This is probably the reason why the companions of the Prophet did not want to become heedless of the foundational message of Islam. We saw how these four principles operated on both physical and spiritual levels. Al-Tabarani: when humankind finds itself at a loss it can revive itself by returning to the formula provided by the third verse and the four principles/conditions, which are adhered to as a foundation.He says that once the early Arabs were aroused by such surahs, they quickly burst the bounds of Arabia and zealously worked toward the salvation of humanity. He is confident that the guidance of this surah is what made the early Muslim great as it can do for those that follow it in the long history of humanity.

He is critical of Muslims and non-Muslims and particularly witnessing that humankind is turning away from the goodness that God has bestowed upon it. He further says that he is gravely shocked to see the loss and ruin in which humanity finds itself. He says that it defines, in the clearest and most concise form, the basic concept of faith in the context of its comprehensive reality. Sayyid Qutb, a modern exegete of the Qur'an, asserts that this surah outlines a complete system for human life based on an Islamic viewpoint.Thus, Imam Shafi’i asserts that if one followed its counsel, it was enough for humankind to achieve success in life.

It summarized the very essence of the Qur'anic message.

Imam Shafi, a jurist and traditional scholar of Islam, held that if God had only revealed this surah it would have been sufficient for the guidance of all humankind.

Ibn Kathir, a traditional exegete, holds that this sura is a warning to believers not to waste time or they could be humiliated or even ruined.

This sura is considered the summary of whole Quran by almost all notable classical and modern Islamic scholars including Imam Shafi, Ibn Kathir, Israr Ahmed and Farhat Hashmi. The text of the Sura can be translated as the following:īy time (it explain that God swears By time).ģ. This sura teaches that all human beings are in loss, except those who have iman (faith in Islam), do righteous deeds and remind others of the Haqq ( truth, rights, reality) and remind others of Sabr ( patience). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation ( asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier ' Meccan surah', which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina.Īccording to some, it follows sūrah 94 in the chronological order of the Quran. Timing and contextual background of revelation order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.). ³ ’il-la l-lazīna ’āmanū wa‘amilu ṣ-ṣāliḥāti watawāṣaw bilḥaq-qi watawāṣaw biṣ-ṣabr(i) Meaning Įxcept those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. ³ ’il-la l-lzīna ’āmanū wa‘amilu ṣ-ṣāliḥāti watawāṣaw bilḥaq-qi watawāṣaw biṣ-ṣabr(i) Text and meaning Text and transliteration Hafs from Aasim ibn Abi al-Najud

3 The righteous, however, are the exception to this rule.

1-2 Men generally seek for gain and find loss.

3 Timing and contextual background of revelation.

Surah al asr transliteration