Al-Sharḥ
This sūrah was revealed in either Mecca or Medina, and consists of 8 verses. It begins by mentioning God’s favor upon the Prophet, and then commands him to strive hard in the way of God and ardently seek Him. The sūrah could either be Meccan or Medinan, although the context better suits the Meccan chapters.
Some narrations from the Imams say that Sūrah al-Ḍuḥá (Chapter 93) and Sūrah al-Inshirāḥ (Chapter 94) are a single sūrah. Al-Rāzī relates this claim from Ṭāwūs and ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, and then says:
They have favored this view because the verse, Did we not expand for you your breast? () is almost a follow-up on the verse, Did We not find you an orphan? (). However, this cannot be so, for Sūrah al-Ḍuḥá was revealed while the Prophet was distressed due to being harassed by those who rejected him. It was revealed at a time of trial, when his chest felt constricted. In contrast, Sūrah al-Inshirāḥ was revealed when the Prophet was in a state of expansion and elation. So how could these two chapters be connected?
The problem with al-Rāzī’s view is that “expanding the Prophet’s breast” does not mean “being in a state of expansion and elation.” It means widening his breast so that it can accommodate the teachings and truths being revealed to him. The purpose, again, is that he would not feel constricted by the revelation, or by the way that people harass him when he spreads the message.
The connection between the two chapters can be corroborated by a narration where the Messenger of God says:
I asked my Lord something that I wished I had not asked. I said: “O Lord, there were some prophets before me for whom You subjugated the winds. And there were some who could bring the dead back to life.”
He said: “Did I not find you an orphan, and shelter you?” [].
“Yes.”
“Did I not find you wandering, and guide you?” [].
“Of course, my Lord.”
“Did I not expand for you your breast and remove your burden?” [].
“Yes, O Lord.”
More shall be said about this in our exposition of Sūrah Quraysh (Chapter 106), God-willing.
This is the ʿAllāmah's introduction to the sūrah, from the opening of the commentary.