Daily Ayah · Ash-Sharh 94:5-6

Is something heavy sitting on your heart right now? Does relief feel far away?

These ayat first came to the Prophet ﷺ in early Makkah, in years of mockery and pressure. They comfort him with a promise said twice.

The translation says 'where there is', but the Arabic word is ma'a, which literally means 'with'. You might have expected 'after'.

Yet hardship and ease are opposites. So how can one be described as being 'with' the other?

Ibn Ashur explains that opposites cannot truly be together, so 'with' is a figure of speech for ease coming very near, right after hardship arrives.

This ayah promises ease alongside hardship. Tantawi teaches meeting hardship with beautiful patience and great hope in Allah's easing and help.

Amal for today: Write down one hardship you are facing today, then add one sentence of hope in Allah beside it.

Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir); al-Wasit (Tantawi); al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)

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