فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلعُسرىٰ

We shall surely ease him into hardship.

EXEGESIS

The word ʿusrā is the feminine version of aʿsar which is in the superlative form, meaning hardship and difficulty.^{‎[1]Tahqiq, 8/152.}

EXPOSITION

If verse 7 was understood as a reference to succour (tawfīq), then the current verse is a reference to desertion (khidhlān) whereby Allah takes away His divine succour from His servant and it becomes increasingly difficult for him to carry out good deeds,^{‎[2]Safi, 5/337.} and furthermore, his chest is not expanded for belief in Islam.^{‎[3]Mizan, 30/303.} Not only that, but evil deeds become easier for him. God does this by removing the barriers between him and evil actions and in this sense, he is ‘eased’ into hardship. This process is also referred to as gradual ruin (istidrāj) and has been mentioned in 3:178, 7:182, and 68:44.^{‎[4]Munyah, 30/406.}

In a similar vein to verse 7, this verse has also been said to be referring to hellfire.^{‎[5]Munyah, 30/406; Tibyan, 10/364.}

Some have combined these two explanations and have said that what is meant is that through the process of desertion (khidhlān) and lack of divine help, the person would become liable to enter hellfire through his actions.^{‎[6]Abu al-Futuh, 20/302.}

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. In a narration attributed to Imam al-Ṣādiq (a), whilst interpreting these verses he explained hardship here as referring to hellfire.^{‎[7]Furat, 1/567.}

[1] Tahqiq, 8/152.
[2] Safi, 5/337.
[3] Mizan, 30/303.
[4] Munyah, 30/406.
[5] Munyah, 30/406; Tibyan, 10/364.
[6] Abu al-Futuh, 20/302.
[7] Furat, 1/567.