This Sürah is a matchless example of comprehensiveness and brevity. A whole world of meaning has been compressed into its few brief words, which are too vast in content to be fully expressed even in a book. The way to true success for mankind is clearly stated as is the way to ruin and destruction. Imam Shaf‘e has said that if the people only comprehend this Sürah well, it alone would suffice them as guidance. How important this Sürah was in the sight of the companions can be judged from the tradition cited from Sayyidunã Abdullah bin Hisn Ad-Darimi Abu Madinah, according to which, whenever any two of them met they would not part company until they had recited Sürah Al-'Asr to each other.
(This narration is taken from Tabarani)