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
إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوْبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
The repentance accepted by Allāh is only for those who do wrong in ignorance [or carelessness] and then repent soon [after]. It is those to whom Allāh will turn in forgiveness, and Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
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?
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.
۞ قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."