Timeless Gems of Sūrah al-ʿAṣr
A commentary on Sūrah al-ʿAṣr: why Imām al-Shāfiʿī said this chapter alone would suffice, and the four qualities that save humanity from loss.
The Chapter of Time.
The Qur’an, the ultimate source of guidance for Muslims, holds the key to leading a successful life both in this world and the hereafter. The passages of the Qur’an contain advice and guidance in the form of laws, parables, stories, and arguments for those who choose to believe in God and the Day of Judgment. Its teachings and principles form the foundation of the Islamic way of life.
One of the most concise and poignant expressions of the Qur’an’s inimitability is the chapter of Sūrah al-ʿAṣr:
وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
“By Time! Indeed, mankind is at loss — except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, and advise each other to truth and advise each other to patience.”
— al-ʿAṣr, 1–3
The occasion of revelation
Journeying back to the time of revelation, there was an individual named Musaylima al-Kadhdhāb — one of a series of people who falsely claimed prophethood. An incident recorded by Ibn Kathīr illustrates the power of this Sūrah:
When ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ visited Musaylima and was asked what had been revealed to “his companion” Muhammad ﷺ, ʿAmr recited Sūrah al-ʿAṣr. Musaylima thought for a while, then claimed something similar had been revealed to him. He said: “O Wabr (a small furry mammal)! O Wabr! You are only two ears and a chest, and the rest of you is digging and burrowing.” ʿAmr said plainly: “By Allah, you know that I know you are lying.”
Ibn Kathīr further states that Musaylima intended by these nonsensical verses to produce something which would oppose the Qur’an — yet it was not even convincing to idol-worshippers of that time.
At-Ṭabarānī recorded that the companions of the Messenger ﷺ would never part from each other without one of them first reciting Sūrah al-ʿAṣr to the other, then offering the greeting of salām. Imām al-Shāfiʿī said: “If the people were to ponder on this Sūrah, it would be sufficient for them.”
The oath of Time
This Sūrah is a Makkī Sūrah of three verses. It is one of the shortest chapters in the Holy Qur’an, but comprises countless lessons.
It begins with an oath: (I swear) by the oath of Time. When Allāh takes an oath in the Qur’an it signifies something of great importance. The word al-ʿAṣr is comparable to al-Dahr (time in general), regarding which the Prophet ﷺ says: “Do not abuse Time, for it is Allāh Who is the Time.” Famous scholars like al-Khaṭṭābī and Imām al-Nawawī unanimously agree that this means Allāh is the controller of time.
Mankind is at loss
The second verse — “Indeed, man is surely at loss” — addresses each and every human being, denoted by the specific usage of the word insān as indicated by al-Shanqīṭī. Ash-Shawkānī states that when one person is specifically being addressed rather than a group, they become more fearful as all the responsibility is upon them.
The reason the companions would recite these verses to each other before parting was to remind one another not to waste time.
Shāh Walīullāh takes Wal-ʿAṣr from the perspective of special days associated with Allāh: the Day Allāh created the human being (Ādam), the Day He revealed the Qur’an to Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, the Day Allāh destroyed Pharaoh and saved Mūsā, the Battle of Badr, and the Day of Judgment when the believers will see Allāh. By saying al-ʿAṣr, believers will remember these days so they will not want to be at loss.
Ibn Taymiyyah mentions two obstacles that keep humanity from accepting the truth of Islam:
- Shubuhāt (Doubts) — an intellectual problem: people feel the answers of callers to Islam are not satisfactory
- Shahawāt (Temptations) — a psychological problem: people want to follow forbidden desires
The four saving qualities
In response to these two obstacles, the verse continues: “Except for those who have believed, done righteous deeds, and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”
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Advising each other to truth eliminates the doubts of a person — solving the intellectual problem. Az-Zamakhsharī mentions that Ḥaqq (truth) in this verse includes Tawḥīd, obedience to Allāh and His Messenger, being distant from worldly ambitions, and inclination to the hereafter.
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Advising each other to patience encourages people to remain upon the truth even through tempting times — removing the psychological problem.
Time and human loss
Muḥammad Shafīʿ skilfully expands on the relationship between Time and Human Loss. All conditions of man — his growth, his movements, his actions and morality — take place within the cosmos of Time. Humans will lose the capital of their existence: hours, days, months, and years of life pass quickly, spiritual and material potentialities decline, and abilities fade.
This is ultimately the nature of life in this world: the nature of continual loss. Illustrated beautifully in poetry:
“Your life comprises a few breaths that can be counted; when one of them is sent out, a part of your life has diminished.”
Allāh has granted man the invaluable capital of his life so that he may invest it in a profitable venture. If he invests his capital of life in good works, there will be no limit to the profitable returns; but if he invests it in evil works, he will even lose his capital itself.
