Surah Al-Layl — Verse 10

Word Meanings:

• Fa-sa-nuyassiruhu — We will make smooth and easy for him.
• Al-ʿUsrā — The path of hardship and difficulty; that which leads to misery and ruin in the Hereafter.

Explanation of the Verse:

After describing the one who gives in charity, fears Allah, and believes in the best reward, Allah now turns to the opposite type of person. This verse refers to the one who is miserly with his wealth, considering himself self-sufficient and in no need of Allah’s mercy or reward. Such a person also denies the truth of *Lā ilāha illā Allah* (there is no god but Allah) and everything it implies — the Oneness of Allah, the prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ, the resurrection, and the final recompense.

For such a person, Allah declares: “We will make smooth for him the path of hardship.” That is, Allah will facilitate for him the ways of evil and sin, making it easy for him to commit wrongdoings, and difficult for him to do good. His own choices — his stinginess, his arrogance, and his denial — will lead him step by step toward the fire of Hell. The term *al-ʿusrā* (hardship) is used because this path ultimately ends in distress, regret, and eternal suffering. His wealth, which he hoarded so carefully, will be of no benefit to him when he is cast into the Fire.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, ponder this profound truth: the One who created you and knows your heart is the same One who guides your steps. If you choose generosity, faith, and gratitude, He will ease you toward goodness and bliss. But if you choose stinginess, self-sufficiency, and denial, He will leave you to the consequences of your own choices — and that path leads only to hardship. So turn to your Lord now, open your hand in charity, soften your heart with faith, and let Him guide you to the path of ease and eternal success. The choice is yours, and the promise of Allah is true.