What it is and when you say it
Al-Asr, "Time", is surah 103: three verses that say what saves a person from loss. Imam ash-Shafi'i said that if people reflected on this surah alone, it would be enough for them.
It is short and easy to recite after Al-Fatiha in the first two rakat.
Read the full guide: Which short surahs can I recite in prayer?
How to learn it by heart
- Read the whole text once with its meaning, so you know what you are saying.
- Learn one line at a time. Say it out loud until it flows, then add the next line.
- Hide the words little by little: first letters, then nothing. Tap a line when you need a look.
- Use it in your prayers right away. Repeating it five times a day is what makes it stay.
Common questions
Is Al-Asr the same as the Asr prayer?
No. Both take their name from the word for the late afternoon and for time, but the surah can be recited in any prayer.
Which verse is the hardest?
The third verse is long. Learn it in two halves: first up to "wa 'amilus-salihat", then the rest.
Hear every word
Revertly teaches new Muslims to pray from zero, with a recitation for every line, so you learn how it sounds, not only how it looks. Cannot afford it? Ask for a free code.