Tafsir al-Baghawi - Al-Baghawi - (8/522)

Tafsir al-BaghawiAl-Baghawi

Surah al-Asr is Meccan (1). In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

“By the declining day (1): indeed, mankind is in loss (2), except those who believe, do righteous deeds, urge one another to the truth, and urge one another to patience (3).”

“By the declining day”: Ibn Abbas said, “By time.” It was said that Allah swore by it because it contains a lesson for the one who reflects. It was also said that its meaning is: By the Lord of time; and the same applies in similar expressions. Ibn Kaysan said: What is meant by al-asr is night and day, which are called the two asrs. Al-Hasan said: From the sun’s decline until its setting (2). Qatadah said: The final hour among the hours of the day (3). Muqatil said: He swore by the Asr prayer, which is the middle prayer.

“Indeed, mankind is in loss”: that is, in ruin and diminution. It was said that this refers to the disbeliever (4), as shown by His making an exception for the believers. Loss is the forfeiture of a person’s capital through the destruction of his life and his lifespan by sins (5), for these are his greatest capital.

“Except those who believe and do righteous deeds”: they are not in loss. “And urge one another”: that is, they counsel one another. “To the truth”: meaning, to the Quran, according to al-Hasan and Qatadah. Muqatil said: To faith and monotheism. “And urge one another to patience”: in fulfilling the obligatory duties and establishing Allah’s command.

Ibn Awn narrated from Ibrahim, who said: What is meant is that when a person lives to old age in

(1) Ibn Mardawayh narrated from Ibn Abbas that he said: Surat al-Asr was revealed in Mecca. See al-Durr al-Manthur, 8:621. (2) See Abd al-Razzaq, al-Tafsir, 2:394; Fath al-Bari, 8:729. (3) Reported by Abd al-Razzaq in al-Tafsir, 2:394, without the final phrase. (4) In manuscript B: al-kafir (the disbeliever). (5) Added from manuscript B.

سُورَةُ الْعَصْرِ مَكِّيَّةٌ (١) بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿وَالْعَصْرِ (١) إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (٢) إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ (٣) ﴾ ﴿وَالْعَصْرِ﴾ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: وَالدَّهْرِ. قِيلَ: أَقْسَمَ بِهِ لِأَنَّ فِيهِ عِبْرَةً لِلنَّاظِرِ. وَقِيلَ: مَعْنَاهُ وَرَبِّ الْعَصْرِ، وَكَذَلِكَ في أمثاله. واقل ابْنُ كَيْسَانَ: أَرَادَ بِالْعَصْرِ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ، يُقَالُ لَهُمَا الْعَصْرَانِ. وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ: مِنْ بَعْدِ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غُرُوبِهَا (٢) . وَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ: آخِرُ سَاعَةٍ مِنْ سَاعَاتِ النَّهَارِ (٣) . وَقَالَ مُقَاتِلٌ: أَقْسَمَ بِصَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ وَهِيَ الصَّلَاةُ الْوُسْطَى. ﴿إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ﴾ أَيْ خُسْرَانٍ وَنُقْصَانٍ، قِيلَ: أَرَادَ بِهِ [الْكَافِرَ] (٤) بِدَلِيلِ أَنَّهُ اسْتَثْنَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَ"الْخُسْرَانُ": ذَهَابُ رَأْسِ مَالِ الْإِنْسَانِ فِي هَلَاكِ نَفْسِهِ وَعُمُرِهِ [بِالْمَعَاصِي] (٥) ، وَهُمَا أَكْبَرُ رَأْسِ مَالِهِ. ﴿إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ﴾ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا فِي خُسْرٍ، ﴿وَتَوَاصَوْا﴾ أَوْصَى بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا، ﴿بِالْحَقِّ﴾ بِالْقُرْآنِ، قَالَهُ الْحَسَنُ وَقَتَادَةُ، وَقَالَ مُقَاتِلٌ: بِالْإِيمَانِ وَالتَّوْحِيدِ. ﴿وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ﴾ عَلَى أَدَاءِ الْفَرَائِضِ وَإِقَامَةِ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ. وَرَوَى ابْنُ عَوْنٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ: أَرَادَ أَنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ إِذَا عُمِّرَ فِي

(١) أخرج ابن مردويه عن ابن عباس قال: نزلت سورة (والعصر) بمكة. انظر: الدر المنثور: ٨ / ٦٢١. (٢) انظر: عبد الرزاق في التفسير: ٢ / ٣٩٤، فتح الباري: ٨ / ٧٢٩. (٣) أخرجه عبد الرزاق في التفسير: ٢ / ٣٩٤ دون قوله آخر. (٤) في "ب" الكافر. (٥) زيادة من "ب".