فَإِنَّ مَعَ العُسرِ يُسرًا

Indeed ease accompanies hardship.

EXEGESIS

ʿUsr (hardship) means tightness, difficulty, and strain.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Lisan, 4/563.”][1][/su_tooltip]} Hence, it has been interpreted as the lack of provision and amenities in one’s life and work.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Ayn, 1/326.”][2][/su_tooltip]} Yusr is its exact opposite and means ease and facility.

EXPOSITION

Although some exegetes maintain that this verse refers to the financial challenges that the Prophet faced towards his mission, the generalisability of the verse includes all different types of challenges he was facing.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Nemuneh, 27/127.”][3][/su_tooltip]} Moreover, the tone of the verse is general and is not limited to the Prophet and his time only. Rather, it highlights a general principle that if any sincere pious individual works hard, following the difficulties they face, ease will follow.

It is worth mentioning that the verse does not state that the ease comes after hardship, but states that it accompanies (maʿa) hardship. The term maʿa is used to highlight that ease is so very close, and from the moment of enduring hardships, ease gradually follows.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Ahsan al-Hadith, 12/274.”][4][/su_tooltip]} This is the promise of God which delights the heart of every believer.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Nemuneh, 27/127.”][5][/su_tooltip]}

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. It has been narrated from the Holy Prophet: ‘Know that difficulties are followed by ease, and patience with victory, and sadness and sorrow are followed by happiness.’^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Nur, 5/604.”][6][/su_tooltip]}

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

In this verse God gives glad tidings to His Prophet that he should not worry because the difficulties and challengers will not last for long.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Nemuneh, 27/127.”][7][/su_tooltip]} Kalbī maintains that the verse means: following poverty wealth will come about (so there is ease after hardship).^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Tabrisi, 10/771.”][8][/su_tooltip]} The author of Aḥsan al-Ḥadīth adds that verses 3 and 4 are the evidence for this verse and the verse that follows.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Ahsan al-Hadith, 12/274.”][9][/su_tooltip]}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Psalms 30:5.”][10][/su_tooltip]}
2. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Lamentations 3:32.”][11][/su_tooltip]}

[1] Lisan, 4/563.
[2] Ayn, 1/326.
[3] Nemuneh, 27/127.
[4] Ahsan al-Hadith, 12/274.
[5] Nemuneh, 27/127.
[6] Nur, 5/604.
[7] Nemuneh, 27/127.
[8] Tabrisi, 10/771.
[9] Ahsan al-Hadith, 12/274.
[10] Psalms 30:5.
[11] Lamentations 3:32.