quran

My translation of chapter 94 and 103

Chapter has 8 verses and it expresses the importance of being patient when following God's laws. The results will present and manifest in physical reality over time. The best result is the development of one's character after conquering adversity.
An explanation of root-words.

Urfan Ul Hassan
February 2022

Chapter 94

With Him who can be known through signs; He who rules the entire universe; He who provides during times of need, and He who continuously sustains all things.

94:1

Traditional: Did We not expand for you, [O Muḥammad], your breast?

My translation: Have we not made you comprehend the right path by the way of intellect?

Comment: The original text does not mention "Muhammad"; the verse applies to every human/reader.

Root: shin-ra-ha ش ر ح: to open, make clear, expand, comprehension, accept the right thing, courage to adopt right path.

Root: sad-dal-ra ص د ر: chest, essential part, leader, come back, heart, intellect.



94:2

Traditional: And We removed from you your burden

My translation: Such that We took away your concern;

Root: waw-dad-ayn و ض ع: drop something, put it down, placed, remove.

Root: waw-zay-ra و ز ر: sanctuary, high mountain one can go to for safety, burden, big responsibility.



94:3

Traditional: Which had weighed upon your back

My translation: Which had made you exhausted on your journey as you constantly put in the effort.

Root: nun-qaf-dad ن ق ض: break, open, break agreement, weak camel because of constant travel.

Root: za-ha-ra ظ ه ر: back, transport, wealth, highlighted, overpower, help.



94:4

Traditional: And raised high for you your repute.

My translation: And so, We elevated your character as you took these messages to heart.

Root: ra-fa-ayn ر ف ع: to elevate, bring closer, make manifest, raise the voice.

Root: dhal-kaf-ra ذ ك ر: make something safe, present in heart, memorize, reminder, fame.



94:5

Traditional: For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease

My translation: So indeed with hardship there is also comfort.

Root: ayn-sin-ra ع س ر: discomfort, difficulty, hardship, lack of openness.

Root: ya-sin-ra ي س ر: soft, easy, abundance, comfort, it became easy, to open and be easy.

Comment: Hardship builds your character in such a way that things you perceived as difficult before, suddenly become and feel easy.



94:6

Traditional: Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

My translation: Indeed, with hardship is comfort.

Root: ayn-sin-ra ع س ر: discomfort, difficulty, hardship, lack of openness.

Root: ya-sin-ra ي س ر: soft, easy, abundance, comfort, it became easy, to open and be easy.


94:7

Traditional: So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].

My translation:  (Reflect on this experience) Thus, when you are relieved at the end of every journey and success, keep working hard in life.

Root: fa-ra-ghayn ف ر غ: empty, pour, attend with full concentration, intend.

Root: nun-sad-ba ن ص ب: keep something straight. Support. Hard work. Stress. Hard life.


94:8

Traditional: And to your Lord direct [your] longing.

My translation: Constantly seek Him who Guides and Sustains your evolution.

Root: ra-ba-ba; :ب ب ر Nurture, develop, look after something beginning to end.

Root: ra-ghayn-ba ر غ ب: vast, wide, wish strongly for something, vastness of intent.



Chapter 103

This chapter has 3 very short verses. The chapter forces the reader to reflect on how time suddenly runs out, especially for those who do not live by God's laws in their life. The Qur'an then gives a solution as to how to dominate this time that is raging away.

With Him who can be known through signs; He who rules the entire universe; He who provides during times of need, and He who continuously sustains all things.

103:1

Traditional: By time,

My translation: (Think about your own experience and reflect on the eras of history) Time that suddenly runs out, bears witness

Root: ayn-sad-ra; ع ص ر: Time or era, press, long period, raining clouds.


103:2

Traditional: Indeed, mankind is in loss,

My translation That mankind is by default in a primal condition that leads to the stagnation of human personality.

Root: hamza-nun-sin; أ ن س: man, evident, familiar, comprehend/believe.

Root: kha-sin-ra; خ س ر: lost, annihilation, fail, loss of all things (material and non-material, for example loss of honor; psychological qualities or virtues).

Comment: In my understanding and opinion: This verse brings the reader's attention to the fact that human beings are born into this world like other animals. Those who limit themselves to this ideal will not be able to see a higher goal to their existence; they won't recognize the existence of the soul or that God's laws operate in the universe. Feelings and instinct will dominate in such societies; nations and individuals will thus never reach their highest potential.

Humans can experience and clearly recognize their higher nature by living in tune with God's laws, for example by behaving virtuously. Humans can reflect on their own personal development after living by God's laws (striving for virtues); this means that actual virtuous behavior and thinking is important, not the performance of rituals. You don't steal even when no one sees you, because it will stagnate the development of your soul. You are thus less concerned with consequences on society or punishment.

Humans that realize that the universe is operating after God's natural laws will willingly develop a behavior that focuses on virtues. Behavior and thinking that is virtuous will bring success over time. Think of Socrates' virtue ethics, Nietzsche's concept of "Ubermensch" and Kierkegaard's concept of "leap of faith".


103:3

Traditional: Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.

My translation: Except for those who trust in God's laws and thus intentionally work toward righteousness; they support each other to be steadfast until the results of their efforts appear in physical reality.

Comment: Righteousness = Virtues = All good qualities in humans: Toughness, bravery, justice, moderation, forgiveness and others. (See virtue ethics).

Root: hamza-m-n; ن م أ: belief, trust, peace, accept, protected from fear.

Root: ain-mim-lam; ع م ل: action with intent, work, skill.

Root: sad-lam-ha; ص ل ح: create balance, peace, harmony, act righteously.

Root: waw-sad-ya; و ص: joined, to join, intertwined plants, be adviced.

Root: ha-qaf-qaf; ح ق ق: undeniably proven right, appear as a solid event or become reality.

Root: sad-ba-ra; ص ب ر: striving consistently, steadfast, firm, (patience).