Surah ash Sharh in my Life – Part 2

Rana Rais Khan – Founder Hiba Family Resource Centre

Surah ash Sharh was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sa) in Makkah. Some scholars believe that it was the completion of Surah ad Duha. The Surah highlights Allah’s (swt) exclusive favours for the Prophet (sa) in extremely difficult times. He also commanded Prophet Muhammad (sa) to carry out certain acts in order to develop coping skills.

As believers and the Prophet’s (sa) followers, we are to seek comfort the same way when the going gets tough and carry out these commands to empower ourselves. 

وَرَفَعۡنَا لَكَ ذِكۡرَكَ فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرٗا فَإِذَا فَرَغۡتَ فَٱنصَبۡ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرۡغَب

• And raised high for you your repute.
• For indeed, with hardship (will be) ease (i.e. relief).
• Indeed, with hardship (will be) ease.
• So when you have finished (your duties), then stand up (for worship).
• And to your Lord direct (your) longing.

This Surah was revealed at a time when Prophet Muhammad (sa) was not only known within Makkah but traces of his message had travelled across Arabia. During the Hajj season pilgrims or traders from Madinah etc. discovered him. His noble mention began to spread far and wide by Allah’s (swt) special plan and grace.

In the fourth verse, Allah (swt) talks about His exclusive favour upon Prophet Muhammad (sa). How his reputation was held high back then and has been raised for all times to come no matter how much anyone attempts to malign him.  

In a narration by Saeed Khudri (rta), the Prophet (sa) stated: “Jibrail (as) asked me ‘Do you know what is the meaning of the fourth verse of Surah Sharh?’ Prophet Muhammad (sa) responded: ‘Allah knows best.’ Jibrail (as) said: ‘The reality of your high reputation is such that wherever Allah’s (swt) name shall be mentioned, your name will be mentioned.’”    

Whether it’s the Kalima (testimony of a believer’s faith), the Adhaan (call to Salah), the Attahiyaat (a significant prayer in your Salah) or the Durood (salutation upon Prophet Muhammad (sa)) you will notice how Allah’s (swt) praise is intertwined with the honour of Muhammad (sa).

Also other prophets were addressed by their names generally. Prophet Muhammad (sa) has other names too such as: Mudhathir, Muzammil, Aaquib, Mahi, Haashir, etc.

History records nearly 40,000 women scholars recording the Prophet’s (sa) ahadeeth that have reached us today to form our Iman and Aqueedah. Imagine the research and service of men scholars that was way more to preserve the sayings, life and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (sa).

Such an immaculate and error free plan put into place by Allah (swt) for His beloved Rasool and for us to know him, learn from him and follow in his footsteps without innovations.  

Dhikr is of two types. One from the tongue and other through your heart. It is noticed that Prophet Muhammad’s (sa) Dhikr was higher in quantity and quality as compared to the mention and reverence of other prophets.    

In the fifth and sixth verses, a simple yet profound assurance is given to Prophet Muhammad (sa) and through him to the believers too, by Allah (swt).

• Hardship and ease are companions.
• One follows the other.
• Sometimes they even come together.
• Hardship is always lesser than the ease granted.
• Access to ease will only be by facing tough times so that we grow personally in faith, abilities, gratitude, patience, closeness to Allah (swt).
• The term ‘Al Usri’ refers to a proper noun and single difficulty.
• Whereas the term ‘Yusra’ refers to a common noun and multiple sources of relief.

Imam Ibn ul Qayyim stated: “One hardship is centered by two types of ease. One comes before it and the other after the hardship.”

How can ‘Yusra’ not overcome ‘Usr’ then? The prevailing factor in a person’s life is ease not hardship.

But If you ask people generally or even yourself, “What is life like?” you are most likely to get a response that indicates the opposite. Why do people remember hardships only?

1. We dwell upon our miseries, lamenting over it for years even after receiving relief and strength from Allah (swt).
2. We have trained our mind to think ungratefully, focus only on what’s not working and stating with our tongue about it.
3. We don’t celebrate our solutions, relief and strength with the same Shukr and humility before Allah (swt) as we complain about our troubles that are fewer in number.
4. Our world view is incorrect. We forget that life was meant to be a test. The world is not Jannah. It is imperfect, temporary and unreliable. Only life in the Aakhirah will be perfect, permanent and hardship-free.
5. We forget that Allah (swt) is the One who grants us Sabr with trials, health after illness, strength after grief, sustenance after financial losses, etc. 
6. Most importantly we are ignorant about who Allah (swt) is? What is the purpose of our life? What is the road map laid out by the Quran?            

Allah (swt) offered Prophet Muhammad (sa) a special lens to evaluate his life too. The Prophet (sa) was granted enormous ease in the past. So shall he receive more relief in future too against all his hardships.

Similarly, we must analyze our own life and the trials that bothers us. Start listing the sources of ease around that difficulty. The sources of ease will outnumber the hardship surely.

In the seventh and eighth verses, Allah (swt) is finally granting a divine solution to overcome problems, pain and troubles and seek solace with Allah (swt).

During the daytime Prophet Muhammad (sa) served the prophetic mission, managed varied affairs, played many roles and stayed among people. That was a cumbersome task and caused his heart and soul to ache. At night Allah (swt) commanded him to come to Him and pray Salah to wash out all the negativity and fill himself with spiritual contentment, relax and recover to carry on the following day.

We also witness another incident in the Prophet’s (sa) life, when his daughter Fatimah (rta) approached him to ease her burden with a slave, the Prophet (sa) instead proposed her to perform Tasbeeh for relaxation, for spiritual nourishment and to regain lost physical strength too.

Abu Hurairah (rta) reported that the Prophet (sa) said: “Allah (swt) said: ‘O son of Adam, use your free time to worship Me and I will fill your heart with riches and alleviate your poverty, otherwise I will fill your life with troubles and never relieve your poverty.’” (At Tirmidhi)   

We must ask ourselves, what do we fill our leisure time with? Scrolling our phone, on the social media, watching movies or shows, listening to music or shopping and eating out, etc.

Allah (swt) on the contrary is commanding us to become a worshipping slave. We all have our routine of Ibadah that has probably not changed or updated for years. There is so much that can be added to it. Especially after identifying our empty slots of the day and night:

1. Istaghfaar
2. Tasbeeh
3. Listening to the Quran
4. Reciting it
5. Memorizing it
6. Pondering upon it
7. Making an action plan to implement it in our life
8. Adding Nawaafil to our day:
9. Tahajjud
10. Ishraaq
11. Qiyaam ul Lail

Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)

Imagine if you started using your cell phone as a spoon for stirring your curry, or as a spade in the garden or as a hammer to fix the fence, what will happen to it? It will either malfunction or break down.

That’s what we are doing to ourselves. When we refuse to worship or neglect it or not renew it, we become dysfunctional as humans.

Prophet Muhammad (sa) exhausted himself worshipping Allah (swt). His spiritual appetite kept growing bringing him success in Dunya. Salah was the coolness of his eyes, that comforted him in grief and elated him in joy.

As believers it will do the same for us. We must free ourselves for more worship of Allah (swt) to experience the richness of life in spite of pains around us, in sha Allah.      

 (Partially adapted from a course titled ‘In depth study of Juzz 30’ taught by Safiya Khan).