Surah Al-Asr: meaning and the four qualities of success
Surah Al-Asr is 3 verses long and one of the shortest surahs, yet it sets out the whole path to success: every person is in loss except those with four qualities. Here it is in Arabic with its meaning, the four qualities, and how to live by it.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
Surah Al-Asr in Arabic and English
وَٱلْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ ﴿٣﴾
The four qualities that save from loss
| Quality | What it means |
|---|---|
| Faith (iman) | Believing in Allah and what He revealed. |
| Righteous deeds | Turning belief into action: prayer, honesty, kindness. |
| Urging one another to the truth | Helping others hold to what is right, gently. |
| Urging one another to patience | Supporting each other through hardship and in obedience. |
The first two are personal; the last two are shared. Success in this surah is never a solo project: believers carry each other.
Living by Surah Al-Asr
The oath “by time” is a reminder that every day spent is gone. A few minutes of Quran each day is one way to make time count; see how much Quran to read daily. Many families learn Al-Asr early because it is short and easy to recite in salah; see surahs to recite in salah and the last 10 surahs.
Frequently asked questions
What does “al-‘Asr” mean?
Time, or the declining part of the day (the time of ‘Asr prayer). Allah swears by time to show how precious it is.
What did Imam ash-Shafi‘i say about Surah Al-‘Asr?
He is widely reported to have said that if people reflected on this surah alone, it would be enough for them, because it sums up the path to success in three verses.
How many verses are in Surah Al-‘Asr?
3 verses. It is surah 103, a Makki surah on page 601 of the Madinah mushaf, in juz 30.
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