إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ 3
Translations
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
Transliteration
Illa allatheena amanoo wa 'amiloo assalihati wa tawassaw bil-haqq wa tawassaw assabr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the exception to humanity's state of loss mentioned in the previous verses—those who believe, perform righteous deeds, and mutually enjoin one another to truth and patience are saved from ruin. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these four conditions are essential for salvation: faith (iman), good works (amal salih), mutual exhortation to truth (tawasia bil-haq), and mutual exhortation to patience (tawasia assabr). The repetition of 'tawassaw' (mutual enjoining) emphasizes the communal responsibility to support one another in righteousness, making this ayah foundational to Islamic ethics and community welfare.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-'Asr is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Muslim community faced persecution and hardship. The surah's concise yet comprehensive message addresses the eternal struggle between those on the path of guidance and those in loss, providing spiritual fortitude to believers during trials. The ayah's placement as the conclusion of the surah underscores these four pillars as the antidote to human decline.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Tirmidhi), relating to the performance of righteous deeds. Additionally, 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Muslim 45), directly connecting to the mutual exhortation to truth and patience.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that individual faith must be complemented by righteous action and active participation in a believing community that collectively upholds truth and endures trials with patience. In today's fragmented world, it reminds us that spiritual growth is not solitary but requires mutual support, accountability, and shared commitment to moral principles.