Sūrat al-ʿAṣr

سورۃ العصر

Sūrat al-ʿAṣr, Makkī — revealed in Makkah. It has three (3) āyāt.

[Second poem — Ḥażrat Ṣiddīqī (may Allah have mercy on him):]

Ek din hai muqarrar marnā* / *is dunyā se hai guzarnā

(One day it is decreed to die — from this world one must pass)

Jaisā karnā waisa bharnā* / *kyoñ hoñ na tujhko āyā re

(As you do so shall you reap — why did it not come to you?)

Kuchh yād-e-Khudā kī karle

(Remember Allah a little)

(Ḥażrat Ṣiddīqī)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillāhi l-Raḥmāni l-Raḥīm.

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

وَالْعَصْرِ

wa-l-ʿaṣr.

"By Time." (al-ʿAṣr 103:1)

Wa — by the oath. Al-ʿAṣr — the era, the age — the time, the history of the world — "I am that which gives testimony, and it too says the same."

Translation: "Time is a witness (of the history of the world — I am that which gives testimony — and it too keeps saying the same thing)."

إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ

inna l-insāna la-fī khusr.

"Indeed, the human being is in loss." (al-ʿAṣr 103:2)

Inn — indeed. Bi-ḥaqq — truly, surely. Al-insān — the human being — every person, every human being. La — certainly. Fī — in. Khusr — loss, deficit — khusr — damage, harm, failure, hopelessness.

Translation: "Indeed every human being is in loss (no one will succeed)."

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ

illā l-ladhīna āmanū wa-ʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti wa-tawāṣaw bi-l-ḥaqqi wa-tawāṣaw bi-l-ṣabr.

"Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and advise each other to truth, and advise each other to patience." (al-ʿAṣr 103:3)

Illā — except. Al-ladhīna — those. Āmanū — believed, maintained true faith. Wa-ʿamilū — and performed. Al-ṣāliḥāt — good deeds, appropriate and praiseworthy deeds. Wa-tawāṣaw — and they enjoined each other, mutually advised one another. Bi-l-ḥaqq — by truth — that truth which is appropriate. Wa-tawāṣaw — and they mutually enjoined. Bi-l-ṣabr — patience — bi-l-ṣabr — patience, steadfastness, maintaining firmness.

Translation: "Except those who maintain faith and perform good and appropriate deeds and mutually enjoin each other with the truth and guide each other to patience and steadfastness."

Esteemed readers! The world's history will testify to this at every turn — the whole world will be established as proof — no person who is truly dedicated will fail to achieve their purpose — for so long as faith in an individual does not reach the level where one keeps a sound foundation, does not maintain a sound belief, the goal of that person cannot be achieved. Not only faith is sufficient — it is essential to accompany it with good deeds and appropriate works. Knowledge without practice is certainly blind — a person without practice is misguiding others. One person cannot perform good alone — a single person who wishes to make a hole in the ship — if all people do not stop him, all will drown together. "In a group of a few people — if there is one person of evil will, he can sink the entire ship." Similarly — you should also give good counsel — that you do good and also advise others to do good and stop from evil. Actions of truth must be accompanied by patience and steadfastness — you must have patience.

Esteemed readers! In worldly matters too none of these are possible without steadfastness — work diligently, and perform everything with resolve — then stop midway — the completion of work requires steadfastness. Also do not be alone in worldly work — one person cannot do a good work alone. Consult others — engage others and keep your own participation. The hand of God is above the assembly — then wealth comes in — the things become completed. Personally productive work does not exist — no single individual is of benefit. Build groups, associations, organisations — keep tasks organised — do better, be better. Do not abandon your resolution — complete the work and keep to steadfastness — here in this world some days of false steps may come, but in the end steadfastness is victory.

Esteemed readers! Even in worldly matters none of these things succeed without steady commitment — perform works diligently and to completion — then one must push ahead — the completion of work requires steadfastness — bi-l-ṣabr. Do not also go to fruitless committees — the individual opinion of no person is useful. Organise groups, build organisations, build associations — compile your working groups — do better — even though for a few days things in this world may stall, in the end steadfastness is victory.