CHAPTER 103

AL-ASR

(The Era – The Epoch)

(3 VERSES)

VERSES 1 – 3

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Brief Introduction of 103:

Sura Al-Asr (3 verses) was revealed in Makkah. Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir^-asws said: “Rasool Allah^-saww performed Hajj from Medina, and he^-saww had already conveyed all the laws to his people except Hajj and the guardianship (Wilyah). Then Gabriel^-as came to him and said to him^-saww: O Muhammad^-saww, Allah^-azwj Sends you^-saww His^-azwj greetings and says to you^-saww: I^-azwj did not Take the soul of any of my prophets and messengers except after completing My^-azwj religion and confirming My^-azwj proof, and There remain for you^-saww two obligations that you^-saww must convey to your^-saww people: the obligation of Hajj, and the obligation of leadership and caliphate after you^–saww.

I^-azwj have not Left the earth without a Hajj, and I^-azwj will never Leave it without one. And I^‑azwj Commands you^-saww to Convey the Hajj to your^-saww people. You^-saww perform Hajj, and everyone who is able to do so from among the people of the cities and the people of the outskirts perform Hajj with you^-saww. The Bedouins, and teach them about their Hajj as you^-saww taught them about their prayers, their zakat, and their fasting, and make them abide by the example of what you^-saww made them abide by from all the laws that you^-saww conveyed to them.

Then the announcer of the Messenger of Allah^-saww called out to the people: Verily, the Messenger of Allah^-saww wants to perform Hajj and to teach you from that what he^-saww taught you from the laws of your religion, and to stop you from that on what he^-saww stopped you on. And the Messenger of Allah^-saww went out and after Hajj, announced the Wilayah of Ali^-asws Ibn Abi Talib-^asws at the place called Ghadeer e Khum.[1]

MERITS

ابن بابويه: بإسناده، عن الحسين بن أبي العلاء، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: «من قرأ (و العصر) في نوافله بعثه الله يوم القيامة مشرقا وجهه، ضاحكا سنه، قريرة عينه حتى يدخل الجنة

Ibn Babuwayh, by his chain from Al Husayn Bin Abu Al A’ala,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The one who recites: (I Swear) by the era [103:1] (Surah) Al-Asr in his optional (Salat) would be resurrected by Allah^-azwj on the Day of Judgment with a radiance in his face, and youthfulness in his age, delight in his eyes, until he enters the Paradise’.[2]

و من (خواص القرآن): روي عن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله)، أنه قال: «من قرأ هذه السورة كتب الله له عشر حسنات، و ختم له بخير، و كان من أصحاب الحق

And from Khawaas Al Quran –

It has been reported from the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘One who recites this Surah (Al Asr), Allah^-azwj would Write ten Rewards for him, and Give him a good end, and he would be from the companions of the Truth.

و إن قرئت على ما يدفن تحت الأرض أو يخزن، حفظه الله إلى أن يخرجه صاحبه

And if it is recited upon what is buried underneath the ground or stored, Allah^-azwj would Protect it until its owner takes it out’.[3]

VERSES 1 – 3

وَالْعَصْرِ {1}

(I Swear) by the era [103:1]

إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ {2}

Surely, the human being is in loss [103:2]

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ {3}

Except for those who believe and are doing the righteous deeds, and enjoin each other with the Truth, and enjoin each other with the patience [103:3]

ابن بابويه، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن هارون الفامي، و جعفر بن محمد بن مسرور، و علي بن الحسين بن شاذويه المؤذن (رضي الله عنهم)، قالوا: حدثنا محمد بن عبد الله بن جعفر بن جامع الحميري، قال: حدثنا أبي، عن محمد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطاب الزيات، عن محمد بن سنان، عن المفضل بن عمر، قال: سألت الصادق جعفر بن محمد (عليه السلام)، عن قول الله عز و جل: وَ الْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ، فقال (عليه السلام): «العصر: عصر خروج القائم (عليه السلام)

Ibn babuwayh, from Ahmad Bin Haroun Al Famy, and Ja’far Bin Muhammad Bin Masour, and Ali Bin Al Husayn Bin Sahzawayh Al Muazzin, from Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin Ja’far Bin Jam’ea Al Humeyri, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab Al Zayaat, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Al Mufazzal Bin Umar who said,

‘I asked Al-Sadiq Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws about the Words of Allah^-azwj: (I Swear) by the time [103:1] Surely the human being is in loss [103:2], so he^-asws said: ‘The era – era of the re-appearance of Al-Qaim^-asws (from Occultation).

إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ يعني أعداءنا

(For): Surely the human being is in loss [103:2], he^-asws said: ‘It means our^-asws enemies.

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا [يعني‏] بآياتنا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ يعني بمواساة الإخوان وَ تَواصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ يعني بالإمامة وَ تَواصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ، يعني في العسرة

Except for those who believe – meaning in Our^-asws Signs, and are doing the righteous deed – meaning in the equality of the brethren, and enjoin each other with the Truth – meaning, with the Imamate, and enjoin each other with the patience [103:3] – meaning during the difficulties’’.[4]

محمد بن العباس، قال: حدثنا محمد بن القاسم بن سلمة، عن جعفر بن عبد الله المحمدي، عن أبي صالح الحسن بن إسماعيل، عن عمران بن عبد الله المشرقاني، عن عبد الله بن عبيد، عن محمد بن علي، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، في قوله عز و جل: إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ وَ تَواصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَ تَواصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ، قال: «استثنى الله سبحانه أهل صفوته من خلقه حيث قال: إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بولاية أمير المؤمنين علي (عليه السلام) وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ أي أدوا الفرائض وَ تَواصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ أي‏ بالولاية وَ تَواصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ أي وصوا ذراريهم و من خلفوا من بعدهم بها و بالصبر عليها

Muhammad Bin Al Abbas, from Muhammad Bin Al Qasim Bin Salma, from Ja’far Bin Abdullah Al Muhammady, from Abu Salih Al Hassan Bin Ismail, from Umran Bini Abdullah Al Mashraqany, from Abdullah Bin Ubeyd, from Muhammad Bin Ali,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: Except those who believe and are doing the righteous deeds, and enjoin each other with the Truth, and enjoin each other with the patience [103:3], he^-asws said: ‘Allah^‑azwj Excluded the people of these characteristics from His^-azwj creatures where He^-azwj Said: Surely the human being is in loss [103:2] Except those who believe [103:3] – in the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen Ali^-asws, and are doing the righteous de, i.e., by calling to the Obligations (Wilayah), and enjoin each other with the Truth, i.e., to the Wilayah, and enjoin each other with the patience [103:3], i.e. they advise their offspring and the ones who will succeed them from after them, with it (Wilayah) and to be patient upon it’.[5]

في كتاب الاحتجاج للطبرسي (ره) باسناده إلى محمد بن على الباقر عليهما السلام عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله حديث طويل وفيه خطبة الغدير وفيها وفى على والله نزلت سورة العصر: ” بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والعصر ” إلى آخره

In the Book Al Ihtijaj Al Tabarsy, by his chain going up to

Muhammad^-asws Bin Ali Al-Baqir^-asws, from the Prophet^-saww, a lengthy Hadeeth, and in it: ‘By Allah^-azwj, and it was regarding Ali^-asws that Surah Al-Asr was revealed – In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful. (I Swear) by the time [103:1] – up to its end’.[6]

و في كتاب كمال الدّين و تمام النّعمة، بإسناده إلى محمّد بن سنان، عن المفضّل بن عمر قال: سألت الصّادق- عليه السّلام- عن قوله: وَ الْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ.قال- عليه السّلام-: الْعَصْرِ عصر خروج القائم. إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ، يعني: أعداءنا. إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا، يعني: بآياتنا. وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ‏، يعني:بمواساة الإخوان. وَ تَواصَوْا بِالْحَقِ‏، يعني: الإمامة. وَ تَواصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ، يعني:بالعترة

In the book Kamal Al-Din wa Tamam Al-Ni’mah with its chain of transmission to Muhammad bin Sinan, on the authority of al-Mufaddal bin Umar, he said:

I asked Al-Sadiq^-asws about His^-azwj saying: By the time, indeed, mankind is in loss. He^-asws – said: The time is the time of the emergence of the Al-Qa’im. Indeed, mankind is in loss, meaning: our^-asws enemies. Except for those who believe, meaning: in our^-asws verses. And do righteous deeds, meaning: in consoling the brothers. And enjoin one another to truth, meaning: the Imamate. And enjoin one another to patience, meaning: The Ahl Al-Bayt^-asws.[7]

و في مجمع البيان‏: و قيل: إنّ في قراءة ابن مسعود «و العصر، إنّ الإنسان لفي خسر و إنّه فيه إلى آخر الدّهر». و روي ذلك عن أمير المؤمنين: عليّ- عليه السّلام

And in Majma’ Al-Bayan: It was said: In Ibn Masoud’s reading, “By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, and indeed, he will be in it until the end of time.” And this was narrated on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful: Ali^-asws – peace be upon him.[8]

The altered Verses (to expand)

في مجمع البيان وقيل: ان في قراءة ابن مسعود ” والعصر ان الانسان لفى خسر وانه فيه إلى آخر الدهر ” وروى ذلك عن على عليه السلام

In Majma Al Bayaan, and he said –

In the recitation of Ibn Mas’ud was: (I Swear) by the time [103:1] Surely the human being is in loss, and he would be in it up to the end of times [103:2]. And that has been reported from Ali^-asws’.[9]

و قال علي بن إبراهيم أيضا: قَرَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ‏ «وَ الْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ وَ إِنَّهُ فِيهِ إِلَى آخِرِ الدَّهْرِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ‏ وَ أْتَمَرُوا بِالتَّقْوَى وَ أْتَمَرُوا بِالصَّبْرِ

And Ali Bin Ibrahim said as well,

‘And Abu Abdullah^-asws recited: (I Swear) by the time [103:1] Surely the human being is in loss, and he would be in it up to the end of times [103:2] Except those who believe and are doing the righteous deeds, and instruct each other with the piety, and instruct each other with the patience [103:3]’’.[10]

[1] البرهان في تفسير القرآن، ج‏2، ص: 227

[2] (ثواب الأعمال: 125.)

[3] Tafseer Al Burhan – H 11888

[4] (كمال الدين و تمام النعمة: 656/ 1.)

[5] (تأويل الآيات 2: 853/ 1)

[6] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – CH 103 H 3

[7] تفسير كنز الدقائق و بحر الغرائب، ج‏14، ص: 429

[8] تفسير كنز الدقائق و بحر الغرائب، ج‏14، ص: 429

[9] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – CH 103 H 4

[10] تفسير القمّي 2: 441