูŽู†ููˆุง ูˆูŽุนูŽู…ูู„ููˆุง ุงู„ุตู‘ูŽุงู„ูุญูŽุงุชู ูˆูŽุชูŽูˆูŽุงุตูŽูˆู’ุง ุจูุงู„ู’ุญูŽู‚ู‘ู ูˆูŽุชูŽูˆูŽุงุตูŽูˆู’ุง ุจูุงู„ุตู‘ูŽุจู’ุฑู
Transliteration: Illalladheena amanu waโ€˜amilus-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.


๐Ÿ’ก 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. ๐ŸŒŸ


๐Ÿ—๏ธ Key Lessons

  1. Value Time: Time is a precious resource; use it for worship and good deeds. โณ

  2. Embrace Faith: True success requires belief in Allah and His guidance. ๐Ÿ™

  3. Perform Good Deeds: Righteous actions are essential for salvation. ๐ŸŒน

  4. Encourage Truth: Promote honesty and righteousness in your community. ๐Ÿ•‹

  5. Practice Patience: Endure trials with steadfastness to earn Allahโ€™s reward. ๐Ÿ’ช


๐Ÿ• Historical Significance of Surah Al-Asr

Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Asr addressed the Qurayshโ€™s 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. ๐Ÿ•Œ


๐ŸŒน 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 oneโ€™s life with faith and good deeds. Hadith traditions equate its significance to a third of the Qurโ€™an, highlighting its comprehensive guidance. Regular recitation fosters mindfulness, encourages repentance, and strengthens resolve to live purposefully. ๐ŸŒŸ


๐Ÿ“˜ Word-by-Word Translation & Grammar

Arabic Word

English Meaning

Root

Type

Grammar & Notes

ูˆูŽุงู„ู’ุนูŽุตู’ุฑู (Wal-โ€˜asr)

By the time

ุน ุต ุฑ

Noun

Preposition wa (oath) + al-โ€˜asr (time), genitive. Refers to time or late afternoon.

ุฅูู†ู‘ูŽ (Inna)

Indeed

โ€”

Particle

Emphasis particle, introduces nominal sentence.

ุงู„ู’ุฅูู†ุณูŽุงู†ูŽ (Al-Insana)

Mankind

ุฃ ู† ุณ

Noun

Definite, accusative. Generic noun for humanity.

ู„ูŽูููŠ (Lafee)

Surely in

โ€”

Particle + Preposition

La (emphasis) + fee (in), governs genitive.

ุฎูุณู’ุฑู (Khusr)

Loss

ุฎ ุณ ุฑ

Noun

Indefinite, genitive. State of ruin or loss.

ุฅูู„ู‘ูŽุง (Illa)

Except

โ€”

Particle

Exception particle, introduces exception clause.

ุงู„ู‘ูŽุฐููŠู†ูŽ (Alladheena)

Those who

โ€”

Relative pronoun

Plural, masculine. Connects to following verbs.

ุขู…ูŽู†ููˆุง (Amanu)

They believed

ุฃ ู… ู†

Verb (Form IV)

Past tense: ุขู…ู†ูŽ (amana, he believed). Present: ูŠูุคู’ู…ูู†ู (yuโ€™minu, he believes). Imperative: ุขู…ูู†ู’ (amin, believe!). Plural, masculine.

ูˆูŽุนูŽู…ูู„ููˆุง (Waโ€˜amilu)

And they did

ุน ู… ู„

Verb (Form I)

Past tense: ุนูŽู…ูู„ูŽ (โ€˜amila, he did). Present: ูŠูŽุนู’ู…ูŽู„ู (yaโ€˜malu, he does). Imperative: ุงูุนู’ู…ูŽู„ู’ (iโ€˜mal, do!). Plural, masculine.

ุงู„ุตู‘ูŽุงู„ูุญูŽุงุชู (As-Salihat)

Righteous deeds

ุต ู„ ุญ

Noun

Definite, accusative, feminine plural. Refers to good deeds.

ูˆูŽุชูŽูˆูŽุงุตูŽูˆู’ุง (Watawasaw)

And they exhorted each other

ูˆ ุต ูŠ

Verb (Form VI)

Past tense: ุชูŽูˆูŽุงุตูŽู‰ (tawasฤ, he exhorted). Present: ูŠูŽุชูŽูˆูŽุงุตูŽู‰ (yatawasฤ, he exhorts). Imperative: ุชูŽูˆูŽุงุตูŽ (tawasฤ, exhort!). Plural, masculine.

ุจูุงู„ู’ุญูŽู‚ู‘ู (Bil-Haqqi)

To truth

ุญ ู‚ ู‚

Noun

Preposition bi + al-haqq (truth), genitive.

ูˆูŽุชูŽูˆูŽุงุตูŽูˆู’ุง (Watawasaw)

And they exhorted each other

ูˆ ุต ูŠ

Verb (Form VI)

Same as above, repeated for emphasis.

ุจูุงู„ุตู‘ูŽุจู’ุฑู (Bis-Sabr)

To patience

ุต ุจ ุฑย  ย  ย 

Noun

Preposition bi + as-sabr (patience), genitive.

 

 

 

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