العصر
Surah Al-Asr (العصر) - Transliteration, Translation and Audio
Chapter 103 of the Quran, 3 verses, "The Declining Day"
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Al-Asr Transliteration and English Translation
- 1
وَٱلْعَصْرِ
Wal' asr
By time,
- 2
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ
Innal insaana lafee khusr
Indeed, mankind is in loss,
- 3
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
Il lal lazeena aamanu wa 'amilus saali haati wa tawa saw bil haqqi wa tawa saw bis sabr
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
About Surah Al-Asr
Surah Al-Asr (Arabic: العصر), meaning "The Declining Day", is the 103rd chapter of the Quran and has 3 verses. It was revealed in Makkah in the early years of the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah makes a stark claim: every human being is in a state of loss, with one exception.
Allah swears by al-asr, which commentators explain as time itself or the late afternoon as the day declines, and declares that mankind is in loss. The only exception is one group of people who hold all four qualities at once: they believe, they do righteous deeds, they urge one another to the truth, and they urge one another to patience. Faith and good deeds shape the individual, while urging truth and patience build a community whose members support one another. A saying widely attributed to Imam ash-Shafi'i holds that if people reflected on this surah alone, it would be enough for them.
Main Themes of Surah Al-Asr
- An oath by time, the declining day
- Every human being is in loss
- Faith and good deeds joined with truth and patience
- Urging one another to truth and patience
- The value of time that passes and never returns
Listen to Surah Al-Asr with Audio-Synced Transliteration
Play Surah Al-Asr and follow the Arabic text and Latin transliteration as each verse is recited. You can adjust the speed or loop a verse range for practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Surah Al-Asr
- What is the meaning of Surah Al-Asr?
- Allah swears by time that every human being is in loss, except those who believe, do righteous deeds, urge one another to the truth and urge one another to patience. The surah is a complete short guide to a successful life: personal faith and action joined with mutual encouragement in goodness.
- Who is exempted from loss in Surah Al-Asr?
- Verse 3 exempts one group: those who combine all four qualities together, namely faith, righteous deeds, urging one another to the truth and urging one another to patience. They are not four separate groups; the verse describes people who hold all of these qualities at the same time.
- Why does Allah swear by time in Surah Al-Asr?
- Time is the stage on which every human life is won or lost, so the oath draws attention to how each hour is spent. Commentators explain al-asr as time itself, or as the late afternoon when the day declines, a reminder that a lifetime passes just as quickly.