الشرح

أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ ١

{ ألم نشرح } استفهام تقرير أي شرحنا { لك } يا محمد { صدرك } بالنبوة وغيرها؟.

Did We not expand (an interrogative meant as an affirmative, in other words, ‘We did [indeed] expand’) your breast for you, O Muhammad (s), by means of prophethood and otherwise,

وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ ٢

{ ووضعنا } حططنا { عنك وزرك }.

and relieve you of your burden,

ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ ٣

{ الذى أنقض } أثقل { ظهرك } وهذا كقوله تعالى:

ليغفر لك الله ما تقدم من ذنبك

[2:48].

that which weighed down your back? — this is similar to where God says: that God may forgive you what is past of your sin [Q. 48:2].

وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ ٤

{ ورفعنا لك ذكرك } بأن تذكر مع ذكري في الأذان والإقامة والتشهد والخطبة وغيرها.

Did We not exalt your mention? For you are mentioned where I [God] am mentioned in the call announcing [the time for] prayer (adhān), in the [second] call to perform the prayer (iqāma), in the witnessing [‘there is no god but God, Muhammad is His Messenger’] (tashahhud), in the Friday sermon and in other instances.

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ٥

{ فإن مع العسر } الشدة { يسرا } سهولة.

For truly with hardship comes ease.

إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ٦

{ إن مع العسر يسرا } والنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قاسى من الكفار شدة، ثم حصل له اليسر بنصره عليهم.

Truly with hardship comes ease: the Prophet (s) suffered much hardship at the hands of the disbelievers, but then he enjoyed ease when he was assisted to victory [by God] over them.

فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ ٧

{ فإذا فرغت } من الصلاة { فانصب } اتعب في الدعاء.

So when you are finished, from [performing] prayer, toil, exert yourself in supplication [to God],

وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب ٨

{ وإلى ربك فارغب } تضرع.

and seek, devote yourself humbly to, your Lord.