Surah Alam-Nashrah

This surah seems to be a sequel of the previous one because it has the same comforting
message... making one realize the enormous blessings of Allah. Primarily these soothing
words were being addressed to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) but at a secondary level,
we, the ordinary followers of faith, can extract a glimpse of the same assurance from Allah
which He had sent to His beloved Messenger (s.a.w). It is a well known fact that the road to
paradise is not a bed of roses... on the contrary Allah is going to test us at every step with
various hurdles and setbacks to judge our level of faith and commitment. Although we
understand this reality but still, being human beings, we sometimes begin to lose hope...
Thus Allah has revealed these beautiful words to reassure us that just as he had opened our
hearts to understand His Quran, similarly he will open up the doors which appear to be
closed on us...

{1}
O Prophet! Have We not expanded your breast for you?

The opening of the heart is the first step towards success because unless we are whole
heartedly convinced of the benefit of a project we can never truly work to our utmost
capacity. Thus we should be extremely thankful to Allah if we feel complete conviction in His
religion. Surely the heaviest burden is the feeling of being lost... not knowing where to go.

{ 2}
{3}
And relieved you from the burden which had weighed upon your back

Before Islam, our Prophet (s.a.w) used to feel so sad at the state of peoples lives... their
ignorance, their aggression, their total lack of direction. He wanted to change all that but He
himself didnt know the true religion... until finally Allah relieved the burden of uncertainty
from His heart and filled it with the conviction of His message. And due to this He became
known in the whole world. Even today, after all these centuries, He is the most well known
personality, known for His truth and sincerity, for his courage and character, for his mercy
and forgiveness for even the worst enemies... the most successful person in the history of
mankind...
 {4}
And exalted your fame

The disbelievers made life miserable for the Messenger of Allah and His followers but they
could not turn them away from their true faith. Similarly today if we have to face problems
due to following our religion then we should remember that the pain is soon followed by
ease...

{6} { 5}
Surely with every difficulty there is relief. Surely with every difficulty there is relief.

Why should we hesitate to bear a temporary hardship if it is to bring everlasting peace and
pleasure? This life is nothing but a test and it will pass away so quickly anyway... so our
focus should be on the life of the hereafter which is never ever going to end. The only way to
succeed there is to work hard for it...

{7}
Therefore, when you are free from your daily task, devote your time to the labour of worship

But all our actions should be focused on making Allah happy. Because if He is not happy
then nothing is of any use at all... and if He is happy with us then it is the greatest success
which will bring the greatest joy and security that we yearn for...

{8}
And turn all your attention towards your Rabb.

I recently read an advertisement which addressed its clients in the following words:

Making you our Number-1 priority has made us Number-1

And I thought to myself that if we understand this concept so well for our worldly interests
then why cant we understand that if we want to be successful then we have to make Allah
our number-1 priority. We want everything from Him and yet we dont want to give Him
anything? Think on it...