Suratut Takathur (102)

3 ayaat in 1 ruku

Benefits of recitation:
- Recite 10x for stomach ailments
- Recite to reduce fever
- Increase in eiman and 'nur' on Qiyama
- Recite in Eisha salaa for safety from tyranny

Key concepts

‘Asr’ literally means to squeeze. Here it is used to describe the concept of time – in the sense of it meaning the squeezing of the past unfolding as the future. The sura points out that human beings are at loss unless they
1. Believe
2. Do good deeds
3. Advise each other to truth
4. Advise each other to patience

Worksheet for children

Suratul 'Asr - audio file

The sura begins with Time and ends with sabr (Patience). Sabr is the shrinking of time e.g. if we want to eat a fruit which is not yet ripe, we know we have to wait for it to ripen and we agree to do so. What we are doing is shrinking the time into "zero time". 

In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.

I swear by Time!

'Asr' literally means squeezing. It has been used for Time- in the sense of it's meaning the squeezing of the past unfolding as future.

It may refer to the era of the Prophet (S.A.W.) or the time of Asr on Ashura; or as per a hadith of our 6th Imam -the era of Imam Al-Mahdi (A.S.) Time is the most valuable commodity which man has...

If you look at the lives of great people there is one thing in common that we all have with them. We all have only 24 hrs in a day. The way they have used their time has made the difference.

Most certainly the human being is in a state of loss;

Man's lower nature is to be at a loss. Man's basic nature is to be confused and dissatisfied without any calm and peace. Man fluctuates from one thought to another, one idea to the other ... No sooner is one situation under control then he must move to another which is chaotic...

Except those who believe, and do good deeds, and advise each other to truth, and advise each other to patience.

Advising each other to truth and to patience is 'Amr bil Ma'ruf ' and 'Nahyi anil Munkar '. The highest degree of patience is that which is exercised when one keeps away from 'haram'.