Quran · Topic
Quran verses about time
The Quran swears "by the passage of time" that "humanity is in loss — except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to truth and patience" (103:1-3). Imam ash-Shafi'i said this surah alone would suffice people if they reflected on it. These verses set the measure of a life well spent.
Time is the one capital everyone spends. Surah al-Asr, three verses long, is the Quran's audit of it.
5 key verses at a glance
- Quran 103:1— By the passage of timeMyQuran.io
- Quran 103:2— Surely humanity is in lossMyQuran.io
- Quran 103:3— Except those who have faith, do good, and urge one another to truth and patienceMyQuran.io
- Quran 2:286— Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bearMyQuran.io
- Quran 94:5— Surely with hardship comes easeMyQuran.io
By the passage of time
Time
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلْعَصْرِ
By the ˹passage of˺ time
The oath by time.
Reference
Surah Al-'Asr (The Declining Day) — Quran 103:1Read the full verse and its context on MyQuran.io
Surely humanity is in loss
Time
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ
Surely humanity is in ˹grave˺ loss
The default: loss.
Reference
Surah Al-'Asr (The Declining Day) — Quran 103:2Read the full verse and its context on MyQuran.io
Except those who have faith, do good, and urge one another to truth and patience
Time
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ
except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance
The exception: faith, good deeds, truth and patience.
Reference
Surah Al-'Asr (The Declining Day) — Quran 103:3Read the full verse and its context on MyQuran.io
Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear
Relief
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَيۡهَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرࣰ ا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ
Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. ˹The believers pray,˺ “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
No soul is burdened beyond its capacity.
Surely with hardship comes ease
Hope
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا
So, surely with hardship comes ease
With hardship comes ease.
English: The Clear Quran by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, via MyQuran.io. Arabic: Tanzil / Uthmani text.