Ash-Sharh Verse 1

Have We not uplifted your heart for you ˹O Prophet˺,

Have We not reassured your heart for you [O Prophet],

Did We not expand thy breast for thee

Did We not relieve your heart for you [Prophet],

Have We not opened forth for thee thy breast?

Have We not expanded thee thy breast?-

(O Prophet), Did We not lay open your breast

HAVE WE NOT opened up your breast

Did We not widen your bosom?

Did We not open your breast for you

Have We not expanded for you your breast,

Have We not (in fulfillment of your vision in your boyhood and again when you were entrusted with the Divine Mission) opened, expanded (and illuminated) for you your bosom,

Did We not delight/expand your chest (innermost)?

Did We not widen your bosom?

Have We not expanded for you your breast?

Have We not opened your breast for you (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him))?

And removed from thee thy burden,

Have We not expanded for you your breast,

Have We not caused thy bosom to dilate,

(Muhammad), have We not comforted your heart,

Have We not expanded your chest for you (Prophet Muhammad),

Have We not opened your breast for you

Have We not lifted up your heart,

Did We not soothe your heart?

Did We not expand (an interrogative meant as an affirmative, in other words, `We did [indeed] expand') your breast for you, O Muhammad (s), by means of prophethood and otherwise,

The Meaning of Opening the Breast

Allah says,

أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ



Have We not opened your breast for you?

This means, `We illuminated it, and We made it spacious, vast and wide.'

This is as Allah says,

فَمَن يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلِسْلَـمِ

And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam. (6;125)

And just as Allah expanded his chest, He also made His Law vast, wide, accommodating and easy, containing no difficulty, hardship or burden.

A Discussion of Allah's Favor upon His Messenger

Concerning Allah's Statement,

وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ