E X P L A N AT I O N O F S U R AT U L A S R
The Passage of Time
Prepared by: Aqeela Shah
T R A N S L AT I O N O F S U R AT U L A S R
• Surah # 103
• Translation: The Clear Quran (Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
• In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
1. By the ˹passage of˺ time!
2. Surely humanity is in ˹grave˺ loss,
3. except those who have faith, do good,
and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance.
A B O U T S U R AT U L A S R
• Most scholars agree that it was revealed during the early phase of Islam, in Makkah.
• Imam Al-Shafi’i commented that if people pondered this surah well, it alone would
suffice us, because of how much meaning it contains.
• There were companions of Prophet Muhammad who, when they met each other, they
would recite this surah to each other before parting ways.
• It has the least number of aayat of any surah in the Quran. Despite being only 3 aayat
long, and taking us so little time to read, the weight of it is amazingly heavy, especially
as it pertains to the true value of time.
B Y T H E ˹ PA S S A G E O F ˺ T I M E !
• There is an implied oath here, meaning “I swear by time that…”
• Allah only takes oaths by things that have great significance.
• Trying to grasp the true nature of time leads us to the humble recognition of the
power and might of the One who structured our worldly existence within the
confines of time as we know it.
• Various other surahs contain oaths by specific times
e.g. Wal Fajr (By the dawn)
• The word “Asr” is a reference to time, but scholars differ on the specifics of it:
➢ The concept of time within which we function as humans
➢ End of the daytime, which is also the time of Salatul Asr
➢ A period of time in the world, specifically, the time of Prophet Muhammad ()ص
S U R E LY H U M A N I T Y I S I N L O S S ,
• The default for every single person is that they are in a state of
continuous loss.
• True loss, as a believer, is loss in the Eternal Afterlife.
• Loss is not seizing opportunities to do good, then the time passes.
• This loss, when eventually recognized, will lead to inevitable regret.
• What’s the opposite of loss?
• How can we strive for success? What counts as true success?
• This surah mentions 4 specific characteristics of the ones who are
excluded from being in a state of loss:
EXCEPT 1T H O S E W H O H AV E F A I T H
• What does it mean to “have faith”?
• Islamic faith encompasses:
➢ Belief in our hearts that the unseen is true: Allah, His Angels, His Prophets etc.
➢ Affirming that belief by acting on it with our limbs: striving to live in conformity with the
divine guidance that Allah sent.
➢ Pronouncing it with our tongues: Calling others to bear witness to the truth, encouraging
each other to adhere to it.
2D O G O O D,
• What counts as “good”?
1. Our actions are assessed and judged based on our intentions.
2. They should fall within the limits taught to us by Prophet Muhammad ()ص.
• What about those who commit sins, i.e. do “bad”?
• “All of the Children of Adam are sinners, but the best sinners are those who repent
often” (Hadeeth)
• “Establish prayer at both ends of the day and in the early part of the night. Surely good
deeds wipe out evil deeds …” (Quran 11:114)
AND 3U R G E E A C H O T H E R T O T H E T RU T H
• This is included in “doing good” but is given special mention.
• Other parts of the Quran point us to the two previously mentioned characteristics (faith
and good deeds), but this surah goes further, directing us to an even higher level, by
calling us to mutual action, working towards communal upliftment, by exhorting each
other to two key virtues: truth and perseverance.
• “You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid
evil, and believe in Allah…” (Quran 3:110)
• We must be able to recognize the truth (in belief, morality etc.) for ourselves, then we
can urge others to it.
A N D 4U R G E E AC H O T H E R T O
PERSEVERANCE
• The path of striving to do good and encouraging each other to act based on truth is a
path that requires patience and perseverance.
• We are once more called to mutually encourage and support each other in sticking to
the path that will lead to success.
• What does the Arabic term Sabr (patience and perseverance) mean?
➢ To bear the difficulties that may present themselves while trying to attain something good,
and not giving up until it has been attained.
➢ To endure the hardship of leaving something that is bad.
REFLECTIONS
• A person’s value comes from how they spend
their time.
• Whatever time has been assigned to each of us
is our currency to trade with. How should we
invest this currency for maximum returns?
• Will we be audited on how we used this
currency, time?
