2. Historical Background
This surah was revealed in Makkah.
Main Ideas:
The main point of this surah is to console the
Prophet (sws) and to encourage him
After starting to preach Islam, the Prophet
was forced to face many obstacles that he
didn’t have to worry about before
The people who used to honor and respect
him started to hate him
3. Historical Background
Main Ideas:
The friends, relatives, and neighbors who
used to praise him started to insult him and
hurt him
No one in Makkah wanted to listen to him
Over time, he got more used to the hardships
but in the beginning it was very shocking
These hardships were discouraging for him
4. Historical Background
Main Ideas:
The first surah that was revealed to console
him was Surah Duha, then was this surah
In this Surah, Allah reminds the Prophet that
he doesn’t need to be sad or feel
disheartened (like he lost hope)
In fact, Allah reminds him of three blessings
He gave the prophet
5. Historical Background
Main Ideas:
The three great blessings:
1. Sharh Sadr (opening up the chest)
2. Removing the heavy burden that weighed on
him
3. Exalting him in a way no one else ever was
6. Historical Background
Main Ideas:
Allah assures the Prophet that after every
hardship, there is ease
Pain is temporary
The Prophet was instructed to worship Allah
and work hard for Allah’s cause
7. Questions
1. Where was this surah revealed?
2. What’s the main purpose of sending this surah?
3. What happened when the Prophet started
preaching Islam?
4. How did the Prophet feel about the hardships
initially?
5. What was the first Surah that was revealed to
console the Prophet?
6. What are the three great blessings given to the
Prophet?
7. What does Allah assure the Prohpet?
8. What is the Prophet instructed to do?
8. َكَرْدَص َكَل ْحَرْشَن ْمَلَأ﴾﴿
Ayah One: (O Prophet), Did We not lay open
your breast
The Prophet was sad about the hardships he was
going through when he first started preaching Islam
Allah reminds him that He blessed him so much that
he should not be so distressed in the initial
difficulties
The Prophet’s chest was opened in that he was
open to Islam
Also, th Prophet’s chest was physically opened
when the Angel came to him and performed open
heart surgery as a child
9. َكَر ْزِو َكْنَع َانْعَض َو َو﴿﴾
Ayah Two: and relieve you of the burden
َكَرْهَظ َضَقْنَأ يِذَّال﴾﴿
Ayah Three: that had well-nigh broken your
back?
The Prophet used to be so sad and worried
about the state of his people. He saw everyone
doing evil deeds and worshipping idols and he
was stressed about finding the right path.
Allah helped him by giving him Islam which
relieved him of this confusion and stress.
10. َكَرْكِذ َكَل َانْعَفَر َو﴾﴿
Ayah Four: And did We not exalt your fame?
The Prophet(sws) became well-known all over
the world and for all time
This is a blessing that was given by Allah to the
Prophet (sws)
11. رْسُي ِرْسُعْال َعَم َّنِإَفا﴾﴿
Ayah Five: Indeed, there is ease with hardship.
ارْسُي ِرْسُعْال َعَم َّنِإ﴾﴿
Ayah Six: Most certainly, there is ease with
hardship.
This was repeated twice to reassure the Prophet
that even though he is going through rough
times now, this time will pass and he will be
gifted with a much better state
The only key here is patience
12. ْبَصْناَف َتْغَرَف اَذِإَف﴾﴿
Ayah Seven: So, whenever you are free, strive
in devotion,
َْبغ ْارَف َكِبَر ىَلِإ َو﴾﴿
Ayah Eight: and turn to your Lord with longing.
Allah instructs the Prophet to turn to Allah and
worship Him whenever he has the time and seek
happiness and everything from Allah
13. Questions
1. How did Allah open the breast of the
Prophet?
2. How did Allah relieve him of his burdens?
3. What does it mean that Allah exalted the
name of the Prophet?
4. What does Allah assure the Prophet?
5. Why does Allah repeat ayah 5?
6. What is the Prohpet commanded to do in
his free time?
