Tafsir of Ta-Ha 20:26

(And facilitate my affair for me): The apparent meaning is that it is linked to His saying, Exalted is He, "Go to Pharaoh," and what follows. This is because he, peace be upon him, realized from the command to go to him, and the reasoning provided by the aforementioned cause, that he was being tasked with a momentous matter and a grave undertaking. This required the endurance of that which only one with a firm heart and an expansive chest could endure.

Thus, he beseeched his Lord, Exalted is He, to expand his chest and make him forbearing and patient, capable of receiving the hardships he might encounter on the path of conveying the message and calling to the truth—hardships that would exhaust the patience of the patient—with beautiful patience and steadfastness. He also asked Him to facilitate for him, alongside that, his affair, which was the most majestic of matters, the greatest of tasks, and the most difficult and terrifying of ordeals, by granting the means and removing the obstacles.

The intention behind "expanding the chest" is to make him such that he does not become distressed or anxious regarding the hardships that, by human nature, would necessitate distress and anxiety. Seeking this is an expression of the perfection of his need for the Almighty and Majestic, and a complete turning away from self-centeredness. It is considered good to show resilience before enemies, while it is considered poor to show anything but helplessness before the Beloved. Al-Raghib mentioned that the root of "expansion" (sharh) is "spreading" and the like; thus, the expansion of the chest is its expansion with Divine light and tranquility from God, and a spirit from Him, the Almighty and Majestic. They have other expressions for it, some of which may come, God willing, in the section on ishara (allusions).

Some have said that this statement is linked to what God, Exalted is He, addressed him with, from His saying, "Indeed, I am your Lord, so take off your sandals," up to this point. Thus, he, peace be upon him, requested the expansion of his chest to grasp the subtleties of knowledge and the secrets of revelation, and to fulfill the rites of service and worship in the most perfect manner, without growing weary of the hardships of conveying the message.

It was also said: When he, peace be upon him, was appointed to that great position and addressed as he was in that place, he stood in need of arduous duties—receiving revelation, persevering in the service of the Creator, Exalted is He, and reforming the lower world. It is as if he was tasked with the management of both worlds, and focusing on one prevents preoccupation with the other; so he asked for the expansion of his chest so that power might be bestowed upon him, sufficient to manage the affairs of both worlds.

It may also be said: The command to go to Pharaoh contained an allusion to the position of Messengership, which entails duties befitting it—some relating to the Truth, and some contingent upon the creation. Moses, peace be upon him, sensed all of this, and so he extended the palm of supplication to request what would aid him in performing that in the most complete way. Thus, generalizing the expansion of the chest is not contingent upon it being linked only to the beginning of the discourse, as is not hidden.

Furthermore, the "chest" (sadr), according to the scholars of outward knowledge, refers to the heart, because it is the perceiver, or that through which perception occurs, and the relationship is clear. The scholars of the heart have their own discourse on this, which will come, God willing, in the section on ishara, along with some of what the Imam wrote in the interpretation of this verse.

Regarding the mention of the word "for me" (li) despite the speech being coherent without it: it serves to emphasize the request for expansion and facilitation by keeping the object of the expansion and facilitation indefinite at first, then specifying them second. For when he said "Expand for me," it was understood that there was something to be expanded that pertained specifically to him; even if he had stopped there, it would have been complete. But when "my chest" was added, it provided interpretation and detail, whereas if one only said "Expand" and stopped there, it would not have. The same applies to "facilitate for me."

It has been said that "for me" was mentioned to increase the connection, as in His saying, "The account for mankind has approached." It has been countered that there is no contradiction, and that is what provided this meaning. In al-Intisaf, it is mentioned that the benefit of mentioning it is to indicate that the benefit of expanding the chest returns to him, for He, Exalted is He, does not care about its existence or lack thereof. Apply the same analogy to "facilitate my affair for me."