فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا 5
Translations
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief].
Transliteration
Fa-inna ma'a al-'usri yusra
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that with every hardship comes ease, emphasizing Allah's mercy and justice in balancing trials with relief. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir interpret this as a divine promise that difficulties are temporary and will inevitably be followed by ease, either in this life or the next. Al-Qurtubi notes the repetition of this concept in the surah (verses 5-6) as a means of strong reassurance and comfort to the believer facing adversity.
Revelation Context
Surah Ash-Sharh was revealed during the Meccan period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the early Muslims faced intense persecution and hardship from the Quraysh. This surah serves as divine consolation, reminding the faithful that their struggles are temporary and that Allah's relief is inevitable. The surah's overall theme addresses the expansion of the Prophet's heart and the removal of burdens, with this ayah functioning as a cornerstone of hope.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reinforced in a hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'No hardship is followed by more than one ease' (Sunan Ibn Majah and other sources). Additionally, the Quran itself repeats this theme in Surah Al-Inshirah 94:5-6, emphasizing its centrality to Islamic consolation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing difficulties should maintain unwavering hope and patience, trusting in Allah's promise that hardship is never permanent and relief is divinely guaranteed. This ayah teaches resilience by reframing suffering as temporary, encouraging Muslims to endure trials with faith rather than despair.
Related Ayahs
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَـٰهُ صَابِرًا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allāh].
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِصَاصُ فِى ٱلْقَتْلَى ۖ ٱلْحُرُّ بِٱلْحُرِّ وَٱلْعَبْدُ بِٱلْعَبْدِ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ بِٱلْأُنثَىٰ ۚ فَمَنْ عُفِىَ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَىْءٌ فَٱتِّبَاعٌۢ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَآءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۗ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered - the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But whoever overlooks from his brother [i.e., the killer] anything, then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him [i.e., the deceased's heir or legal representative] with good conduct. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. But whoever transgresses after that will have a painful punishment.
هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ حِينٌ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْـًٔا مَّذْكُورًا
Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?
وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن رِّزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And [in] the alternation of night and day and [in] what Allāh sends down from the sky of provision [i.e., rain] and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and [in His] directing of the winds are signs for a people who reason.