^^ Mufi, Sura al-Asr is my favourite surah. It is concise, but it lays open a lot to be hopeful about
~~ Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim ~~
1. Wal Asr, - Allah swears by this vanishing final hour
2. Innal Insaana La Fi Khusr - Surely mankind is at a great loss! This is the most compelling statement...
3. Illal Lazeena amanu, - Except for those who Believe (in not just Allah, but the Final Hour as well leading to the Day of Qiyamah, of belief and acceptance of the whole 6 articles of Iman)
4. wa amilus swalihaati - They who Persevere
5. Wa ta waw saw bil Haqqi - for the Truth! Subhan'Allah this one word 'Haqqi' includes so many things. a. Allah is al-Haqq. b. We look to the previous phrase regarding Iman, and thus the Believer acknowledges the Tawhid of Allah, and that Allah is al Haqq, the Quran and the other scriptures are haqqi (true), the prophets and the messengers are haqqi, the angels are haqqi, the afterlife - the day of reckoning, heaven and hell are haqqi, and we have Qadr (predestination) in our lives - that is also haqqi. c. Being true and living with truth
6. Wa ta waw saw bis'Sabr - And those who persevere in Patience. Subhan'Allah - Patience is of equal importance to the Truth. The Patience to persevere, the patience to withstand hardship, trials and calamities, the patience to seek and succeed, the patience to hope and to reject doubt, the patience for justice. the patience for certainty, the patience for sincerity, the patience for mercy and to be merciful, the patience to hold back anger.... the list is endless!