Good Deed: #294 Find Solace, Reflect on Surah Inshirah, or The Expansion
SURA 94. Inshirah, or The Expansion
1. Have We not expanded thee thy breast?-
2. And removed from thee thy burden
3. The which did gall thy back?-
4. And raised high the esteem [in which] thou [art held]?
5. So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief:
6. Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
7. Therefore, when thou art free [from thine immediate task], still labour hard,
8. And to thy Lord turn [all] thy attention.
Reflect
1. The sūrah also gives the good news of forthcoming relief, points out to the Prophet the secret of ease, and emphasizes his strong ties with God.
2. Prophet was troubled for some reason concerning the message he was entrusted with, and the obstacles in its way. These verses also suggest that the difficulties facing his mission weighed heavily on his heart, making him feel the need for urgent help and backing. Hence this comforting address.
3. Look into your heart! Do you not see it to be full of light, happiness and solace? Reflect on the effects brought about by all the favours bestowed on you! Do you not feel comfort with every difficulty, and find contentment with every kind of deprivation you suffer?
4. Your burden was so heavy that it almost broke your back, but We relieved you of that. Relief took the form of giving your heart a lift so that you might feel your mission easier and your burden not so hard to shoulder.
5. Another aspect of the relief was the guidance you received on how to discharge your mission and how to appeal to people’s hearts. Furthermore, there is relief for you in the revelation of the Qur’ān which explains the truth and helps you to drive it home to people easily and gently. Do you not feel all this when you think of how heavy your burden was? Do you not feel it to be lighter after We opened up your heart?
6. With hardship goes ease, so seek relief and solace. When you have finished whatever you may have to do, be it a matter relating to the delivery of your message or an affair of this life, then turn with all your heart to what deserves your toil and striving, namely devotion and dedication in worship.
source: Sayyid Qutb In the Shade of the Quran