CHAPTER 94: ASH-SHARH (THE EXPANSION / THE SOOTHING)

It was revealed in the Mecca period. It consists of eight verses. The surah takes its name from the event mentioned in the first verse, which points to the expansion and relief of the heart of the Messenger of Allah. (H. T. FEYIZLI, 1/596)

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

94/1-8 HAVE WE NOT EXALTED YOUR RENOWN?

Translation

1- 4- [O Messenger!] Have We not opened and expanded your breast for you [to grant your heart endurance, relief, and to fill it with wisdom]? 2- 3- And have We not removed from you your burden which weighed so heavily on your back [bending it]? 4- And have We not exalted your renown [in this world and the hereafter]?

5- 6- For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. 6- Indeed, with [that same] hardship [will be] another ease.

7- 8- [O my Prophet!] So when you have finished [an occupation or worship], immediately labor [toil] in another [do not remain idle]. 8- And to your Lord alone turn your attention [ask only from Him].

Commentary

(1) ‘(O Messenger!) Have We not opened and expanded your breast for you?’

"We opened your breast. Or rather, We expanded it with the knowledge and wisdom We gave, so that it would become sufficient to endure the hardships of calling humans and jinns to Islam, and We removed from it the narrowness caused by ignorance and blindness." (From Nasafi)

Ibn Kathir also says: "Indeed, We have opened your breast. That is, We enlightened it and made it spacious. This is exactly like the words of Allah the Almighty: 'Whomever Allah wills to guide, He expands his breast to Islam' (Al-An'am 6/125). Just as Allah the Almighty opened the Prophet's breast, He also made his religion expansive, tolerant, and easy. There is no hardship, no stubborn persistence (in difficulty), and no narrowness in this religion." (S. HAWWA, 16/261)

"Cleaving of the chest" is an event that occurred several times in the life of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). However, Surah Ash-Sharh does not speak of these, but rather of the opening of the breast to Islam. "Is one whose breast Allah has expanded to Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord [like one whose heart is hardened]?" (Az-Zumar 39/22; S. HAWWA 16/264)

(2, 3) ‘And have We not removed from you your burden which weighed so heavily on your back?’

The duty of messengership against this entire world of polytheism was an extraordinarily difficult and heavy responsibility under the conditions of that day. This heavy burden was overcome through the help of Allah, and the sun of Islam enlightened the world in twenty-three years. (H. DONDUREN, 2/964)

Nasafi says: "We alleviated the burden of your prophethood and the difficulties of fulfilling this duty." (S. HAWWA, 16/261)

‘Which weighed so heavily on your back.’

From Nasafi: "The burden weighed so heavily on him that even the sound of his bones creaking was heard." (S. HAWWA, 16/261)

(4) ‘And have We not exalted your renown (in this world and the hereafter)?’

His renown has been exalted by having his name mentioned alongside the name of Allah in the Word of Testimony (Shahadah), the Call to Prayer (Adhan), the Iqamah, the sermon (Khutbah), the Tashahhud, and in many parts of the Qur'an: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger" (Ali 'Imran 3/32). "Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger..." (Nisa 4/13). "It is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger" (Tawbah 9/62). (S. HAWWA, 16/261)

The highness of the name and fame of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is his elevation in degrees among all prophets and messengers, according to the meaning of the verse "Some of them He raised in degrees" (Baqara 2/253). The essence of this is that his name and fame follow the name of Allah; whenever Allah is mentioned, he is also mentioned. (ELMALILI, 9/299)

(5, 6) ‘For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.’

As is well known, the word "with" (ma'a) here means "after." Proximity has been expressed by likening it to being together. Because that expansion of the breast and the removal of the burden occurred after the burden had crushed the back. In short, just as this was so, it is also so for the future. "Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease" (Talaq 65/7). A matter expands when it becomes narrow. (ELMALILI, 9/300)

‘Indeed, with (that same) hardship (will be) another ease.’

Since "hardship" (al-'usr) is a definite noun (with the prefix al-), the two mentions of hardship refer to the same single difficulty. Since "ease" (yusran) is an indefinite noun, they express two separate instances of ease. Thus, it means there are two eases for every one hardship. The word "with" (ma'a) is used to indicate that ease will come very quickly after difficulty. (H. T. FEYIZLI, 1/596)

(7, 8) ‘So when you have finished,’

That is, since every hardship has been promised with an emphasis on ease; when you finish a duty or an act of worship and pass from a difficulty to an ease and rest a little—for example, when you have delivered the revelation you received or fulfilled your obligatory duties—then "toil again." (ELMALILI, 9/302)

Do not fall into a state of comfort just because the work is finished, but rather prefer hardship again and get up, work, and toil for another act of worship. If the obligatory (fard) is finished, move to the supererogatory (nafila); if the prayer is finished, move to the supplication (dua), so that ease may increase and you may continue in gratitude. (ELMALILI, 9/302)

In this verse, the Messenger of Allah and, in his person, the Muslims are commanded to evaluate all their time with good and beneficial activities. They are commanded to give their due to both religious activities such as worship, prayer, preaching, and guidance, and worldly activities such as working, producing, learning-teaching, cooperation, and solidarity. (QUR’AN WAY, 5/644)

‘And to your Lord alone turn your attention.’

Whatever you hope for, hope for it from Him. Do not stop at causes and reasons or goals other than Him, and do not be bound to another purpose; rather, turn only to Him in all your works, and walk toward Him without stopping. (ELMALILI, 9/302)

The following rules are derived from this surah: "When a matter becomes tight, it expands." and "Blessing is according to the burden." In other words: "Burden is appropriate to the blessing." and "A judgment is given according to what the intention of an action is." (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai). He who works for Allah reaches Allah. (ELMALILI, 9/302)