SURAH 94 — Ash-Sharḥ — الشرح — “The Relief / The Expansion”
• Revelation Order: 12
• Event Anchor: Early Meccan encouragement and emotional reinforcement (c. 610–614 CE)
Explanation:
Ash-Sharḥ directly comforts the Prophet, reminding him that with hardship comes ease and that his burdens have been lightened by divine care. This places it in the period of early mission struggles, when Muhammad faced uncertainty, mockery, and internal strain. The surah pairs with Ad-Ḍuḥā (Surah 93), both offering reassurance during moments of emotional difficulty. Its uplifting tone and personal support fit the earliest years of revelation, when the Prophet needed divine reinforcement to persist in his mission amid isolation and hostility.
| Verse | Verse # | Meccan v Medinan | General Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast? | 1 | Meccan | 6091 |
| And We removed from you your burden | 2 | Meccan | 6092 |
| Which had weighed upon your back | 3 | Meccan | 6093 |
| And raised high for you your repute. | 4 | Meccan | 6094 |
| For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. | 5 | Meccan | 6095 |
| Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. | 6 | Meccan | 6096 |
| So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. | 7 | Meccan | 6097 |
| And to your Lord direct [your] longing. | 8 | Meccan | 6098 |