The Infinite Blessings of “Sharḥ aṣ-Ṣadr”

“So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to [accept] Islam and he is upon [i.e., guided by] a light from his Lord [like one whose heart rejects it]? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error” (39:22)

Sharḥ aṣ-Ṣadr — the expansion of the breast — is the divine opposite of constriction. It signifies openness, spiritual vitality, and the settling of peace and joy in the heart. Constriction, in contrast, is marked by tightness, confusion, doubt, anxiety, and spiritual unease. When Allah (swt) grants this expansion, it enables the heart to fully embrace His guidance, allowing the light of faith to take root within — a light through which the believer attains the good life: a life of clarity, peace, and purpose.

This inner expansion is a magnificent divine gift. Allah (swt) says: “So whoever Allah wills to guide — He expands his breast to Islam; and whoever He wills to misguide — He makes his breast tight and constricted as if he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place debasement upon those who do not believe” (6:125). Such expansion was among the greatest blessings bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), as Allah (swt) says: “Did We not expand for you your breast? And did We not remove from you your burden?” (94:1–2).

The expansion of the breast (sharḥ aṣ-ṣadr) is the gateway to inner tranquility, success, ease in carrying out duties, steadfast resolve, and consistent remembrance of Allah — all essential ingredients for a good and wholesome life. When trials strike, the heart of a person then remains insulated from their outward effects. It dwells within a fortress, its inner core filled with mercy, even as external forces attempt to encircle it with turmoil, anxiety, sorrow, fear, and distress.

This state of divine support extends onto the Day of Judgment. Whoever clings to the light of Allah (swt) in this life will be granted a perfect and radiant light in the Hereafter. But, whoever chooses to remain outside this divine fortress in the world will find themselves barred from the light on that Day — just as the Almighty described in Sūrat al-Ḥadīd: “On that Day, the hypocrite men and women will say to the believers, ‘Wait for us that we may borrow some of your light.’ It will be said to them, ‘Go back and seek a light for yourselves.’ Then a wall will be placed between them, with a gate — on its inner side will be mercy, and on the outer side, facing them, will be punishment” (57:13).

The Components and Foundations of the Expansion (sharḥ aṣ-ṣadr) are deeply rooted in true faith. This faith instills within the servants a sense of dignity and honor, lifting them above anything worshiped besides Allah and assigning them a noble role in the universe. Through it, they are granted wisdom — enabling them to reflect upon the Book of Allah with insight, to cultivate virtuous character, to exercise sound judgment, and to sincerely love doing good purely for Allah’s sake — not for recognition or praise. Their heart harbors no malice or envy.

They live in contentment, seeking from no one but Allah (swt). When afflicted by hardship, they remain hopeful for relief and never despair of their condition changing. They are certain that their patience and endurance are rewarded. When a blessing reaches them, they respond with gratitude, praise their Lord, and look forward to His continued bounty.

Such a person lives with an open, expansive chest — meeting the events of life with insight and courage, strong in heart and noble in spirit.

As long as the servant safeguards these foundational qualities, the expansion of the chest (sharḥ aṣ-ṣadr) remains intact, along with all its blessings. But once these qualities are neglected, constriction begins to creep in, eventually giving rise to a hardened heart.

A hardened heart is one that no longer responds to guidance; the intellect grows dull, and no reminder — whether from the words of Allah (swt), heartfelt moral exhortations, or even the reminder of death — can penetrate it. This hardness forms a veil, blocking the light of Allah (swt) from reaching the heart. As Allah warns: “So woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah” (39:22). The word “woe” here signifies profound misery, utter loss, and a severe warning of impending doom.

The words of Allah, the Quran, and His guidance are a source of tranquility for the heart, yet they also can cause hardness. This is due to differences in receptivity: the same message can have varying effects, depending on the state of the one receiving it. To preserve the expansion of the chest and its fruits, believers must guard their heart against falling into hardness.

While many factors can lead to hardness — such as heedlessness, neglect of remembrance, and the accumulation of sins — these are more symptoms than root causes. The primary cause is clearly stated in the verse: “And of the people are some who take others besides Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah” (2:165).

Loving, glorifying, and obeying anything — whether people, symbols, or worldly concerns — to the degree that belongs only to Allah causes imbalance in the heart. The greatest of these is the love of the self, the most insidious of all enemies. Whatever is loved more than Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh) becomes a cause for the hardening of the heart and a veil over the divine light. As Allah says: “Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ 'If your parents and children and siblings and spouses and extended family and the wealth you have acquired and the trade you fear will decline and the homes you cherish —˹if all these˺ are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and struggling in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His Will. Allah does not guide the rebellious people'” (9:24). And so, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “None of you truly believes until his desires are in accordance with what I have brought.”

To purify the heart and prepare it as a worthy vessel for the light of Allah, one must adorn it with reverence, attentive listening, and obedience. As Allah (swt) says: “Indeed, We have sent you [O Prophet] as a witness, a bringer of good tidings, and a warner so that you [all] may believe in Allah and His Messenger, honor him, revere him, and glorify Him morning and afternoon” (48:8–9). Reverence, listening, and obedience are a manifestation of true love.

To maintain the purity of the heart, one must consistently engage with the Book of Allah, which softens both skin and heart. Reciting the Quran nurtures a true understanding of the universe and existence, allowing one to live within the circle of truth, rather than that of heedlessness. The more deeply servants immerse themselves in the world of the Qur’an, the more their perspective is grounded in truth and their heart is purified. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Do not speak excessively without the remembrance of Allah, for indeed, excessive speech without Allah’s remembrance hardens the heart, and the furthest of people from Allah is the hardened heart.” Malik ibn Dinar said: “No servant has been struck by a greater punishment than the hardness of the heart.”