Surah Al-Asr (103) — Ayah 2
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
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The Different Meanings of This Verse:
﴿خُسْرٍ﴾ means a decrease in the principal amount, to incur a loss instead of profit in a transaction, loss, deficit, and its opposite is رِبْحٌ, which means to gain profit in a transaction. Now, if "time" is taken to mean the time that has passed, then the meaning of this verse will be that the entire history of the past testifies that man, both individually and collectively, has always been in loss, but only those people have been saved from this loss who possess the four qualities mentioned ahead. And if "Asr" is taken to mean the passing time, which is passing very quickly, then it will refer to the lifespan of every human being, which has been given to him in this world as a test for action and is passing very swiftly. This period also testifies that whoever does not make proper use of this time, who does not perform the deeds mentioned ahead, is going towards utter loss, and his capital of life is being wasted moment by moment.
A pious elder says that I understood the meaning of this Surah Al-Asr from an ice seller who was calling out, "Have mercy on the one whose capital is melting away and being wasted moment by moment." And Imam Shafi'i says that this Surah is so comprehensive in its subjects that, for human guidance, this one Surah would have been sufficient. And according to a narration of Tabarani, when the noble Companions ؓ would part from each other, they would recite this Surah to one another and then say salam before separating. It should be clear that in this verse, loss refers to loss in the Hereafter. But this does not mean that people possessing these four qualities always remain in loss in this world; rather, it means that even in this world, such people can remain in profit instead of loss, but this is not certain. It is possible that they may still remain in loss in this world; however, it is certain that in the Hereafter, these very people will definitely be safe from loss, and salvation in the Hereafter is assured for them.
