The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch, Time — Verse 1

By Time! — or it ‘asr can mean the period from the declining of the sun to sunset or it may denote the afternoon prayer.

By the era! Surely man is in loss. The Real swears an oath by the days and the time, which are the locus of taking heed for the gazer and the trace of the power of the Powerful: The Adamite is always in decrease and loss, his life in ruins. He is destitute and bewildered in the passing days. Every day that passes him by in his heedlessness is one part of his decreasing life, bringing him closer to the Last Day. He travels in decrease and fancies that he is increasing. He brings forth disobedience as ready cash and throws off obedience for tomorrow. You said you'd do the work fully tomorrow. Who gives you the assurance of tomorrow? God's Messenger, who was the paragon and the best of creation, the chosen and pulled up by the Real, said that he never got up in the morning expecting to reach the evening, and he never slept in the evening expecting to reach the morning; that he never put a morsel in his mouth supposing that he would finish eating it before he died. That paragon often used to say in supplication, “O Lord, give me a life in the sweetness of obedience, give me a death pure of alienation and slipping, and bring me into Your Presence neither shamed by my deeds nor embarrassed by the passing days.”

By the era! Surely man is in loss. The Real swears an oath by the days and the time, which are the locus of taking heed for the gazer and the trace of the power of the Powerful: The Adamite is always in decrease and loss, his life in ruins. He is destitute and bewildered in the passing days. Every day that passes him by in his heedlessness is one part of his decreasing life, bringing him closer to the Last Day. He travels in decrease and fancies that he is increasing. He brings forth disobedience as ready cash and throws off obedience for tomorrow. You said you'd do the work fully tomorrow. Who gives you the assurance of tomorrow? God's Messenger, who was the paragon and the best of creation, the chosen and pulled up by the Real, said that he never got up in the morning expecting to reach the evening, and he never slept in the evening expecting to reach the morning; that he never put a morsel in his mouth supposing that he would finish eating it before he died. That paragon often used to say in supplication, “O Lord, give me a life in the sweetness of obedience, give me a death pure of alienation and slipping, and bring me into Your Presence neither shamed by my deeds nor embarrassed by the passing days.”

By the era! Surely man is in loss. The Real swears an oath by the days and the time, which are the locus of taking heed for the gazer and the trace of the power of the Powerful: The Adamite is always in decrease and loss, his life in ruins. He is destitute and bewildered in the passing days. Every day that passes him by in his heedlessness is one part of his decreasing life, bringing him closer to the Last Day. He travels in decrease and fancies that he is increasing. He brings forth disobedience as ready cash and throws off obedience for tomorrow. You said you'd do the work fully tomorrow. Who gives you the assurance of tomorrow? God's Messenger, who was the paragon and the best of creation, the chosen and pulled up by the Real, said that he never got up in the morning expecting to reach the evening, and he never slept in the evening expecting to reach the morning; that he never put a morsel in his mouth supposing that he would finish eating it before he died. That paragon often used to say in supplication, “O Lord, give me a life in the sweetness of obedience, give me a death pure of alienation and slipping, and bring me into Your Presence neither shamed by my deeds nor embarrassed by the passing days.”

By the era! Surely man is in loss. The Real swears an oath by the days and the time, which are the locus of taking heed for the gazer and the trace of the power of the Powerful: The Adamite is always in decrease and loss, his life in ruins. He is destitute and bewildered in the passing days. Every day that passes him by in his heedlessness is one part of his decreasing life, bringing him closer to the Last Day. He travels in decrease and fancies that he is increasing. He brings forth disobedience as ready cash and throws off obedience for tomorrow. You said you'd do the work fully tomorrow. Who gives you the assurance of tomorrow? God's Messenger, who was the paragon and the best of creation, the chosen and pulled up by the Real, said that he never got up in the morning expecting to reach the evening, and he never slept in the evening expecting to reach the morning; that he never put a morsel in his mouth supposing that he would finish eating it before he died. That paragon often used to say in supplication, “O Lord, give me a life in the sweetness of obedience, give me a death pure of alienation and slipping, and bring me into Your Presence neither shamed by my deeds nor embarrassed by the passing days.”

أقسم الله بالدهر على أن بني آدم لفي هلكة ونقصان. ولا يجوز للعبد أن يقسم إلا بالله، فإن القسم بغير الله شرك.

سورة العصر: ذكروا أن عمرو بن العاص وفد على مسيلمة الكذاب وذلك بعدما بعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقبل أن يسلم عمرو فقال له مسيلمة ماذا أنزل غلى صاحبكم في هذه المدة؟ فقال لقد أنزل عليه سورة وجيزة بليغة فقال وما هي؟ فقال "والعصر إن الإنسان لفي خسر إلا الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات وتواصوا بالحق وتواصوا بالصبر" ففكر مسيلمة هنيهة ثم قال وفد أنزل علي مثلها فقال له عمرو وما هو؟ فقال: يا وبر يا وبر إنما أنت أذنان وصدر وسائرك حفر نقر ثم قال كيف ترى يا عمرو فقال له عمرو؟ والله إنك لتعلم أنى أعلم أنك تكذب. وقد رأيت أبا بكر الخرائطي أسند في كتابه المعروف "بمساوئ الأخلاق" في الجزء الثانى منه شيئا من هذا أو قريبا منه. والوبر دويبة تشبه الهر أعظم شيء فيه أذناه وصدره وباقيه دميم فأراد مسيلمة أن يركب ن هذا الهذيان ما يعارض به القرآن. فلم يرج ذلك على عابد الأوثان في دلك الزمان. وذكر الطبرانى من طريق حماد بن سلمة عن ثابت عن عبيد الله بن حصن قال كان الرجلان من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا التقيا لم يفترقا إلا على أن يقرأ أحدهما على الآخر سوره العصر إلى آخرها ثم يسلم أحدهما على الآخر: وقال الشافعي رحمه الله: لو تدبر الناس هذه السورة لوسعتهم. العصر: الزمان الذي يقع فيه حركات بني آدم من خير وشر وقال مالك عن زيد بن أسلم هو العصر والمشهور الأول.

للعلماء أقوال متعددة فى المقصود بالعصر هنا فمنهم من يرى أن المقصود به : الدهر كله ، لما فيه من العبر التى تدل دلالة واضحة على عظيم قدرة الله - تعالى - ، ولما فيه من الأحداث التى يراها الناس بأعينهم ، ويعرفونها عن غيرهم . .فهم يرون ويسمعون كم من غنى قد صار فقيرا ، وقوى قد صار ضعيفا ، ومسرور قد أصبح حزينا . . ورحم الله القائل :أشاب الصغير وأفنى الكبير ... كر الغداة ومر العشىقال القرطبى : قوله - تعالى - : ( والعصر ) أى : الدهر ، قال ابن عباس وغيره فالعصر مثل الدهر . . وأقسم به - سبحانه - لما فيه من التنبيه بتصرف الأحوال وتبدلها .ومنهم من يرى أن المقصود به : وقت صلاة العصر ، وقد صدر صاحب الكشاف تفسيره لهذه الآية بهذا الرأى فقال : أقسم - سبحانه - بصلاة العصر لفضلها ، بدليل قوله - تعالى - : ( حَافِظُواْ عَلَى الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى ) - وهى صلاة العصر - ، وقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " من فاتته صلاة العصر فكأنما وَتِرَ أهله وماله " ولأن التكليف فى أدائها أشق لتهافت الناس فى تجاراتهم ومكاسبهم آخر النهار . .ومنهم من يرى أن المراد بالعصر هنا : عصر النبوة . لأفضليته بالنسبة لما سبقه من عصور .وقد رجح الإِمام ابن جرير القول الأول فقال : والصواب من القول فى ذلك أن يقال : إن ربنا أقسم بالعصر ، والعصر اسم الدهر ، وهو العشى ، والليل والنهار . .

القول في تأويل قوله جل جلاله وتقدست أسماؤه: وَالْعَصْرِ (1)اختلف أهل التأويل في تأويل قوله: ( وَالْعَصْرِ ) فقال بعضهم: هو قسم أقسم ربنا تعالى ذكره بالدهر، فقال: العصر: هو الدهر.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني عليّ، قال: ثنا أبو صالح، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس، في قوله: ( وَالْعَصْرِ ) قال: العصر: ساعة من ساعات النهار.حدثنا ابن عبد الأعلى، قال: ثنا ابن ثور، عن معمر، عن الحسن ( وَالْعَصْرِ ) قال: هو العشيّ.والصواب من القول في ذلك: أن يقال: إن ربنا أقسم بالعصر ( وَالْعَصْرِ ) اسم للدهر، وهو العشيّ والليل والنهار، ولم يخصص مما شمله هذا الاسم معنى دون معنى، فكلّ ما لزِمه هذا الاسم، فداخل فيما أقسم به جلّ ثناؤه.

مكية( والعصر ) قال ابن عباس : والدهر . قيل : أقسم به لأن فيه عبرة للناظر . وقيل : معناه ورب العصر ، وكذلك في أمثاله . وقال ابن كيسان : أراد بالعصر الليل والنهار ، يقال لهما العصران . وقال الحسن : من بعد زوال الشمس إلى غروبها . وقال قتادة : آخر ساعة من ساعات النهار . وقال مقاتل : أقسم بصلاة العصر وهي الصلاة الوسطى .

وَالْعَصْرِ (1) أقسم الله تعالى بالعصر قسماً يراد به تأكيد الخبر كما هو شأن أقسام القرآن .والمقسَم به من مظاهر بديع التكوين الرباني الدال على عظيم قدرته وسعة علمه .وللعصر معاننٍ يتعين أن يَكون المراد منها لا يعدو أن يكون حالة دالة على صفة من صفات الأفعال الربانية ، يتعين إما بإضافته إلى ما يُقدر ، أو بالقرينة ، أو بالعهد ، وأيَّاً ما كان المرادُ منه هنا فإن القسم به باعتبار أنه زمن يذكِّر بعظيم قدرة الله تعالى في خلق العالم وأحواله ، وبأمور عظيمة مباركة مثل الصلاة المخصوصة أو عصرٍ معين مبارك .وأشهر إطلاق لفظ العصر أنه علَم بالغلبة لوقتتٍ ما بين آخر وقت الظهر وبين اصفرار الشمس فمبدؤه إذا صار ظل الجسم مثلَه بعد القَدْر الذي كان عليه عند زوال الشمس ويمتد إلى أن يصير ظلُّ الجسم مثلَيْ قدرِه بعد الظل الذي كان له عند زوال الشمس . وذلك وقت اصفرار الشمس ، والعصر مبدأ العشيّ . ويعقبه الأصيل والاحمرار وهو ما قبل غروب الشمس ، قال الحارث بن حِلزة :آنستْ نبأة وأفزَعها القَنَّ ... اصُ عَصراً وقَدْ دَنَا الإِمساءفذلك وقت يؤذن بقرب انتهاء النهار ، ويذكر بخلقة الشمس والأرض ، ونظام حركة الأرض حول الشمس ، وهي الحركة التي يتكون منها الليل والنهار كل يوم وهو من هذا الوجه كالقسم بالضحى وبالليل والنهار وبالفجر من الأحوال الجوية المتغيرة بتغير توجه شعاع الشمس نحو الكرة الأرضية .وفي ذلك الوقت يتهيأ الناس للانقطاع عن أعمالهم في النهار كالقيام على حقولهم وجنَّاتهم ، وتجاراتهم في أسواقهم ، فيذكر بحكمة نظام المجتمع الإِنساني وما ألهم الله في غريزته من دأب على العمل ونظاممٍ لابتدائه وانقطاعه . وفيه يتحفز الناس للإِقبال على بيوتهم لمبيتهم والتأنس بأهليهم وأولادهم . وهو من النعمة أو من النعيم ، وفيه إيماء إلى التذكير بمَثَل الحياة حين تدنو آجال الناس بعد مضي أطوار الشباب والاكتهال والهَرم .وتعريفه باللام على هذه الوجوه تعريف العهد الذهني أي كل عَصْر .ويطلق العصر على الصلاة الموقتة بوقت العَصر . وهي صلاة معظمة . قيل : هي المراد بالوسطى في قوله تعالى : { حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى } [ البقرة : 238 ] . وجاء في الحديث : « من فاتته صلاة العصر فكأنما وُتِرَ أهلَه ومالَه » . وورد في الحديث الصحيح : « ثلاثة لا يكلمهم الله يوم القيامة » فذَكَر « ورجل حلف يميناً فاجرة بعد العصر على سلعة لقد أعطي بها ما لم يُعْطَ » وتعريفه على هذا تعريف العهد وصار علَماً بالغلبة كما هو شأن كثير من أسماء الأجناس المعرفة باللام مثل العَقَبَة .ويطلق العصر على مدة معلومة لوجود جِيل من الناس ، أو مَلِك أو نبيء ، أو دين ، ويعيَّن بالإِضافة ، فيقال : عصر الفِطَحْل ، وعصر إبراهيم ، وعصر الإِسكندر ، وعصر الجاهلية ، فيجوز أن يكون مراد هذا الإِطلاق هنا ويكون المعنيّ به عصرَ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم والتعريف فيه تعريف العهد الحضوري مثل التعريف في ( اليوم ) من قوْلك : فعلت اليوم كذا ، فالقسم به كالقسم بحياته في قوله تعالى :{ لعمرك } [ الحجر : 72 ] . قال الفخر : فهو تعالى أقسم بزمانه في هذه الآية وبمكانه في قوله تعالى : { وأنت حل بهذا البلد } [ البلد : 2 ] وبعمره في قوله : { لعمرك } . اه .ويجوز أن يراد عصر الإِسلام كلِه وهو خاتمة عصور الأديان لهذا العالم وقد مثَّل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عصر الأمة الإِسلامية بالنسبة إلى عصر اليهود وعصر النصارى بما بعد صلاة العصر إلى غروب الشمس بقوله : « مثل المسلمين واليهود والنصارى كمثل رجل استأجر أجراء يعملون له يوماً إلى الليل فعملت اليهود إلى نصف النهار ثم قالوا : لا حاجة لنا إلى أجرك وما عملنا باطل ، واستأجر آخرين بعدهم فقال : أكملوا بقية يومكم ولكم الذي شرطت لهم فعملوا حتى إذا كان حين صلاة العصر قالوا : لك ما عملنا باطل ولك الأجر الذي جعلتَ لنا ، واستأجر قوماً أن يعملوا بقيةَ يومهم فعملوا حتى غابت الشمس واستكملوا أجر الفريقين كليهما فأنتم هُم » . فلعل ذلك التمثيل النبوي له اتصال بالرمز إلى عصر الإِسلام في هذه الآية .ويجوز أن يفسر العصر في هذه الآية بالزمان كله ، قال ابن عطية : قال أبي بن كعب : سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن العصر فقال : أقسم ربكم بآخر النهار . وهذه المعاني لا يفي باحتمالها غير لفظ العصر .ومناسبة القَسَم بالعَصر لغرض السورة على إرادة عصر الإِسلام ظاهرة فإنها بينت حال الناس في عصر الإِسلام بين مَن كفر به ومن آمن واستوفى حظه من الأعمال التي جاء بها الإِسلام ، ويعرف منه حالُ من أسلموا وكان في أعمالهم تقصير متفاوت ، أما أحوال الأمم التي كانت قبل الإِسلام فكانت مختلفة بحسب مجيء الرسل إلى بعض الأمم ، وبقاء بعض الأمم بدون شرائع متمسكة بغير دين الإِسلام من الشرك أو بدين جاء الإِسلام لنسخه مثل اليهودية والنصرانية قال تعالى : { من يبتغ غير الإسلام ديناً فلن يقبل منه وهو في الآخرة من الخاسرين } في سورة آل عمران ( 85 ) .وتعريف الإنسان } تعريف الجنس مراد به الاستغراق وهو استغراق عرفي لأنه يستغرق أفراد النوع الإِنساني الموجودين في زمن نزول الآية وهو زمن ظهور الإِسلام كما علمت قريباً . ومخصوص بالناس الذين بلغتهم الدعوة في بلاد العالم على تفاوتها . ولما استُثني منه الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات بقي حكمه متحققاً في غير المؤمنين كما سيأتي . . .والخُسر : مصدر وهو ضد الربح في التجارة ، استعير هنا لسوء العاقبة لمن يظن لنفسه عاقبةً حسنة ، وتلك هي العاقبة الدائمة وهي عاقبة الإِنسان في آخرته من نعيم أو عذاب .وقد تقدم في قوله تعالى { فما ربحت تجارتهم } في سورة البقرة ( 16 ) وتكررت نظائره من القرآن آنفاً وبَعيداً .

أقسم تعالى بالعصر، الذي هو الليل والنهار، محل أفعال العباد وأعمالهم

تفسير سورة والعصروهي مكية . وقال قتادة مدنيةوروي عن ابن عباس . وهي ثلاث آياتبسم الله الرحمن الرحيموالعصرفيه مسألتان :الأولى : قوله تعالى : والعصر أي الدهر ; قاله ابن عباس وغيره . فالعصر مثل الدهر ; ومنه قول الشاعر :سبيل الهوى وعر وبحر الهوى غمر ويوم الهوى شهر وشهر الهوى دهرأي عصر .أقسم الله به - عز وجل - ; لما فيه من التنبيه بتصرف الأحوال وتبدلها ، وما فيها من الدلالة على الصانع . وقيل : العصر : الليل والنهار . قال حميد بن ثور :ولن يلبث العصران : يوم وليلة إذا طلبا أن يدركا ما تيمماوالعصران أيضا : الغداة والعشي . قال :وأمطله العصرين حتى يملني ويرضى بنصف الدين والأنف راغميقول : إذا جاءني أول النهار وعدته آخره . وقيل : إنه العشي ، وهو ما بين زوال الشمس وغروبها ; قاله الحسن وقتادة . ومنه قول الشاعر :تروح بنا يا عمرو قد قصر العصر وفي الروحة الأولى الغنيمة والأجر[ ص: 161 ] وعن قتادة أيضا : هو آخر ساعة من ساعات النهار . وقيل : هو قسم بصلاة العصر ، وهي الوسطى ; لأنها أفضل الصلوات ; قاله مقاتل . يقال : أذن للعصر ، أي لصلاة العصر . وصليت العصر ; أي صلاة العصر . وفي الخبر الصحيح الصلاة الوسطى صلاة العصر . وقد مضى في سورة ( البقرة ) بيانه . وقيل : هو قسم بعصر النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ; لفضله بتجديد النبوة فيه . وقيل : معناه ورب العصر .الثانية : قال مالك : من حلف ألا يكلم رجلا عصرا : لم يكلمه سنة . قال ابن العربي : إنما حمل مالك يمين الحالف ألا يكلم امرأ عصرا على السنة ; لأنه أكثر ما قيل فيه ، وذلك على أصله في تغليظ المعنى في الأيمان . وقال الشافعي : يبر بساعة ; إلا أن تكون له نية ، وبه أقول ; إلا أن يكون الحالف عربيا ، فيقال له : ما أردت ؟ فإذا فسره بما يحتمله قبل منه ، إلا أن يكون الأقل ، ويجيء على مذهب مالك أن يحمل على ما يفسر . والله أعلم .

At every moment man is advancing towards his death. This means that if a man does not make the best of the time which is still available to him, he will finally face total destruction. In order to be successful, a man has to exert himself, while for failure he has to do nothing. It is itself rushing towards him. A venerable gentleman tells us that he understood the meaning of this chapter of the Quran from an ice vendor who was shouting in market, ‘O, people! Have mercy on one whose assets are melting away.’ On hearing this shout, the gentleman said to himself that just as the ice melts and reduces, similarly the lifespan given to man is fast passing away. If the existing opportunity is lost in inaction or in evil action, this is man’s loss. (Imam Razi, Tafsir Kabir). One who utilises his time properly is one who adopts three courses in the present world. One is that of Faith (al-ladina a’manu), i.e. consciousness of Truth or reality and its acceptance. Secondly that of virtuous deeds (wa a‘milu as-salihat), i.e. doing that which is required to be done as a matter of religious duty and abstaining from what is sinful. Thirdly that of advising people about Truth and forbearance. This follows upon such a deep realisation of Truth that the concerned person becomes its preacher.

Virtue of [ Studying ] Surah al-` Asr Sayyidna ` Ubaidullah Ibn Hisn ؓ reports that whenever two Companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ met, they would not part company until one of them had recited Surah Al-` Asr in its entirety to the other. [ Transmitted by At-Tabarni ]. Imam Shafi` i (رح) says that if people thought about Surah Al-` Asr carefully, it would be enough for their guidance. It is a concise but comprehensive Surah, which in three verses, outlines a complete way of human life based on the Islamic worldview. In this Surah, Allah swears an oath by the 'Time' and says that mankind is in a state of loss; exception, however, is made of people who are characterized by four qualities: [ 1] faith; [ 2] righteous deeds; [ 3] advising each other for Truth; and [ 4] advising each other for patience. This is the only path to salvation in this world, as well as in the next world. The Qur'anic prescription comprises, as we have just seen, of four elements. The first two of them relate to man's own personal betterment, and the other two relate to other people's guidance and reform. [ Ibn Kathir ]. Relationship between 'Time' and 'Human Loss' The first point we need to analyze here is the relationship between the 'oath of time' and 'its subject' because there needs to be a relationship between an 'oath' and its 'subject' The commentators, generally, state that all conditions of man, his growth and development, his movements, his actions and morality - all take place within the space of 'Time'. Man will lose the capital of his existence. Hours, days, months, and years of life pass quickly, spiritual and material potentialities decline, and abilities fade. Man is like a person who possesses great capital and, without his permission and will, every day, a portion of that capital is taken away. This is the nature of life in this world; the nature of continual loss. How well this has been put poetically: حَیَاتُک اَنفَاسُ تُعَدُّ فَکُلَّمَا مَضیٰ نَفَسٌ مِنھَا انتَقَصتَ بِہٖ جُزءًا "Your life comprises a few breaths that can be counted; when one of them is sent out, a part of your life has diminished." Allah has granted man the invaluable capital of his life, so that he may invest it in profitable business venture. If he invests his capital of life sensibly in good works, there will be no limit to the profitable returns; but if he invests it unwisely in evil works, then, let alone attracting profitable returns, he will even lose his capital, and. In addition, he will incur the dreadful scourge of committing numerous sins. If however a person did not invest his life-capital in good deeds or in evil deeds, then he, at least, loses both the profit. as well as the capital. This is not merely a poetic imagery, but is supported by a Prophetic Hadith, according to which the Messenger of Allah k is reported to have said: کُلٌ یَّغدُو فَبَایٔعٌ نَفسَہ، فَمُعتِقُھَا اَو مُوبِقُھَا "When a person wakes up in the morning, he invests his soul or life in a business enterprise: some of the investors free or save the capital from loss and others destroy it." The Qur'an itself has used the word tijarah in relation to 'faith' and 'righteous deed', thus: هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ تِجَارَ‌ةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ "...shall I tell you about a trade that saves you from a painful punishment? [ 61:10] " Since 'Time' is man's capital of life, the man himself is the trader. Under normal circumstances, his capital is not a frozen thing that may be kept for a while and used up later when the need arises. The capital is fluid or flowing all the time, every minute and every second. The man who invests it needs to be very wise, intelligent and agile, so that he is able to swiftly and readily reap the profit from a flowing capital. One of the old scholars said that he had learnt the meaning of this verse from an ice-seller whose trade required utmost diligence, and if he were neglectful for a moment, his entire capital would melt away. That is why this verse has sworn an oath by the 'time' to indicate that it is a melting capital, and the only way to escape loss is to take every moment of his life as valuable, and use it for the four acts mentioned in the Surah. Another possible reason for swearing by 'Time' may be that the 'Time' (in the sense of history) bears testimony to the fact mentioned in the Surah. If one thinks on the causes of the rise and decline of individuals and nations, he would certainly believe that it is only these four acts (mentioned in the forthcoming verses) that may ensure the real success and betterment of mankind. Whoever has ever abandoned them has suffered a great loss, as is evident from numerous events recorded by history. Let us now study the 'four principles' mentioned in the Surah. As pointed out earlier, faith and righteous deeds are related to man's moral and spiritual growth and development. They are not in need of elaboration. However, the last two principles ['advising each other for truth'] and ['advising each other for patience'] require some elaboration. The infinitive tawasi is derived from wasiyyah which means 'to advise somebody strongly and effectively about the best thing to do in a particular situation'. The term wasiyyah also refers to a 'will or testament' where a testator advises his executor regarding the disposal of his estate on his death. The two parts are in fact two chapters of the same testament: [ 1] advice to truth; and [ 2] advice to patience and fortitude. These two concepts may be explained in different ways. One way to explain them is that haqq ('truth' ) refers to the package of 'correct faith' and 'good deeds', and sabr ('patience' ) refers to abstinence from all sins and evil deeds. Thus the first concept refers to 'enjoining good actions' and the second concept refers to 'forbidding evil actions'. The cumulative sense of the Surah is that believers have been enjoined not only to adopt right faith and good deeds themselves, but to advise others strongly and effectively to adopt them, and thus help in the creation of a healthy atmosphere around them. It is also possible to interpret 'Truth' as referring to articles of faith, and to interpret 'patience' as referring to all good actions and abstinence from evil deeds. The word sabr, originally meaning 'to withhold oneself and to bind oneself ', encompasses binding oneself down to the performance of righteous deeds and abstaining from sins. Hafiz Ibn Taimiyyah has stated in one of his monographs that there are normally two factors that restrain a person from faith and righteous deeds: The first cause is some doubts about the true faith. When such doubts arise in the mind of people, it destroys their faith and leaves them confused and confounded. As a result, it adversely affects their righteous deeds. The second cause is the selfish desires that stop man from doing good, and involve him in evil deeds. In this situation, he theoretically believes that he should do good and abstain from sins, but his selfish desires lead him to stray from the right path. The current verse indicates to remove both causes of one's distraction. By stressing upon 'advice of truth' it has catered to the first cause, and that it should be removed by reforming others on theoretical and academic level, and by emphasizing on 'advice of patience' it has taken care of the second cause by enjoining upon the Muslims to advise others to give up the base desires and remain firm against their evil demands. Put differently, 'enjoining the truth' means 'improving the knowledge of Muslims or their intellectual development' and 'enjoining patience' means 'improving the practical life of Muslims'. Need to Salvage the Entire Muslim Society This Surah lays down the important principle of guidance for the Muslims that inviting other Muslims to keep to the true faith and good deeds is as much necessary as their own submission to the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. Without sincere efforts, to the best of one's ability, to invite others to the right path, one's own good deeds are not enough to one's salvation. Especially, if a person does not take care of the spiritual and moral welfare of his wife, children and family and turns a blind eye to their unrighteous deeds, he is blocking his way to salvation - no matter how pious he himself might be. Therefore, the Qur'an and the Sunnah make it obligatory upon every Muslim to do his best to invite others to the good deeds, and warn them against the evil acts. Unfortunately, let alone the general public, many learned people are lax in this matter. They think it is sufficient for them to be concerned about their own moral and spiritual well-being. They are not concerned about the well-being of their family and children. May Allah grant us the ability to act upon this verse. Al-Hamdulillah The Commentary on Surah Al-` Asr Ends here

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said about the interpretation of Allah's saying (By the declining day): (By the declining day) Allah swears by the 'Asr prayer; and it is also said by the hardships of time,

By Time! (wa�l-ʿaṣr) That is: �By the Lord of time (Rabb al-dahr).� It has also been said [that He meant] �By the afternoon ⸢prayer⸣.�

Which was revealed in Makkah How `Amr bin Al-`As was aware of the Qur'an's Miracle due to this Surah They have mentioned that `Amr bin Al-`As went to visit Musaylimah Al-Kadhdhab after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was commissioned (as a Prophet) and before `Amr had accepted Islam. Upon his arrival, Musaylimah said to him, "What has been revealed to your friend (Muhammad ﷺ ) during this time" `Amr said, "A short and concise Surah has been revealed to him." Musaylimah then said, "What is it" `Amr replied; وَالْعَصْرِ - إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ - إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِالصَّبْرِ (By Al-`Asr. Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience.) So Musaylimah thought for a while. Then he said, "Indeed something similar has also been revealed to me." `Amr asked him, "What is it" He replied, "O Wabr (a small, furry mammal; hyrax), O Wabr! You are only two ears and a chest, and the rest of you is digging and burrowing." Then he said, "What do you think, O `Amr" So `Amr said to him, "By Allah! Verily, you know that I know you are lying." I saw that Abu Bakr Al-Khara'iti mentioned a chain of narration for part of this story, or what was close to its meaning, in volume two of his famous book Masawi' ul-Akhlaq. The Wabr is a small animal that resembles a cat, and the largest thing on it is its ears and its torso, while the rest of it is ugly. Musayli- mah intended by the composition of these nonsensical verses to produce something which would oppose the Qur'an. Yet, it was not even convin- cing to the idol wor- shipper of that time. At-Tabarani recorded from `Abdullah bin Hisn Abi Madinah that he said, "Whenever two men from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to meet, they would not part until one of them had recited Surat Al-`Asr in its entirety to the other, and one of them had given the greetings of peace to the other." Ash-Shafi`i said, "If the people were to ponder on this Surah, it would be sufficient for them." بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Al-`Asr is the time in which the movements of the Children of Adam occur, whether good or evil. Malik narrated from Zayd bin Aslam that he said, "It is the evening." However, the first view is the popular opinion. Thus, Allah swears by this, that man is in Khusr, which means in loss and destruction. إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ (Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds) So Allah makes an exception, among the species of man being in loss, for those who believe in their hearts and work righteous deeds with their limbs. وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِالْحَقِّ (And recommend one another to the truth,) This is to perform acts of obedience and avoid the forbidden things. وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِالصَّبْرِ (And recommend one another to patience.) meaning, with the plots, the evils, and the harms of those who harm people due to their commanding them to do good and forbidding them from evil. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-`Asr, and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.