The Declining Day
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE[103:1]
CONSIDER the flight of time!

[103:2]
Verily, man is bound to lose himself

[103:3]
unless he be of those who attain to faith, and do good works, and enjoin upon one another the keeping to truth, and enjoin upon one another patience in adversity.

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* v.1 : The term ‘asr denotes “time” that is measurable, consisting of a succession of periods (in distinction from dahr, which signifies “unlimited time,” without beginning or end: i.e., “time absolute”). Hence, ‘asr bears the connotation of the passing or the flight of time – time which can never be recaptured.

* v.3 : Lit., “man is indeed in [a state of] loss, except those....,” etc.