Surah Al-Asr
العصر
The Time — 3 verses, revealed in Makkah. Read it in Arabic with transliteration and meaning, then learn its background, virtues and tajweed.
Surah Al-Asr is surah number 103 of the Quran, meaning “The Time”. It has 3 verses and was revealed in Makkah. In just three verses, Al-Asr gives the recipe for success: faith, good deeds, encouraging the truth and encouraging patience.
Surah Al-Asr with transliteration & meaning
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
- 1
وَالْعَصْرِ ۙ ۱
Wal-'asr.
By time,
- 2
اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَفِیْ خُسْرٍ ۙ ۲
Innal-insana lafi khusr.
indeed, mankind is in loss,
- 3
اِلَّا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ ۙ۬ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ۳
Illal-ladhina amanu wa 'amilus-salihati wa tawasaw bil-haqqi wa tawasaw bis-sabr.
except those who believe, do good deeds, and encourage one another to the truth and to patience.
Background: when and why it was revealed
Revealed in Makkah. In just three verses, Al-Asr gives the recipe for success: faith, good deeds, encouraging the truth and encouraging patience.
Allah swears by time — the time we are given in this life. Everyone is losing time, except those with four qualities: they believe, they do good, and they remind each other of the truth and of patience.
Virtues
Every letter of the Quran brings reward: each good deed is multiplied ten times (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2910).
Tajweed tip
- Pause at the end of each verse and stretch the long vowels evenly, such as in “aamanuu” and “saalihaat”.
When to recite it
- In Salah
- When thinking about using time well
- At the end of a gathering
What we learn from Surah Al-Asr
Time is precious
Every day is a gift from Allah — use it well.
Faith and action together
Believing and doing good go hand in hand.
Help each other
Remind your friends and family to do right and be patient.
Frequently asked questions
How many verses are in Surah Al-Asr?
Surah Al-Asr has 3 verses.
What does Surah Al-Asr mean?
Surah Al-Asr means “The Time”. In just three verses, Al-Asr gives the recipe for success: faith, good deeds, encouraging the truth and encouraging patience.
Was Surah Al-Asr revealed in Makkah or Madinah?
It was revealed in Makkah.
When should I recite Surah Al-Asr?
In Salah, When thinking about using time well, At the end of a gathering.
References & sources
Quran references link to Quran.com and hadith references to Sunnah.com, so you can check every source. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us and we will correct it.
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