Surah 94. Ash-Sharh

HAVE WE NOT opened up thy heart,¹

Lit., "thy breast" or "bosom".

and lifted from thee the burden

that had weighed so heavily on thy back?²

I.e., "the burden of thy past sins, which are now forgiven" (Tabari, on the authority of Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Zayd). In the case of Muhammad, this relates apparently to mistakes commited before his call to prophethood (ibid.), and is obviously an echo of 93:7 - 'Has He not found thee lost on thy way, and guided thee?"

And [have We not] raised thee high in dignity?³

Or: "raised high thy renown". The primary meaning of the term dhikr is "reminder" or "remembrance"; and, secondarily, "that by which something [or "someone"] is remembered", i.e., with praise: hence, it signifies "fame" or "renown", and, tropically - as in the present context - "eminence" or "dignity".

And, behold, with every hardship comes ease:

verily, with every hardship comes ease!

Hence, when thou art freed [from distress], remain steadfast,

and unto thy Sustainer turn with love.