Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
Surah Al-'Asr (The Declining Day) — Full Text
Ayah 1
وَٱلْعَصْرِ
By time,1
Allah opens by swearing an oath by time itself — and when God swears by something, you know it's serious. Time is your most valuable asset, and the scary part is it's always slipping away whether you use it well or not. Think of it like ice melting in your hands: every second that passes is a piece of your life you'll never get back. This oath sets the stage for what might be the most concise life lesson ever revealed — just three verses that contain the entire blueprint for a successful life.
Ayah 2
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ
Indeed, mankind is in loss,
Here's the hard truth: by default, every human being is in a state of loss. Not might be, not could be — is. Failure doesn't require any effort; it's what happens when you do nothing. Your life is like a business where the capital is constantly being spent whether you invest it wisely or not, so simply existing without purpose means you're already losing. This verse is a wake-up call — if you're not actively working toward something meaningful, the clock is running out on you.
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
This is the rescue plan — four things that pull you out of that default state of loss. First, have genuine faith and conviction in your heart. Second, back that faith up with real action and good deeds (because belief without action is just a nice thought). Third, encourage the people around you to stay on the path of truth — don't just save yourself and ignore everyone else. And fourth, remind each other to stay patient through the tough times, because doing the right thing isn't always easy and people will push back. The beautiful thing is that this surah makes it clear: your salvation isn't a solo project. You need a community, and your community needs you.