Name and Background
This small Soorah is identified by the word “Al-‘Aŝr” used in its first short verse.
It was revealed in the very early Makkan period of the Islamic Movement when Qur-aanic revelations consisted of short verses that were very appealing and memorable. As the prophethood of Muhammad ŝall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was the hot issue of that time, people were intrigued by every revelation they heard about. They would hear the verses and repeat them exactly as heard to other people, quickly making them the talk of the town.
At-Takaathur highlighted human short-sightedness for being so absorbed in competing to maximize worldly abundance that they ignore their need to succeed in their accountability to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala in the Hereafter. When thinking of success, people think only in terms of worldly accomplishments, forgetting the Hereafter altogether. This Soorah negates all such notions of success people have in their minds and explains how everyone is an utter loser unless he adopts a four-part program of action for the eternal success.
This Soorah is an excellent example of the Qur-aanic feature in that it delivers a message of enormous impact in only a few words. The people who understand it well feel that volumes can be written about the message and philosophy presented in this Soorah. It provides a complete action program for salvation, points out the terrible loss suffered by those who neglect this action program, and presents the logical evidence supporting its claim – all in three brief verses. The action program consists of four cornerstones on which a solid structure of a lifelong program of salvation and success can be built that will help people avoid loss and failure. Thus, it identifies the essentials of an Islamic lifestyle in the proverbial nutshell. Scholars like Imam Shafi‘ee have suggested that if people reflect upon and assimilate the message of just this Soorah, it will be enough for their guidance.
It was reported by Abdullaah Bin Ĥiŝn Ad-Daarimi that when the companions of the Prophet ŝall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam met, they would not depart without reciting Al-‘Aŝr to each other. This indicates how important it is to keep the message of this Soorah always in our conscious mind.
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