Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #53

Never will a difficulty dominate two ease

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen of Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله]

The Shaikh رحمه الله said:

Ibn `Abaas رضي الله عنهما said: “Never will a difficulty dominate over two ease”, in the saying of Allaah تعالى in Surah al-Sharh (94): 5-6:

{فإن مع العسر يسرا إن مع العسر يسرا}

{So verily, along with every hardship is relief; Verily, along with every hardship is relief}

“Al-`Usr” (hardship) is mentioned twice and “al-Yusr” (ease) is mentioned twice; but in reality “Al-`Usr” is not mentioned except once, and “al-Yusr” is mentioned twice. Howcome?

The scholars have said: If a word which is repeated is prefixed with definite article (ال), then the word is counted as only one. And when it is repeated without the prefix of the definite article (ال), then it is counted as two.

The word “Al-`Usr” is repeated twice, but both times prefixed with definite article (ال); so the second word “Al-`Usr” is (pointing towards) the first one. Whereas the word “al-Yusr” is repeated twice but without the prefix (ال); so the second word “al-Yusr” is different from the first one.

Tafseer al-Sa`dee:

“Truly with hardship comes ease; truly with hardship comes ease,” in this lies great tidings! Each time a person is tested with hardship and difficulty, ease comes with it and accompanies it. If hardship entered the hole of a lizard, ease would enter with it and remove it![1]

Allaah سبحانه وتعالى says:

{Allaah will vouchsafe, after hardship, ease.} [Surah al-Talaaq (65): 7]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

و الفرج مع الكرب و إن مع العسر يسرا

“Relief accompanies distress, and with hardship come ease.” [2]

In these two verses the word hardship has been preceded by the definite article prefix thereby proving that it is one. The word ease has been left indefinite, thereby proving that it occurs repeatedly. Hence ‘one hardship will never overcome two eases.’[3] Moreover, in its being give the definite article, the word hardship incorporates all manner of difficulties, and therefore this verse proves that no matter what the hardship, no matter how great, ease must follow.

*******

[1] This sentence is also reported as a statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم but it is graded “Dha`eef” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Dha`eef al-Jaami` (4820).

[2] al-Khateeb in al-Taareekh (10/287) and graded as Saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (2382).

[3] This is a statement of ibn `Uyayynah as reported by Imam al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (6/172). It is also reported from `Umar رضي الله عنه in al-Muwatta (964) but with a broken chain. It is also the statement of `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood by Ibn Jareer in his Tafseer (30/151). It is also reported as a statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم by al-Haakim (2/528) but it is Dha`eef see al-Dha`eefah of al-Albaanee (4342).