بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Ash-Sharh 94:2
The Relief · Juz 30 · Page 596
وَوَضَعۡنَا عَنكَ وِزۡرَكَ ٢
And We removed from you your burden1
1 translator’s note
- By forgiving any errors which you may have committed previously or might commit consequently. "Burden" can also refer to the anxiety experienced by the Prophet (ﷺ) at the beginning of his mission. ↩
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 94:2–3
وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ الَّذِي أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ (And We removed from you your burden that had [ almost ] broken your back...94:2-3). The word wizr literally denotes 'burden' and the phrase naqd-uz-zahr means 'to break one's back as for instance when a heavy load is put on one's back, it bends'. This verse signifies that Allah had relieved him of his burden that was breaking his back. What was that burden or heavy load? One answer to this question is that now and then the Holy Prophet ﷺ did certain permissible deeds, thinking that they were of benefit and in the interest [ of spiritual development ]. Later on he discovered that they were not in keeping with wisdom, or they were undesirable. The Holy Prophet was conscious of his high status and close proximity to Allah. He regarded even such things as serious infractions. This was naturally a very heavy load that made him grieved. But Allah relieved him of his burden in that a blanket pardon was granted to him and it was declared that he would not be held accountable for such things.
Some commentators say that wizr (burden) refers to the effect of revelation. It weighed heavily on him in the initial stages of the Prophethood. He was saddled with a nerve-racking and back-breaking task of raising [ a morally degenerated people ], through propagation of Tauhid and elimination of kufr and shirk, [ from the depths of moral turpitude to the peaks of spiritual excellence, and then through them to cleanse and purify the whole of mankind of the dross of iniquity, ignorance and superstition ]. The task enjoined:
فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ
'So, stand firm - as you have been commanded [ 11:112] '
The Holy Prophet ﷺ used to feel the heavy weight of this task and responsibility. Some narration report that a few strands of his beard had turned grey as a result of this command. The Holy Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said that the following verse has made me old:
فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ
'So, stand firm - as you have been commanded [ 11:112] '
Verses [ 2-3] give the cheerful news that Allah will remove from him the load which was weighing down his back. The following verses show how the back-breaking load will be removed, and every difficulty will be followed by ease and relief. By means of expansion of bosom, Allah gave the Holy Prophet so much of courage that no instance of hardship seemed hardship, and no burden of any magnitude seemed a burden. And Allah knows best!
Page 596
92:15
لَا يَصۡلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡأَشۡقَى ١٥
None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one
92:16
ٱلَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ١٦
Who had denied and turned away.
92:17
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلۡأَتۡقَى ١٧
But the righteous one will avoid it –
92:18
ٱلَّذِي يُؤۡتِي مَالَهُۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ ١٨
[He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself
92:19
وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعۡمَةٖ تُجۡزَىٰٓ ١٩
And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded1 –
1 translator’s note
- i.e., without intending reciprocation for some benefit to himself. ↩
92:20
إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ٢٠
But only seeking the face [i.e., acceptance] of his Lord, Most High.
92:21
وَلَسَوۡفَ يَرۡضَىٰ ٢١
And he is going to be satisfied.
سورة الضحى
Ad-Duhaa
The Morning Hours · Meccan · 11 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
93:1
وَٱلضُّحَىٰ ١
By the morning brightness
93:2
وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ ٢
And [by] the night when it covers with darkness,1
1 translator’s note
- And becomes still. ↩
93:3
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ ٣
Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muḥammad], nor has He detested [you].
93:4
وَلَلۡأٓخِرَةُ خَيۡرٞ لَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٤
And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].
93:5
وَلَسَوۡفَ يُعۡطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرۡضَىٰٓ ٥
And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.
93:6
أَلَمۡ يَجِدۡكَ يَتِيمٗا فَـَٔاوَىٰ ٦
Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?
93:7
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلّٗا فَهَدَىٰ ٧
And He found you lost and guided [you],
93:8
وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلٗا فَأَغۡنَىٰ ٨
And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.
93:9
فَأَمَّا ٱلۡيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقۡهَرۡ ٩
So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].
93:10
وَأَمَّا ٱلسَّآئِلَ فَلَا تَنۡهَرۡ ١٠
And as for the petitioner,1 do not repel [him].
1 translator’s note
- Anyone who seeks aid or knowledge. ↩
93:11
وَأَمَّا بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثۡ ١١
But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].
سورة الشرح
Ash-Sharh
The Relief · Meccan · 8 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
94:1
أَلَمۡ نَشۡرَحۡ لَكَ صَدۡرَكَ ١
Did We not expand for you, [O Muḥammad], your breast?1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., enlighten, assure and gladden your heart with guidance. ↩
94:2
وَوَضَعۡنَا عَنكَ وِزۡرَكَ ٢
And We removed from you your burden1
1 translator’s note
- By forgiving any errors which you may have committed previously or might commit consequently. "Burden" can also refer to the anxiety experienced by the Prophet (ﷺ) at the beginning of his mission. ↩
94:3
ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهۡرَكَ ٣
Which had weighed upon your back
94:4
وَرَفَعۡنَا لَكَ ذِكۡرَكَ ٤
And raised high for you your repute.
94:5
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا ٥
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief].
94:6
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرٗا ٦
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
94:7
فَإِذَا فَرَغۡتَ فَٱنصَبۡ ٧
So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].
94:8
وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرۡغَب ٨
And to your Lord direct [your] longing.