This Surah was revealed in Makkah. It was reportedly
revealed just after Surah al-Zuha. In both the Surahs, some of the Divine
Bounties are enumerated for the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Three spiritual
bounties mentioned in this Surah are; the expression of these bounties, good
news for the Messenger that his burden and difficulties of his prophetic
mission will be removed soon, and that attention should be paid to Allah alone,
and be hopeful and encouraged in worship and supplication to Him. Although, the
Surah is Makki but the contents of the Surah were manifested near the end of
the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)’s apparent life. Time is for the creatures but for the Creator, time is meaningless!
“(Muhammad), did We not comfort your heart”
“Relieve you of the burden,”
“Which had been a heavy weight
upon your back (by creating Ali ibn Abu Talib to help you against your enemies),”
“And grant you an exalted reputation?”
“After every difficulty there is
relief,”
“Certainly, after every
difficulty there comes relief”
“When you are free (from your farewell
pilgrimage), appoint (your successor)
“And commit yourself to be in the presence
of your Lord”
In the broader sense, the concept of “expansion of sadr”
means the expansion of the knowledge of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
through inspiration and revelation, and the expansion of his patience and
perseverance against the sabotage and obstruction of his enemies and opponents.
It is in the same light as in Surah Taha
Ayah 24: “(Musa) said’O My Lord!
Expand me my breast”. Prophet Musa
himself requested for the expansion of his breast. When the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)’s
life is scrutinized, it is evident that the enormous difficulties faced by him
was possible through the Divine assistance of the expansion of his breast.
Another gift of Allah (s.w.t.) to the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) was the removing of the “burden” by appointing a wazir for him.
The term “Wizr” means weight and the term “Wazir” or minister is derived from
the same term as the wazir or minister takes away the burden of governance from
the shoulders of a king, or a president or a prime minister of any country.
Hence, the Infallible Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) was appointed
by Allah (s.w.t.) to relieve the burden of propagation and protection of Islam
and history proves that Imam Ali was helping the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
from the “Dawat Zul-Ashira” to his last
day in this world. Three years after the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was
appointed for the prophetic mission, he was ordered to invite the close
relatives as stated in Surah as-Shua’ra
Ayah 214: “Warn your close relatives”.
He ordered Imam Ali (a.s.) who was about 11 years old to arrange a feast which
was called “Dawat-e-ZulAshirah”, the
first feast in Islam where more than 40 members of Quraish were invited. After
the feast, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) invited the people towards Islam
and solicited help in the prophetic mission and said: “Whoever helps me in this mission will be my successor, wazir and Wasi”
Imam Ali (a.s.) stood up and offered to help him.
As for the exaltation of the reputation and name of the
Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), it is sufficient to say that for the last
fourteen centuries, the Muslims all over the world had been calling the Unity
of Allah (s.w.t.) five times a day and his name is also called in the “Azaa’n”.
What a magnificent honor it is! And what a lofty rank higher than this could be
thought of! About the appointment of successor, Hafiz Hakim Haskani in Shawahid al-Tanzil narrated that Imam Ja’far
al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “When you finish, appoint the leadership (Wilayah) of Ali
(a.s.)”
The famous Ibne Abil
Hadid Mu’tazili had narrated in his “Shrah Nahjul Balagha” that Zubair bin
Bakar who was neither a Shia of Imam Ali (a.s) nor an enemy of Mua’wiyah,
reported from Mughirah bin Sha’bah as: “My father, Mughirah used to praise Mua’wiyah
but one night he returned from Mua’wiyah very depressed and worried. On my
inquiry, he was cursing Mua’wiyah and said: “Tonight I told Mua’wiyah that he
had achieved success and it is time to be fair and judicious towards Bani
Hashim because you have no danger from them.” Mua’wiya replied: “What goodness
will be left for me now, the first two caliphs had done so much but they are
not being remembered. But you see Ibne Abi Kabsha (the Messenger); his name is
recited five times in aza’an. Who will remember me? The only way is to bury his
name!”
Source: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation) by Ayatullah
Nasir Makarem Shirazi
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