الشرح
Surah Ash-Sharh
The Relief · Surah 94 · Meccan · 8 verses
1أَلَمۡ نَشۡرَحۡ لَكَ صَدۡرَكَ ١Have We not caused thy bosom to dilate.InsightElmalılı explains ‘sharh as-sadr’ as giving the heart spaciousness through divine light and peace. It takes a person from confusion to guidance, from grief to joy, from narrowness to openness, just as a book is ‘opened up’ by a commentary (sharh).2وَوَضَعۡنَا عَنكَ وِزۡرَكَ ٢And eased thee of the burden.InsightElmalılı notes that the word ‘wizr’ means a heavy load, and that the meanings of sin and responsibility derive from it.3ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهۡرَكَ ٣Which weighed down thy back.InsightElmalılı says the word ‘anqada’ in the verse describes the creaking sound a heavy load makes on the back, much as we say ‘it broke my back’. It is a vivid picture of the hardships the Prophet had carried before.4وَرَفَعۡنَا لَكَ ذِكۡرَكَ ٤And exalted thy fame.InsightAccording to a hadith Elmalılı relates, Allah says: ‘Whenever I am mentioned, you are mentioned with Me.’ In the testimony of faith the Prophet’s name is spoken together with the name of Allah. For Elmalılı, this is the highest degree of renown.5فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا ٥But lo! with hardship goeth ease.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this does not only describe the past; it is also a promise for the future. Since the heart has been opened and the burden lifted, within every hardship there is yet another ease. ‘When a matter becomes narrow, it widens.’6إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرࣰا ٦Lo! with hardship goeth ease.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the existence of ease does not mean everyone will surely reach it. The one who reaches it is the one who believes this promise and bears hardship with patience.7فَإِذَا فَرَغۡتَ فَٱنصَبۡ ٧So when thou art relieved, still toil.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, ease should lead to effort, not laziness. If the obligatory is done, move to the voluntary; if the prayer is done, move to supplication. In this way ease grows and gratitude continues.8وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرۡغَب ٨And strive to please thy Lord.InsightElmalılı draws three rules from this surah: when a matter becomes narrow, it widens; the blessing matches the effort; and a deed is judged by its aim, so whoever works for Allah reaches Allah. For him, one should not get stuck on the blessing, but see the Giver through it.