The surah that opens with a reassurance to the Prophet Muhammad that his divine appointment to receive God’s revelation has been nothing less than the Opening of the breast to sacred wisdom and guidance, and that thereby he has been honoured for all time, made well-able to bear the mantle of prophethood, and that ultimately and inevitably he shall be eased unto success. It is named “opening” after the phrase “did We not open” (a lam nashraḥ) in verse 1. The surah is a continuation of the reassurance and encouragement given in the previous surah.The surah is also known as: Broadened Breast, Comfort, Consolation, Relief, The Expanding, The Expansion, The Opening Up, The Opening of The Heart, The Opening-Up of the Heart.
1
أَلَم نَشرَح لَكَ صَدرَكَ
ʾa-lam nashraḥ laka ṣadraka
Did We not open your breast for you
2
وَوَضَعنا عَنكَ وِزرَكَ
wa-waḍaʿnā ʿanka wizraka
and relieve you of your burden
3
الَّذي أَنقَضَ ظَهرَكَ
alladhī ʾanqaḍa ẓahraka
which [almost] broke your back?
4
وَرَفَعنا لَكَ ذِكرَكَ
wa-rafaʿnā laka dhikraka
Did We not exalt your name?
5
فَإِنَّ مَعَ العُسرِ يُسرًا
fa-ʾinna maʿa l-ʿusri yusran
Indeed ease accompanies hardship.
6
إِنَّ مَعَ العُسرِ يُسرًا
ʾinna maʿa l-ʿusri yusran
Indeed ease accompanies hardship.
7
فَإِذا فَرَغتَ فَانصَب
fa-ʾidhā faraghta fa-nṣab
So when you are done, appoint,1Or ‘when you are finished [with prayer], exert yourself [in supplicating to Allah].’