Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 2

(Ayah 2){مَاۤ اَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْاٰنَ لِتَشْقٰۤى : ’’ شَقِيَ يَشْقٰي شَقَاوَةً وَ شَقَاءً‘‘} on the pattern of {’’رَضِيَ يَرْضَي‘‘} is the opposite of happiness. There are two types of happiness: worldly and of the hereafter. Similarly, there are two types of misery: worldly and of the hereafter. The misery of the hereafter is wretchedness and misfortune, as the disbelievers will say: «{ رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْنَا شِقْوَتُنَا }» [ المؤمنون : ۱۰۶ ] "Our Lord! Our misfortune overwhelmed us." Worldly misery is to be entangled in such matters that cause hardship and fatigue, as it is said {’’ فُلاَنٌ أَشْقَي مِنْ رَائِضِ مُهْرٍ ‘‘} "He is caught in more hardship and trouble than the one who trains a mare's foal." The commentators have mentioned two meanings of this verse, and both are correct. One is that after the revelation of the Qur'an, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was always concerned that everyone should become Muslim. For this, he would endure so much hardship day and night in inviting and preaching, and would be so grieved at the indifference of the disbelievers, that Allah Almighty comforted you that why do you take so much hardship and worry that you fall into distress? We have not sent down this Qur'an upon you for misery, but for your happiness. It is not your responsibility to make all people Muslims. Your task is to give advice; then whoever fears Allah will accept it, and you are not responsible for others. The mention of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) grief and sorrow over people not becoming Muslim, and Allah comforting him, is found in many verses, for example: «{ فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلٰۤى اٰثَارِهِمْ اِنْ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوْا بِهٰذَا الْحَدِيْثِ اَسَفًا }» [ الکہف : ۶ ] "So perhaps you would kill yourself in grief over them, if they do not believe in this statement." And He said: «{ لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ اَلَّا يَكُوْنُوْا مُؤْمِنِيْنَ }» [ الشعراء : ۳ ] "Perhaps you would kill yourself with grief because they do not become believers." The second meaning of this verse is that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would exert himself greatly in worship, especially in standing (in prayer), so Allah Almighty commanded moderation in this and said: «{ فَاقْرَءُوْا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْاٰنِ }» [ المزمل : ۲۰ ] that is, O Prophet! Stand (in prayer) as much as you easily can. For details, see the last section of Surah Al-Muzzammil.