In the name of our Creator, the most Beneficient, the most Merciful,

What I love about reflecting upon the Quran is the simplicity in its versus  while it holds such depth and insight. It encourages you to question and ponder all the time. I love how the deeper you reflect on it, the more connected things become. The connection in the form of patterns which reveals truth in the form of clarity in every aspect of life, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Everything linking to a common purpose, God.

Recently I reflected on a powerful verse, this particular message is conveyed twice consecutively by Allah SWT. Surah 94 verse 5 and 6.

“So, verily, with every difficulty there is relief…” “Verily with every difficulty there is relief”

In breaking down this verse, you realise just how simple yet profound a message this is to humanity.

My thoughts as I unpack this message:

If “Difficulty” means a thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand or a situation that is dangerous;

and

if “Relief” means “the act of reducing something unpleasant” e.g. like a medicine that relieves a headache. “Relief” being the ease of pain, tension, strain or any other form of discomfort…”Ease” being the absence of difficulty;

then how does relief and ease exist alongside its opposite being difficulty? How does ease exit within difficulty as noted in this verse?

As I ponder on this verse, is it perhaps saying that no difficulty is necessarily bad for you? In fact this message says that not only AFTER difficulty comes ease, it says that WITH the difficulty there is ease.

The question is “HOW” do you apply this to everyday? How do you find the ease/relief in difficult situations?;

Perhaps explore this;

Ask a woman who has been on a long journey of being freed from an abusive marriage;

Ask a grown-up who has survived childhood trauma/abuse;

Ask a man who has enhanced senses like hearing, feeling, smelling due to him losing his eyesight;

Ask a parent who has lost a child;

Ask a succesful person who has worked his way out of impossible circumstances and trauma like poverty, gangsterim, drugs, etc;

Ask someone who has been diagnosed with lung cancer stage 4 and given 4 months to live;

Ask someone who has lost all their wealth and power;

Ask someone who has lost the love of their life or their greatest attachment;

Is it possible to find the “ease”/”relief” in these scenario’s? Where and how would one seek the ease or relief referred to? Can the ease being referred to be sought and found from within? Does the ease perhaps exist in the form of a level of higher acceptance, in the letting go, in the gratitude and appreciation, in the empathy, in the compassion, in the humility, in the sincerity…? Could the ease be found in the resulting personal growth, self awareness and consciousness, through the cleansing of your own heart with the result of the purification of your soul?

Can the “ease”/”relief” not be the path towards inner peace? Embarking on the path of perservering in trying to turn every challenge into an opportuinity of growth? Is this a path towards drawing closer to God…?

Can this all be linked back to where you are placing your attention? Easily these situations could take you down a dark path, a path where you don’t find the ease?

Could we hence conclude that where you place your attention will drive the outcome of whether you find the “Ease” / “Relief” or not?

Amazingly that is how this surah ends, 94 verse 8, Allah swt says “And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention.”

FJ💗

Final linking thoughts, a topic for another day:

Is there a connection in the above surah (94) and “Sabr”?

Sabr I see as actively and persistently perservering with action through any scenario or difficulty while remaining patient and trusting God in the process…with an aim of the most peaceful outcome?