الـشرح

1 Have We not expanded for you your breast,

1 Have We not expanded thee thy breast? -

1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Have We not opened your breast for you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)?

2 And taken off from you your burden,

2 And removed from thee thy burden

2 And removed from you your burden.

3 Which pressed heavily upon your back,

3 The which did gall thy back? -

3 Which weighed down your back?

4 And exalted for you your esteem?

4 And raised high the esteem (in which) thou (art held)?

4 And have We not raised high your fame?

5 Surely with difficulty is ease.

5 So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief:

5 Verily, along with every hardship is relief,

6 With difficulty is surely ease.

6 Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.

6 Verily, along with every hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs).

7 So when you are free, nominate.

7 Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labour hard,

7 So when you have finished (your occupation), devote yourself for Allah's worship.

8 And make your Lord your exclusive object.

8 And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention.

8 And to your Lord (Alone) turn (all your) intentions and hopes.