Surah Al-Asr

This Surah is a matchless specimen of comprehensiveness and brevity. A whole world of meaning has been compressed into its few brief words, which is too vast in content to be fully expressed even in a book. In it, in a clear and plain way it has been stated what is the way to true success for man and what is the way to ruin and destruction for him. Imam Shafi’i has very rightly said that if the people only considered this Surah well, it alone would suffice them for their guidance. How important this Surah was in the sight of the Companions can be judged from the tradition cited from Abdullah bin Hisn ad-Darimi Abu Madinah, according to which whenever any two of them met they would not part company until they had recited this Surah to each other. (Tabarani) Virtues of the Surah Shuyaib ibn Hudaifah (ra) said, “When two Companions of the Prophet ﷺwould meet they would not depart until they had read Surah al-Asr (103) and then they would give salam (and leave).” (al-Awsat of Tabrani and Shu’b of al-Baihaqi) Imam Shafi’ee said, “If only mankind reflected upon this Surah, it would be sufficient for them.”