The concept of difficulty being followed by ease is a common theme throughout the Quran. It provides comfort to believers, reminding them that they will not be left alone in their struggles and that they should trust in Allah’s plan for them.
However, the specific wording used in each verse can offer insight into the particular circumstances being addressed. Allah says in Surah Sharh, verse 5,
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief].
He also says in Surah Talaq, verse 7,
لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍۢ مِّن سَعَتِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُۥ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍۢ يُسْرًۭا
And let the wealthy man spend according to his wealth. But let him whose provision is restricted spend according to what God has given him: God does not burden any soul with more than He has given it- after hardship, God will bring ease.
In both of these verses, Allah speaks about there being relief after hardship, and yet the way He has chosen to express it differs slightly in them both.
In the first verse He used the preposition مع ‘with’, and in the second verse He used the word بعد ‘after’. So what is the reason for this?
The answer lies, as it does so often, in looking at the context. In Surah Talaq, the verse is addressing the very specific situation of a person who has limited resources – although he is in hardship at the moment, the ease will follow the current situation, and hence the word بعد ‘after’ was used. It suggests that the current situation may be difficult, but it is temporary, and better times are coming.
Whereas in the verse in Surah Sharh, the context is broader and some scholars commented that the use of the preposition مع ‘with’ emphasises that the ease is not separate from the hardship but rather accompanies it. It implies that when Allah decrees a hardship, He decrees alongside it – with it – ease so that even in the midst of the difficulty, there are blessings to be found, and the ease that will follow will be greater than the hardship that came before it.
And Allah knows best.