Ash-Sharh was revealed to comfort the Prophet ﷺ in the years when the weight was crushing: did We not expand your chest, and remove your burden? Then it makes the promise twice, so no one mistakes it: with hardship comes ease. With hardship comes ease.
Its closing pair of commands is the surah's engine (94:7-8): when you are free, then strive, and to your Lord direct your longing.
living Ash-Sharh
The doubled promise
Repeated once for emphasis and, the scholars note, worded so that one hardship is bracketed by ease. Whatever season you are in, including a fight with your own habits, the ratio favours you.
Empty moments are assignments
Fa idha faraghta fansab: when you finish, strive. The micro-moments you fill with the phone are the exact moments the verse claims. Free minute, direct it somewhere.
Aim the longing
The reaching feeling that grabs your hand toward the phone is raghbah, longing, pointed sideways. The last verse redirects it: to your Lord. Longing is not the problem; the target is.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
أَلَمۡ نَشۡرَحۡ لَكَ صَدۡرَكَ
Have We not reassured your heart for you [O Prophet][1],
ASH-SHARH · 94:1
وَوَضَعۡنَا عَنكَ وِزۡرَكَ
and relieved you of your burden[2]
ASH-SHARH · 94:2
ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنقَضَ ظَهۡرَكَ
that weighed down your back,
ASH-SHARH · 94:3
وَرَفَعۡنَا لَكَ ذِكۡرَكَ
and raised high your fame for you[3]?
ASH-SHARH · 94:4
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا
For indeed, with hardship comes ease[4],
ASH-SHARH · 94:5
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرٗا
indeed, with hardship comes ease.
ASH-SHARH · 94:6
فَإِذَا فَرَغۡتَ فَٱنصَبۡ
So whenever you are free[5], strive in worship,
ASH-SHARH · 94:7FEATURED IN DEENSCREEN
WHY IT GIVES YOU PAUSEWhen you are free, then strive. Empty moments are not for filling. They are for directing.
وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرۡغَب
and turn to your Lord in devotion.
ASH-SHARH · 94:8FEATURED IN DEENSCREEN
WHY IT GIVES YOU PAUSEAnd to your Lord direct your longing. The reaching that just happened toward the phone. The ayah redirects it.