Part 1 Surah Inshirah/Ash-Sharh-Nouman Ali Khan
Abdullah Ibn Masud used to recite Ad-Dhuha and Inshirah together in one rakaah without even breaking for Bismillah /Basmallah during Salah. He has mentioned that both these Surahs are one, and is having the same discussion.
This is also the opinion of Abdullah ibn Abbas.
Similarities between Surah Ad-Dhua and Inshirah:
1) Both are addressing exclusively, Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-Allah swt talks about believers/disbelievers in some parts of Quran.. However, the main target audience for this Surah is Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-The pronoun 'ka' that is being used in both these Surahs,both are addressing Prophet Muhammad SAW exclusively.
2) Both are one of the shortest Surahs , yet contains the heaviest contents.
-The content on appreciating and loving Prophet Muhammad SAW.
3) Both are ending with advices to Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-When something has been addressed as an advice to Prophet Muhammad SAW, it doesn't means that Prophet Muhammad SAW is not doing it!
-It is a general advice to everyone. Why?
It is like Allah saying since Prophet Muhammad SAW is supposed to do it, everyone who follows him(SAW) also has to do it.
-One of the advice that is more exclusive to Prophet Muhammad SAW is
Ad-Dhuhaa : 11
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].
Dawah is being mentioned as favour.
Dawah:
We will think it is beneficial for others. However, in this Surah, we will learn how Dawah is beneficial for you.
4)
In linguistic point of view:
We have a sentence structures where it being questioned negatively. For example: like saying "Didn't I tell you not to do that?". What it means? It means that sentence is implying that "For sure,I told you not to do that. "
Another example:
"Didn't I tell you to worry about that?" , which can be implied as "For sure, I did not tell you to worry about that"
Ad-Dhuhaa : 6
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَـَٔاوٰى
Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?
This ayat follows this following format of rhetorical question.
Ad-Dhuhaa : 7
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّا فَهَدٰى
And He found you lost and guided [you],
-This is a reply
-And,it is in past tense.
Ash-Sharh : 1
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ
Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast
?
-This is also a rhetorical question.
And, the three ayats following it have the past tense format just like the previous surah.
Ash-Sharh : 2
وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ
And We removed from you your burden
Ash-Sharh : 3
الَّذِىٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ
Which had weighed upon your back
Ash-Sharh : 4
وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ
And raised high for you your repute.
Both these Surahs starts with a question format , and replying with past tense.
And, thus in terms of structure & language, they are very similar.
Part 2, to be continued, In Shaa Allah.
Part 2, Surah Inshirah/Ash-Sharh-Nouman Ali Khan
Continuing the similarities between Surah Inshirah and Surah Dhuha:
5)
Ad-Dhuhaa : 4
وَلَلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولٰى
And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].
-This is a consolation given to Prophet Muhammad SAW by Allah swt.
Ash-Sharh : 5
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Ash-Sharh : 6
إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
-In this Surah, another consolation given to Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-Not only, it is being mentioned it will be BETTER but it is also mentioned that it will be EASIER.
There may be times in this world where it can be BETTER for you but does not necessarily needs to EASIER for you. However,for Prophet Muhammad SAW, Allah swt is saying that in hereafter, it will be EASIER & BETTER. This is being stated in both the surahs.
6)
Ad-Dhuhaa : 7
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّا فَهَدٰى
And He found you lost and guided [you],
When you know somebody is lost, they will be disturbed, not in rest , not being calm. And, when they found something, they will become calm.
And, in this Surah, we can see that Allah swt is giving guidance by....
Ash-Sharh : 1
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ
Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast?
-when the chest is being expanded means, to put things in ease, calm. Allah is saying like "Didn't we give you ease, relaxation to your chest".
-This is explaining the guidance that Allah swt gave to Prophet Muhammad SAW .
7)
Ad-Dhuhaa : 5
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضٰىٓ
And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.
And, in this surah we will see on what Allah will be giving,
Ash-Sharh : 4
وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ
And raised high for you your repute.
What does it mean elevating the status? And, why is it so important? -Will be discussed later...
8) We can see external & internal work of a believer.
This is going to be the main theme of this surah.
-Acts like dawah, standing up for people were things that Messenger of Allah always did.
-You will say that all of these acts are done for the people.
-However, there is a another dimension where you cut things off from people. You will just worship Allah swt.
-Da'ee has the following two dimensions.
For example:
Ad-Dhuhaa : 11
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].
*Allah swt is asking Messenger of Allah to connect to with the humanity.
Ash-Sharh : 8
وَإِلٰى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب
And to your Lord direct [your] longing.
*Now, Allah swt is saying to cut himself off from the humanity
Now, Prophet Muhammad SAW has to manage these two. In Shaa Allah, this (balancing) will be covered in this Surah.
Here are the following parallels/similarities provided by the scholars. And, it is mentioned by the scholars on the connection between these two surahs are more obvious as the Sun.
Part 3, will be continued, In Shaa Allah.
Part 3, Surah Inshirah/Ash-Sharh Nouman Ali Khan
Ash-Sharh : 1
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ
Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast?
Why Sharh is being used?
-It is being used to describe the opening the book etc
-It can be defined as opening/explaining something that is complex.
******************
One of the Salaf has mentioned that there is two meanings for this word 'Sharh'
1) Open/expand something
2) Clarify something
******************
In Arabic idiom, when we study figure of speech....
When Allah says that he expand the chest of Prophet Muhammad SAW,
1) it means that he(swt ) put the mind of Prophet Muhammad SAW in ease.
*And, Sharh does not necessarily means chest, it could also means as mind. *
********************
Scholarly Commentary:
1) When someone's chest is being open, they will be happy for whatever situation/object that they were given. They used to be unhappy about it previously, and now, they are happy about it .
So, when Allah says ,
Ash-Sharh : 1
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ
Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast
?
-Prophet Muhammad SAW is enormously content,completely satisfied with what he has given. And, there is no want for more, no more void left.
2) Opening of chest could also imply that
-Any barrier for the true meaning of the message that Allah has given him, it has been removed.
-And, this is a very important concept. The reason is that when you give someone dictation, it doesn't not necessarily that they understand everything.
-For example, when the teacher is in the class,he asks them to write down something,and the students write it down. However , it doesn't not necessarily means that they have understood on what they have wrote.
-Receiving message doesn't necessarily means that you
understand it.
-Hence, by receiving & understanding the message, your chest will be open.
-Prophet Muhammad SAW not only only receive the message, but he made the best to understand it.
-Allah swt made it easier for him to understand it & any barrier to understand the revelation has been removed.
**********************
3) When you put a question on a negative statement,
This is a means to emphasise on the statement that has been made.
-Allah is saying , "For sure, I have expanded your chest".
-It is reminding the favour that Allah swt has given to Prophet Muhammad SAW, for example : "Didn't I do this to you?" rather than saying "I did this to you".
-The intend of it is to make the person whom you are talking , to make them even more grateful.
-This gives the tone for this Surah.
-We will know that Allah swt is going to give consolation to Prophet Muhammad SAW till the end.
- Allah swt is supporting Prophet Muhammad SAW psychologically & spiritually.
4) Why Sadr is being used?
-Some scholars have pointed out this ayat( expanding of chest) is referring to Prophet Muhammad SAW childhood event, where his heart has been opened and cleaned by the angels.
-While, another occasion where the heart of Prophet Muhammad SAW is being cleaned is during Israa Mi'raj.
Part 4 to be continued, In Shaa Allah.
Part 4 Surah Inshirah/Ash-Sharh-Nouman Ali Khan
Ash-Sharh : 1
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ
Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast?
5) Why the word "we" is being used?
-In the previous Surah, Allah swt introduce himself as a third person.
-While, in this Surah, Allah swt introduce directly(first person) to Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-In terms of language, speaking directly implies that you are closer to the person. Hence, this is a major difference between the previous surah and this surah.
-It shows that Prophet Muhammad SAW and Allah swt is very close.
What does expansion of chest means?
-It occurs in the Quran × x4.
Expanding of your chest means putting your mind in ease, to make comfortable with something.
For example:
There is a group of people who know what is haram, halal. And, they are following the commandments. However, they do not understand what they are doing. And, they are not finding any comfort in it as they do not find any logic . Their mind is not put in the ease.
*Take note: We are not supposed to find logic in the commandments of Allah swt, as we may or not find wisdom in it. As a believer, we should believe in the commandments of Allah without finding any logic in it.*
There will be some who may be in confused about 2.5% zakaat, inheritance law, riba( loan interests) .
While, among the believers , there will be some who will be comfortable with the commandments. There could be 2 reasons for it
1)They may find & appreciate wisdom in it.
2) The fact that is it from Allah swt is sufficient for them to convince about the commandments. They are totally satisfied as the commandments are from Allah swt and they are grateful for it. Even, if it is difficult, they will find it like a medication, and they would happily take it.
"Whoever Allah swt intends to guide them , he expands their chest for Islam"
-Allah swt did not expand the chest for Eeman but to Islam.
What is the difference between Eeman & Islam?
-Eeman is the faith. Believing in -Allah is being one , Prophet Muhammad SAW as being the Messenger of Allah..
-Islam is the obedience.
And, discomfort comes in the obedience. Allah is saying whoever wants true guidance, he (swt) puts relaxation on them to be obedient to the commandments. Allah swt expands their chest for Islam.
"As for the one whose chest has been expanded for Islam , it is like he is from light"
-Like, he has light. Allah swt has given him the light.
What does it means?
A person who says/believes "I don't really understand on what it means, but I will just do it anyway".
-While , other person who will truly understand the message & accepts it.
-The first person is walking in the dark while the other one has the light in his path.
Part 5 to be continued, In Shaa Allah.
Part 5, Surah Inshirah/ Ash-Sharh-Nouman Ali Khan
Ash-Sharh : 1
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ
Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast?
Who is the other messenger whose chest has been expanded?
It is Musa(AS)
"My master has expanded my chest for me"
Let's ponder on expansion of chest for Musa(as)...
Musa(as) has a very strong temper so when he goes before Firawn , and he hears ridiculous,abnoxious lies,falsehood, insult against the truth, he(as) will be offended. And, Musa(as) will go to Allah swt and says
"My chest has become tightened, and my tongue doesn't move"
Musa(as) is complaining about tightening of his chest. In other words, tightening has got to do with his mission. When, he(as) goes in a mission to deliver the message of Allah, he will hear things that will make him cringe. And, at this point of time , his heart will become tightened.
So, when your chest has become tightened & uncomfortable
-You will not be able to do your mission properly, will not be able to do your best.And, then Musa(as) will start stuttering.
-And, then ,Musa(as) is making dua to expand his chest.
So,what does this mean?
-There is kind of expansion of chest, that will be applicable to Messengers only.
-It is due to the work that they are doing. It is emotionally a draining work. And, thus they need Allah’s divine gift for relaxation in what they are doing.
What is the difficulty in the task?
-In case of Prophet Muhammad SAW , he received message given to the humanity. And, this is the greatest honour that any human being will be bestowed upon.
-On, the other hand,he (SAW) takes the message and goes to the kuffar,the people of the book. The people were curseing ,spitting him& they are insulting him.
-Let's talk about da'ees or just yourself...
*if you are doing job, and someone comes and insult you, yelling at you in public, do you think that effect of it will last the whole day?
-Of course, it will if you are the dignified human being . You will be affected. And, this is the normal scenario.
*it will take a toil on your chest, you will feel it. And, you will feel your chest getting tight.
(However, there are some people who are used to being cursed,insulted and that is different. )
Part 6 to be continued,In Shaa Allah.
Part 6 Surah Inshirah/Ash-Sharh-Nouman Ali Khan
Effects of tightening of your chest( continuation)
-If you are affected by a person's words, it will take a toil in your heart. Some people will not be able to talk properly to the same person even after some years.Or, they will totally avoid that person.
Prophet Muhammad SAW has to face the insults on daily basis.
Isn't it something hard to think about?
And, Allah swt has divinely states that "didn't we open your chest for you"
-This is to inform us about the difficult task that Prophet Muhammad SAW has to handle.
If this Quran was sent to the mountains, they would have been exploded out of fear.
-Mountains are supposed to be hard . However, due to the fear of Allah,they would have been exploded completely.
Yet ,the same Quran was sent to Prophet Muhammad SAW through Jibreel(as). So, if this Quran was hold by Prophet Muhammad SAW , isn't it needs to be properly aligned?.
Hence, Allah swt says that he expands the chest because it contains the Quran. It is not something easy for Quran to be revealed on Prophet Muhammad SAW. This is a very heavy thing. And, even Allah swt declares it.
"We are going to come in contact to you with heavy words".
So,this is the favour that Allah swt has bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad SAW.
If, you compare the previous favours that Allah swt has bestowed upon....
Ad-Dhuhaa : 6
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَـَٔاوٰى
Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?
Ad-Dhuhaa : 7
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّا فَهَدٰى
And He found you lost and guided [you],
Ad-Dhuhaa : 8
وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلًا فَأَغْنٰى
And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.
All of these favours are preparatory for the task being messenger of Allah.
And, the above ayats talks about pre-Islamic period.
While, this Surah motivates Prophet Muhammad SAW to be in the mission as expanding of chest will be the greatest gift that Allah can bestow on Prophet Muhammad SAW now.
Musa(as) had to ask Allah for his heart to be expanded. While, in this surah, Allah swt says "didn’t we expanded your chest", which implies that Prophet Muhammad's SAW heart has already been expanded
Part 7 to be continued, In Shaa Allah
Part 7 Surah Inshirah/Ash-Sharh-Nouman Ali Khan
Let's take a look at the vocabulary:
Ash-Sharh : 2
وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ
And We removed from you your burden
Wawadahna:
1)Something that is placed above and then you place it below.
For example: You pick an object from table and place below it.
2)It is also used when a mother gives birth to a child. When, Maryam (as) give birth , she used the same word.
3) Similarly, it is used in Quran when removing your clothes, dropping load of your clothes.
So, Allah says he could relieve them from the shackles that they are experiencing.
Wizraqa:
Allah swt removed their burdens
Wizr:
Wizr in English translation is burden.
So, what is the difference between this burden(Wizr)?
1) It is heavier
-Hence, from here we will learn that Prophet Muhammad SAW had a very heavy burden to carry.
2) It is so hard to carry that you will crush due to its weight.
Allah swt is saying that he has removed the overwhelming, crushing wizr from you.
Ash-Sharh : 1
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ
Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast?
Normally LAKA is being used at the end. This is the preposition that is normally used.
By, placing the LAKA at the front, it is being implied as only for you we have expanded the chest. In other words, the way Allah swt has expanded the chest, it is uniquely for him. Some people may have experienced expansion of heart but it is nothing compared to Prophet Muhammad SAW. It is a gift from Allah to Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Similarly,
Ash-Sharh : 2
وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ
And We removed from you your burden
Anka:
This is being used in front of the sentence compared to last as this is unique to Prophet Muhammad SAW , like the previous ayat.
Part 8 to be continued, In Shaa Allah.
Part 8, Surah Inshirah/Ash-Sharh-Nouman Ali Khan.
Ash-Sharh : 3
الَّذِىٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ
Which had weighed upon your back.
Naqadha:
It has multiple meanings:
- it is used to indicate something for 'break'
-Untie a rope
-break a bone
-break a contract
Anqadha(This is used in the ayat):
-To place a burdern on someone until you hear cracks from them.
-For example , if you have a table and you pile something more than it can handle, and you will start to hear cracks before it breaks
-Similarly, it is used for people who are getting old, they will hear cracks from their knees when they are getting up from sujood.
Dha'hrak
- It is your back .
-Allah Is saying to messenger(saw) that the burden is so heavy in the back that you can start to hear cracks. And, Allah swt is saying if it was staying any longer, the back would have snapped.
-Of course, this is not indicating that there was a physical burden placed inside Messenger(saw).
This is something else...
So, what is this wizr that was so heavy on his back that it will make him collapse?
There are 6 to 7 opinions from Tafasiroon:
1) We are living in a materialistic world and we are becoming very shallow as human beings- This is not even indicating about being religious but the people generally.
Our concern, rarely goes beyond ourselves. We only think about what we are going to eat today, what movie to watch, what video games that we are going to play, etc. Our entire life revolves around us. While, others could be , their family & children.
-For, some people their concerns is little bit more. They are concerned about their neighbourhood. They are socially active. They are concerned about themselves and the society.
-While, there will be some people who is concerned more , ,they are concerned about politics, animal rights. These are the people who are politically active and they want to do something humanitarian.
-All of these is materialistic as all of them are concerned about this world.
-And, there used to be some people in the pre-modern world who are not only concerned about this world, but they are worried about what is going to happen after they leave this world.
-They will be pondering with questions such as:
Why am here? Where am I headed after this? As , I am not the only who was here, my forefathers have came here and they are gone , so where will I go?
-They will ask deeper questions.
"How do I find justice in the society? How I should Iive my life?
-An average person, they will not ask these deeper questions and they do not even think about it. They are not that kind of people.
-We will be thinking that only philosophy lecturers will be pondering about these deeper questions, or they are the ones who will thinking about abstract , groovy things.
However...(will be continued in Part 9, In Shaa Allah)
Part 9 |ITafseer-of-Surah-94-al-Inshira-al-Sharh-alam-nashrah-by-Nouman-Ali-Khan|
However, you should think about this...
When you don't have food , you will start to feel unrest. And, when you are concerned about your neighbourhood, you will lose your sleep.
When, you are concerned about something in your life, it becomes an obsession and you want to fix it.
There is some people in the humanity(not necessarily means only messengers) , generally, human beings will think about all these, and when they do , they will not be able to sleep.
They will think about all these questions..
"Why am I here?" "Is there anyone who created me?" "Do I owe him anything?"
And, they will try to find answers in church , temple or even with philosophers. And, they will keep getting answers that they are not satisfied upon. And, this unrest will become burden for them and it will take over their lives.
Again, most people are not at this level. However, there are some people like that.
Historical example....
Salman Al Farsi(RA)
-He was born in a fire worshipping family, well-to-do , had a good life but his family worships fire. And, he is one of the big chief in the temple. And, he cannot absorb this idea of him putting the fuel in fire and asking fire to do something. He thinks about this and he is not satisfied.
Due to not being satisfied, he tries to find answers. Long story to be short-how many sacrifices Salman Al Farsi is willing to go through even before Islam? It is not for the needs for his stomach, or his nation or his country. Not for anything, but for the truth or purpose of this life. That is what he is seeking. And, this man is amazing as we say the thirsty goes to the well. But, in his case, the well comes to him. When, Messenger (saw) moves to medinah, Salman Al Farasi was anxiously waiting to meet him.
And, these are the average human beings who are deep thinkers.
Now, lets take look at the messengers,
-Allah swt has selected the purest of the people to be the messengers.
-And, the purest of them all is Messenger(saw)
-Do you think that he is concerned with worldly things even before Islam or he is concerned about higher things?
-The answer for this is captured in the previous surah.
Ad-Dhuhaa : 7
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّا فَهَدٰى
And He found you lost and guided [you],
Found you in seeking what?
-Messenger(saw) was not satisfied with what his society is doing. The truth of unseen is unsatisfactory to him.
-We know that he doesn't like to play games , or entertained and he doesn't goes to any musical types of gathering. Even, when he wantes to pass by them, Allah swt put sleep on him. And, he will wake up after the gathering.
-Ayisha(ra) is telling us that when he reaches the age of maturity( the age of 40), this is Sunnah of Allah when he choses the messengers to give the message. And , at this age,even before the revelation , he is going to the cave.
More to be continued in Part 10, In Shaa Allah
Part 10 |Tafseer-of-Surah-94-al-Inshira-al-Sharh-alam-nashrah-by-Nouman-Ali-Khan
Why do someone goes to the cave?
-Nowdays, people are going there to check the view etc, but it is not used to be like that.
Why do you originally go to the cave & leave the society?
-The reason is that whatever that is putting in society is letting you to be unrest. You have food in your stomach ,however there is something in your chest that doesn't sit well. The burden keeps on getting heavier to seek the truth.
And, Allah swt brought PBUH to this point.
-Ayisha (ra) narrates that PBUH told her that he used to go for days.
If you see any average person in the society, they are going for camping for days, weeks. What the family will be start thinking?
-They will start to get worried about him and they will try to find out on what is happening to him as this person can snap at any time.
-Prophet Muhammad SAW was desperately seeking the truth, and he came to a desperate point where he even abandoned the society.
What Prophet Muhammad SAW was doing in the cave?
-He was deeply thinking.
What was he deeply thinking about?
-Hence, Allah swt alleviated by giving him the answers.
-Allah swt sent the Jibreel (as) to Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-This is the first step for the burden to be alleviated and chest to be expanded.
2) It is about society. Any decent human being is not concerned only about truth, higher purpose, they are also concerned about their fellow human beings. The Messenger of Allah(PBUH) was concerned about his fellow human beings even before the revelation came. He (PBUH) is trying to help the oppressed, orphans etc.
But , do you know there is something about helping others?
-Even today , we have humanitarian causes. If you give something to humanitarian cause, the charitable organisation will give you chart on how much they have fed people. And, it will look cool as you can see they are feeding more people every single year.
Now, let's make a chart on how many people were hungry last year , this year, next year.
-Which year will be exponentially increasing? The hunger or the effort. The hunger will be increasing.
" I am trying to help the ones who are hungry, the oppressed but I can't. I am trying to be just but I can't find the justice. "
-If, you know the answers for these questions, the burden will be removed
Allah swt gave the moral codes as he was not able to live with the society due to its problems.
Allah swt says to PBUH that you are an enormous ethical character. What does it implies?
-PBUH has such beautiful morals and the society has terrible morals.
-PBUH was pondering on what he should do so that he can change their morals & behavior.
-Then, Allah swt removed this burden .
3)
Ad-Dhuhaa : 3
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلٰى
Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you].
PBUH was in the cave and he came in contact with the revelation. Ayats of Allah came to him through Jibreel. When PBUH was in salah , he was in a direct communication with Allah azwajal.
PBUH gains his strength here, he uses this
Part 11 |Tafseer-of-Surah-94-al-Inshira-al-Sharh-alam-nashrah-by-Nouman-Ali-Khan
Ash-Sharh : 2
وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ
And We removed from you your burden
For a long period of time, the revelation stopped coming. Do you think he (PBUH) stop giving dawah?
-No, he was still making dawah. However, now the revelation has stopped coming. And, the burden is getting heavier for him and Allah relieves the burden by giving the revelation.
-This contributed to his expansion of chest.
-The period when the revelation stopped coming , his chest became tightened.
This is another meaning of removal of burden
Why?
-When the messenger makes dawah, he hears things that are very insulting . And, we have heard PBUH is a very sensitive person.
-When , we make dawah and someone insults us publicly, what will happen to our motivation?
-We will lose our motivation and we will say things like "This is too much to handle, I don't want to do this anymore".
While, PBUH has to keep on doing this , and every day it is not getting easier but harder. The same people who were nasty yesterday, they would be nasty twice now.
Allah relieves him from this pain.
-If your job is like this, you will lose your spirit. And, by the day, you will be less motivated to do it.
-If you are less motivated, you will do your job in a worse level.
-Hence, it is critical for PBUH that the toil of Dawah takes on him, it should not affect his morals.
The burden that he carry on the day, should be shed off by the night. It should be cleansed up.
How it would be cleansed up?
-It is the Qiyammulail.
One of the mufasiroon gave beautiful parallel/ example. He compared the work of messenger pbuh....
To be continued, In Shaa Allah.
Part 12: al-Inshira-al-Sharh-alam-nashrah-by-Nouman-Ali-Khan
One of the mufasiroon compared the work of PBUH to rain.
Rain comes from the sky and it is pure. And, it touches on the plants that have dirt on them & it cleans other things.
By the time, it comes to the ground, it becomes dirty again. Hence, it has to be cleansed , go back & cleanse again. And, it will engage in this process again. This is necessary for the world to be cleansed.
And, this is the same as Prophet Muhammad SAW work. He pbuh gets the purest revelation & he is in pure relationship with Allah swt. However, he can't just keep on learning it from Allah. After, he has learnt, he has the dirty task which is to deal with nasty people. And,this is what Prophet Muhammad SAW has engaged in and Allah swt relieves this burden in a daily basis.
Another burden that was relieved...
It is similar to his chest gets tightened, and Allah knows it, hence he swt opened the chest of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Prophet Muhammad SAW when he received the final revelation , he understood that he is the final messenger which means that there is no more messengers coming. This means that the entire responsibility of human race falls on his shoulder. And, the time is the essence because he( saw) doesn't have time, he has only few days to deliver this message. When, he sees the people are not accepting the message, the burden is starting to feel heavier. And, Allah swt relieves him by telling
"Remind , and you are nothing more than a mean to remind"
-"Dont worry about them getting accepting Islam and just do your part (remind) . Do not take a burden upon yourself &we will relieve it from you."
-"Allah swt will take care of their affairs. And, you are here to just deliver the message. "
-"You have nothing more than communicating the message."
-"Are you going to kill yourself with grief?"
-"Leave them & just deliver the message"
Hence, this is a great relief from the burden.
The final interpretation is the removal of burden(wizr):
-Allah swt is forgiving the actions of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-We should be very careful to use the word sins for Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Allah swt allowed Prophet Muhammad SAW engaged in certain tasks on his own without giving revelation. Allah swt could have revealed "Don't frown at the blind man" before Prophet Muhammad saw did it. However, Allah swt did not do it. All of these , is a part of Allah’s plan. It is not a sin at all.
But, the Messenger SAW feels like it is a sin because Allah swt is correcting it. And, Allah swt says that even that burden has been shed & it is not a burden upon you anymore. This fortifies more in madni Quran..
Part 13 | In-Depth-Analysis--Tafseer-of-Surah-94-al-Inshira-al-Sharh-alam-nashrah-by-Nouman-Ali-Khan
Allah swt forgiving the actions of PBUH. This fortifies more in madni Quran,
"Any actions that PBUH might feels as mistakes, even those have been forgiven"
(Using words such as sins , errors for messenger PBUH is dangerous. So, we have to be careful when interpreting those ayats)
Ash-Sharh : 4
وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ
And raised high for you your repute.
Allah says to messenger especially for you & for the sake of you, we have elevated your mention .
What is this got to do with his burden being relieved? What is the connection between Prophet being elevated & his burden being relieved?
-This is the first critical thing that we need to understand.
Nouman Ali Khan's commentary:
-Prophet Muhammad SAW task is to deliver this message. And, if alot of people are mentioning that Prophet Muhammad is the messenger, isn't that what Prophet Muhammad SAW wants?
-By, elevating his message, it is already a guarantee of victory of Islam. And, that concern is being relieved from Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Beautiful Hadith:
Messenger says that Jibreel came to me & said:
"Your master has asked you, do you know how I elevated your mention?"
-Jibreel is asking on behalf of Allah to Prophet Muhammad SAW
And , Prophet Muhammad SAW says
"Allah who has elevated knows the best, I don't know"
Jibreel continues,
"Whenever I (Allah) being mentioned, you (Prophet Muhammad SAW ) are being mentioned"
La illaha illa la, Muhammadan rasullalah.
Ashadu anna la illaha illa la,wa ashadhu an rasullalah.
Similarly,
Asslamu Alaika ayuhanu nabiyu Warahamatullahi nabi
Hence, whenever Allah swt is being mentioned, Prophet Muhammad SAW is being mentioned.
Beautifully the word rafat( elevate) is the opposite for the word wada'a, (which is to take off) .So,both these words come together for the rhetoric beauty.
Part 14 |In-Depth-Analysis--Tafseer-of-Surah-94-al-Inshira-al-Sharh-alam-nashrah-by-Nouman-Ali-Khan
Ash-Sharh : 4
وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ
And raised high for you your repute.
Dhikr in Arabic has two meanings:
1) Something that is present in your tongue. -you are uttering something.
2) Something that is present in you heart-you are remembering something.
Explanation for the ayat:
1)We have elevated you for your sake
-Allah is showing the love for Messenger here.
Allah is saying...
-The reason is that you will be mentioned & remembered by the people-is for your sake (by the word used laka)
2) Only for you
-This kind of elevation has happened only for you.
This is the miracle of Quran.
The Sun rises slowly, which means the time of Fajr is at one point in a Town while it will be Fajr, & in another Town at another time. And, everytime, during Fajr, what is going on?
-It is the adhan.
-And, the cycle continues. And, every time, when people hear adhan, they will mention Prophet Muhammad SAW.
Allah has made it such as following messenger & following Allah. This is the elevation for Prophet Muhammad SAW by Allah swt. And, Allah swt has sent the salawat to him by sending the angels & telling them to do it. Not, only Allah swt commanded the angels to send the salawat but he commanded the believers to do the same thing.
And, when Allah swt addresses Prophet Muhammad SAW , he address him by loving names " Ya rasul" "Ya nabi" etc. While, for other messengers, we can see Allah swt address them by saying "Ya Zackaria" " Ya Musa" . -We will see that for other messengers, Allah swt address them by using their first name.
However, we do not see that for Prophet Muhammad SAW in Quran.
-Subhan'Allah, look at the way Allah swt has elevated the status of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Allah does not call him by name but by mentioning his title.
In military, if there is a general, would we call him as general or by call him with his name? This is how it works here.
Allah swt has given Prophet Muhammad SAW an amazing respect by this.
Similarly, the only time rasul is not being mentioned is in Surah Muhammad. In it , the name is being mentioned. Hence, whenever , Prophet Muhammad SAW is being mentioned, rasul is being mentioned.
Furthermore, Allah swt talks about Prophet Muhammad SAW in earlier scriptures & an agreement with all the messengers that they must believe in Prophet Muhammad SAW. And, their nations should believe Prophet Muhammad SAW when they see & come in contact with him.
Mentioning Prophet Muhammad SAW in:
The Salah, Kalimah, Khutbah, history, the angels , Allah, the salawat- Both, the quantity & quality has been elevated .
Part 15, Surah Inshirah-Nouman Ali Khan
The first four ayats focuses on the gifts that Allah swt has bestowed upon messenger.
And, the last 4 ayats will be the consolation.
Ash-Sharh : 5
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Fa:
Why Fa is indicated in the ayat?
-Allah swt is saying since we have bestowed favours upon you as a result...
Ma'a -It is used to put things together, in company of each other. And, to indicate thing that are combined & always together.
Allah says,
U'sur:
-It means difficulty -difficult situation or difficult time.
Yusur
-Something that is easy & can be done easily.
The common translation:
Indeed, for every difficulty there comes ease
When, you say,
Inama( with Alif & Lam) Usur- This is to indicate only ONE difficulty
*With "Al" being used, we can see that it only ONE difficulty*
Yusuran-There is a tanween at the end which indicates that there is an amazing, tremendous ease.
Which is more Usur(difficulty) or Yusur(ease)?
-Since, there is no Al in the Yusur , we can conclude that Yusur is more.
Ash-Sharh : 6
إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Since, Al-usur is used in both ayats, we can conclude that both the ayats are talking about the same , ONE difficulty.
Since, yusuran does not have Alif Lam, we know that it is not singular.
From 2 ayats we can conclude:
Hence, with every ONE difficulty= there is two ease
And, this ease is more powerful than the difficulty.
Part 16| Tafseer-of-Surah Inshirah Nouman Ali Khan
Ash-Sharh : 5
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Inna
-Inna means its like saying "for sure"
-It has noun that comes after it.
-Yusran is the actual noun associated with Inna.
Why is it important to take note?
-In English, if someone says "for sure, this masjid...", and the person stop saying anymore .And, we all know that person is talking about masjid .
-Or, if someone says "for sure, the imaam of this masjid" & the voice cut off, we will know that the topic is about the imam of the masjid.
In Arabic, it the ism/topic of "Inna" is ease and not the difficulty. It changes the whole perspective of the ayat.
"Incredible ease will only follow difficulty"
"Amazing ease will only arrive if you are in a difficulty."
The actual topic is now , ease. Allah is talking to his messenger about ease, "I am going to give this, amazing ease . However, in order to receive it ,you need to go through some difficulty".
-Allah swt is making the difficulty ,minute. It's like Allah saying "Difficulty is not a big deal."
Ash-Sharh : 5
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Ash-Sharh : 6
إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
What is the benefit of repeating it twice?
1) One is for the past & other one is for future.
With amazing difficulty, there comes ease.
Hence, one of the ayats is talking about the Prophet’s past. While, another one is Prophet's future.
2)One for this life & another one for next life.
3) Repetition is for love & affection.
-In other words, if your relatives are sad/not feeling well, you will comfort them by saying "It will be okay, It will.be okay." Or "Don't touch that, don't touch that" , Or "Please don't, please don't.
-Allah swt is consoling Prophet Muhammad SAW. Hence,there is no room left to think that there is no ease.
Part 17|Tafseer Surah Inshirah|Nouman Ali Khan.
This the hardest part of the Surah.
Ash-Sharh : 7
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانصَبْ
So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].
Ash-Sharh : 8
وَإِلٰى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب
And to your Lord direct [your] longing.
*This is so heavy. And, when you learn about this ayats, you will have much more appreciation to Prophet Muhammad SAW. *
Allah says when you are free, worship me.
When, he is relieved...
Ash-Sharh : 7
Fahnsab-َ فَانصَبْ
-Means beg . Also means exhaust yourself by standing.
-This is Qiyammulail
Ash-Sharh : 7
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ Faidha Farghta
-Means when you are free.
In order to understand this, we need to draw parallel between Musa(AS) & messenger.
Musa(as) engages himself with conversation to Allah. Allah commands him to take his shoes off, & the conversation begins.
Allah asks...
"What is in your right hand?"
-Allah knows what's in his right hand. But, he still asks.
And, Musa could have replied,
"You know best". However, Musa replied
"This is my stick, and I will cut trees with it , walk with it etc"
-And, Musa(as) also knows that Allah knows about it.
So,why Musa (as) is doing this?
-He wants to prolongs the conversation. Can you imagine, you have gotten chance to communicate with Allah, don't you want to prolong the conversation?
-Musa(as) is taking every opportunity to prolong it.
And, this is one of the amazing event in human history. Human is being in a conversation directly with Allah.
What does Allah says to Musa(as) in the middle of conversation?
-"Go to Firawn" .
-Musa (as) was talking to Allah & Allah says to go and talk to Firawn.
-After,you have talked to Allah, and one person that you will not want to talk to, will be Firawn.
-However, you are being instructed to talk to Allah.
This is the work of messenger:
-On hand he is communicating with Allah while in other hand , he needs to communicate with vile people.
-Who could be more vicious than those who reject the messengers.
-All the messengers especially our messenger, Prophet Muhammad SAW has to go through this.
Part 18| Tafseer of Surah Inshirah| Nouman Ali Khan
Messenger of Allah:
He has two parts of communication. One is the amazing conversation that you could have while other one is the ugliest conversation that you can have.
Which one do you think he wants to have?
Obviously,he wants the conversation with Allah. However, Allah swt commands him to be in conversation with the people.
Surah Muzzammil covers conversation with Allah while Surah Muddaththir covers about conversation with people.
Messenger of Allah, he has to make dawah to the people the whole day. He would rather converse with Allah. Hence, Allah swt tells him, when you are relieved from the work that you were doing then you can do what you like to do most .(which is to pray)
Ash-Sharh : 7
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانصَبْ
So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].
Think abour your Salah, my Salah & our messenger's Salah. He is desperate to go back & stand long till his feet swells like how our mothers narrates. He is desperate to do this .
Prophet Muhammad SAW said ,
"his coolness of his eyes is Salah".
-He(saw) mentioned that is what he enjoyed doing the most.
And, then Allah swt adds,
Ash-Sharh : 8
وَإِلٰى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب
And to your Lord direct [your] longing.
Only to your master that you give attention too.
َ رْغَب
:Ra'iba
-to love or run away from someone.
So, this indicates the day activity of the messenger, & calling the Qiyammulail as a vacation by
فَرَغْتَ faraghata
Why do people take a vacation?
-So, that they could come back to work strong.
What is the work of Prophet Muhammad SAW?
-He needs to make dawah to people .
Where he will get the strength from?
-When, he is making Dhikr with Allah swt in the middle of nights.
-And, this is his vacation
These are the first things.
فَرَغْتَ ْ
Faragha:
-It means, its a relieve from one task.
-Allah swt says your task will never be done, so be focused.
-For messenger of Allah, whenever, he is relieved from one burden ,he needs to exhaust himself to next task. And, there is no such thing as free moment for Messenger of Allah(saw).
Its like Allah saying,
Since, I know there is no breaks. So, continue to be connected to your lord. And, even if you are talking to people , be connected with Allah.
Our rasoul, was connected to Allah even during his sleep, that is his status.
To be continued, In Shaa Allah.
Part 19|Tafseer Surah Inshirah |Nouman Ali Khan
Ash-Sharh : 7
فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانصَبْ
So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].
Ash-Sharh : 8
وَإِلٰى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب
And to your Lord direct [your] longing.
We have come to the last part.
As, mentioned before, Prophet Muhammad SAW was relieved at night and engaged with people in the day.
There is a another aspect for this. It is when you are speaking about his entire life, Prophet Muhammad SAW.
The task of Prophet Muhammad SAW was to bring victory to Allah’s deen , establish Allah’s laws so that deen of Allah will overcome all the areas of life.
-When, he is done with that task, he could do what he wanted to do all along.
-That is dedicate only to & stand before Allah swt
وَإِلٰى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب
-(Ila rabika) Farghab
وَإِلٰى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب
(Illa rabika Farghab)
-Dedicate yourself only to your lord.
-Allah swt informed messenger of Allah to do that after he has been relieved from the task given.
By permission of Allah, messenger of Allah conquers Meca, deen has been established, shirk has been destroyed.
Read, the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad's SAW last 80 days.
What is he doing?
-it is like almost he can't wait to meet Allah swt.
-In his final days, you have Abbas (ra), Ali(ra) , they pick him because he is so sick. And, his hands on their shoulders. -Abu Bakr Siddique before he went to lead the prayer, he stood back but Prophet Muhammad SAW told him to lead anyway.
-Some narration says he takes the lead from Prophet Muhammad SAW, which means people will be following Prophet Muhammad SAW.
-When, he is done, he says something that is so powerful & beautiful
"Slave was given a choice , to stay in this world or to be with the master. And, the slave chose to be with the master"
When, Abu Bakr Siddique heard this, he started crying, he knew what the messenger meant.
What is the only concern with the Messenger now?
-His worldy task is done. Hence, his only concern is to meet & be connected with his master.
This is what the last two ayats is talking about.
This Surah is talking about
-love of Allah for the messenger
-the elevation of his status.
Two Last comments:
1) We live in a time where people try to insult the messenger of Allah(saw) openly.
-The cartoon, etc.
-But , know one thing that insulting Prophet Muhammad SAW is useless as like spitting on the sun, it will come back to your face.
-Are they the first peope to insult Prophet Muhammad SAW?-No. People insulted him much more worse to his face.
-Even, then Allah told him , your chest has became tight because of they have said. And, Allah swt has loosened his chest & no matter what they say, messenger of Allah has been elevated by the Dhikr .
-Their insults will be nothing compared to how much Prophet Muhammad SAW has been elevated.
-The honour of Prophet Muhammad SAW can never be destroyed, no matter what anyone can do .
-But, it will only increase the faith to honour Prophet Muhammad SAW by their attempts.
-And, it shows how much we love our Prophet Muhammad SAW.
The second thing is that as we study juz amma, we will see two surahs are connected to this Surah.
2 Yusr يُسْرًا was shown:
In Al-Kauthar & An-Nasr
An-Nasr-even in victory, Allah swt commanded Prophet Muhammad SAW to make dhikr of Allah like how it has ended here.
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May Allah swt make us a balance of these two things.
In today's times, we have two kinds of Muslims
1) Concerned only about dhikr, Ibadah to Allah.
2) Concerned only about Dawah.
-Like making Dawah , distribute pamphlets etc.
What is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad SAW?
-By day, it is dawah
-By night, it is making Dhikr to Allah
-So, he is perfectly balanced with these two things.
May Allah swt help us to revive this Sunnah again.
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