Surah Ash-Sharh
Revealed in Makkah, Contains 8 Ayah
Bism-Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim
In the Name of Allah, the Giver of Mercy, the Most Merciful
94:1 Have We not expanded your breast for you,
94:2 and removed from you your burden,
94:3 which weighed heavily upon your back,
94:4 and raised high your fame?
94:5 Thus, surely, with hardship comes ease.
94:6 And surely with hardship comes ease.
94:7 Then when you are free, exert yourself,
94:8 and to your Lord turn for everything.
Tafsir
94:1 Have We not expanded your breast for you,
‘Have We not…’ the interrogation is for emphasis and confirmation to exhort Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him] to keep on thanking Allah, Exalted be He, for His innumerable blessings on him.
The wording of the Arabic version of ayah (1) is as follows: alam nashrah laka sadrak. Sharh means to expand and open something. The intended meaning is expanding and opening the breast of Messenger Muhammad to accept and adhere to the truth, all virtuous ethics, and removing all vices that drive one away from sound understanding, righteous deeds, the truth, and the right path. O noble Messenger, have We not expanded your breast and made it spacious to accept the truth? Have We not opened your breast to honor you and prepare you to carry out the message of Allah’s Oneness to humanity?
Someone may say, ‘Why is the breast, and not the heart mentioned?
The breast is mentioned because Satan whispers in the breast. Therefore, removing Satan’s whisper will expand and prepare it to accept the truth. It was said that the breast is the stronghold of the heart. If Satan finds a way to enter it, he will attack it and his soldiers will settle therein. Then they will arouse sadness and grief therein. So the heart will be depressed, and not satisfied with performing righteous deeds nor be pleased with following the principles of Islam. On the other hand, if the enemy, namely, Satan and his soldiers, is expelled from the breast in the first place, then security will be attained, grief will vanish, and the breast will be expanded and easily perform Allah’s obligations on it [Mafatih al-Ghayb, Tafsir al-Razi] .’
94:2 and removed from you your burden,
94:3 which weighed heavily upon your back,
The ayah mentions another blessing that Allah, Exalted be He, has given to His beloved Messenger Muhammad.
O noble Messenger Muhammad, have We not removed from you your burden, which weighed heavily upon your back? We have removed from you the burden of conveying the Islamic message to people, protected you from sins, and purified you from vices. Thus, you have become, by Our bounty and generosity, ready to convey the Islamic message.
94:4 and raised high your fame?
O noble Messenger Muhammad, We have not expanded your breast so that it easily accepts and follows the truth; We have removed from you your burden that weighed heavily on your back so that you have become able to carry out the duties of prophet-hood; We have raised high your fame so that you have attained a high rank and status. We have also chosen you so that you have become the best of all human beings and the best of Our Messengers, and We will give you the great intercession on the Day of Judgment.
The scholars of Tafsir mention the following opinions about the meaning of raising high the fame of Messenger Muhammad: 1) Allah has raised high the fame of Messenger Muhammad so that his name is mentioned when Allah’s name is mentioned on different occasions. For example, when declaring the testimony of faith, a believer will say, ‘I testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. 2) Allah has raised high the fame of Muhammad by choosing him to be His Prophet and Messenger. 3) Allah will raise high the fame of Messenger Muhammad in the Hereafter, just as He has raised high it in the life of this world. 4) Allah has raised high the fame of Messenger Muhammad among the angels. 5) Allah has raised high the fame of Messenger when He took a covenant from all His Prophets to believe in him and acknowledge his high rank [Zad Al-Masyr fi Ilm at-Tafsir, Imam Ibn al-Jawzi].
Abu Said al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, ‘Gabriel came to me and said, ‘Your and my Lord says, ‘How have I raised high your fame?’ Messenger Muhammad said, ‘Allah knows best.’ Gabriel said, ‘He says that whenever I am remembered, you will be remembered with Me. [Jama Al-Bayan, Tafsir At-Tabari]’’
94:5 Thus, surely, with hardship comes ease.
94:6 And surely with hardship comes ease.
The ayah mentions what brings happiness to the hearts of Messenger Muhammad and his followers, and arouses hope in their souls. Allah, Exalted be He, mentions one of His rules that never changes, namely, after every hardship, ease, and relief comes, no matter how long the hardship may remain.
O noble Messenger Muhammad, you have known that We have expanded your breast, removed from you the burden that weighed heavily upon your back, raised high your fame. You should also know that after every hardship comes ease, and after adversity comes relief. Thus, you and your followers should be patient and rely on Allah. Indeed, victory and happiness will be yours.
The ayah implies a consolation to Messenger Muhammad and the believers everywhere and at every time. It mentions a truthful promise that every difficulty will end, every calamity will vanish, and every hardship will disappear. Whenever one is patient without any complaint, arms himself with an unshakable belief in Allah, and then has a strong resolution, then he will come out victorious after every hardship and difficulty.
As some people who experience great hardship may doubt that relief and ease will certainly come, the ayah confirms it by repeating the same meaning twice.
94:5 Thus, surely, with hardship comes ease.
94:6 And surely with hardship comes ease.
The Arabic wording of ayah (5&6) is as follows: fa-inna maʿa l-ʿus'ri yus'ra, inna maʿa l-ʿus'ri yus'ra. Al-‘us’ri means hardship, and yus’ra means ease. The word ‘al-‘uri’ uses the definite article ‘al –the’ to indicate that the hardship mentioned in the ayah is one hardship. On the other hand, the word ‘yus’ra’ is used without an article, namely, it is an indefinite noun, to indicate that ease will come two times. In Other words, after each hardship, relief and ease will come two times. Abdul Allah Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, said, ‘Hardship will not overcome two occasions of ease.’ When the Arabs mention something in the indefinite form and then repeat it in the indefinite form, it means that they speak about two different things. On the other hand, when they mention something in the indefinite form and then repeat it in the definite form, it means that they speak about the same thing. The meaning is as follows: O noble Messenger Muhammad, do not grieve over the disbelievers’ abuse as they taunt you by saying that you are poor. Verily, ease and comfort will come after hardship in the life of this world.’ Allah fulfilled His promise to Messenger Muhammad as he made him victorious over the disbelievers. And He will give ease and comfort to the believers in this world and the Hereafter [Zad Al-Masyr fi Ilm at-Tafsir, Imam Ibn al-Jawzi].
94:7 Then when you are free, exert yourself,
94:8 and to your Lord turn for everything.
After enumerating some of Allah’s blessings on Messenger Muhammad, he was commanded to exert himself and diligently worship Allah, exalted be He.
O noble Messenger Muhammad, when you are free from performing your duties, exert yourself by doing righteous acts that will bring you close to Allah more and more and raise your rank. Perform righteous deeds such as prayer, reciting the Quran, and fasting. Turn to your Lord, Allah, for everything. Perform all righteous deeds for the sake of your Lord and seek His help for all your needs. Verily, only Allah can reward you immensely for your righteous deeds and He will certainly grant you help and support.
The intended meaning is to urge Messenger Muhammad and the believers to continuously perform righteous deeds for Allah’s sake and seek help and support from Allah alone after taking permissible steps to achieve their goals.
Indeed, Messenger Muhammad complied with Allah’s instruction. Thus, he exerted himself and prayed the night prayer until his feet swelled. Al-Mughirah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘Messenger Muhammad used to pray the night prayer until his feet swelled. When he was asked why he exerted himself, he said, ‘Shall I not be a thankful slave [Sahih Al-Bukhari].’
Learned Lessons from Surah Ash-Sharh Ayah 1-8
• Allah’s blessings on Messenger Muhammad are numerous, some of which are the following: 1) Allah removed from him the burden of carrying out the Islamic message, protected him from sins, and purified him from vices. 2) Allah raised high the fame of Messenger Muhammad high. He made his name be remembered whenever Allah’s name is remembered.
• Allah has promised Messenger Muhammad and the believers that there will be ease and relief after every hardship and that adversity will never overcome relief and ease.
• It is important to diligently and continuously perform righteous deeds for Allah’s sake.
• One should always rely on Allah concerning all his affairs and needs.
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