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Sūrah al-ʿAṣr (Time Running Out) is one of the shortest suwar of the Quran, yet one of the most dense in terms of meaning and guidance. The famous jurist, Imām Shāfi'ī , was recorded to have said that if the people only considered this sūrah, it alone would suffice them for their guidance.
In addition to its richness of content, it appears that the sūrah may be broken down and organized into a simple mirror structure:
Connections
[A/A’] - Allah ﷻ begins with an oath which inspires the believers with a sense of urgency. Time is short to implement good works and internalize faith. This is paired with the believers enjoining one another with the traits most associated with time; patience and perseverance (ṣabr).
This connection is more clearly seen in Sūrah al-Maʿārij where Allah ﷻ says about the Day of Judgement,
فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا * إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيدًا * وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيبًا
So be patient with gracious patience * Indeed, they see it [as] distant,* But We see it [as] near.
Believers are being told that they only have to endure the intolerance and arrogance of disbelief for a brief time. This life is shorter than we think.
[B/B’] - One emphasizes their statements when the audience may not believe them, so it is appropriate that the second āyah, which is grammatically emphasized on multiple levels (this is more easily seen in the Arabic), is paired with the enjoinment to advise one another with truth.
[C/C’] - At the center lie two key actions of the believers; belief and righteous actions. These two are paired together throughout the Quran as if to emphasize that one cannot enact one without the other.
والله أعلم - And Allah knows best
Sources
Personal notes and reflections