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
إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ
Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance.
وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَٱلسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allāh, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allāh should forgive you? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُدْخِلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
So as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them into His mercy. That is what is the clear attainment.
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ
[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah