The word · The heart
شَرْحُ الصَّدْر
Sharh al-Sadr
The opening of the chest: the settled ease Allah gives when a person is guided toward something.
Also written · Sharh as-sadr · Sharh sadr · Sharhus sadr · Inshirah · Opening of the chest · Peace of mind · Clarity after istikhara · Istikhara · Istikharah · Istikhaara · Sign after istikhara · Istikhara dream
The meaning
What Sharh al-Sadr means in Islam
The Qur'an says whoever Allah wishes to guide, He opens his chest to Islam (Qur'an 6:125), and reminds the Prophet peace be upon him that his own chest was opened for him (Qur'an 94:1). This is the usual answer to what happens after salat al-istikharah: not a dream and not a sign, but a decision that stops feeling stuck, followed by acting on it. If no clarity comes, you consult, you weigh, you choose, and you trust the outcome you are given.
Evidence · Qur’an · Stated directly in the Qur’an
Read beside it
Words that sit beside it
- Salat al-IstikharahTwo voluntary rak'ahs followed by a supplication asking Allah to choose the better of two paths.صَلاةُ الاسْتِخارَة
- TawakkulRelying on Allah for the outcome while still doing the work that leads to it.التَّوَكُّل
- RidaContentment with what Allah decrees, so the heart stops arguing with what already happened.الرِّضَا
- SakinahA stillness Allah sends down into the heart, usually at the moment it is least expected.السَّكِينَة
More from The heart
- 'AfwPardon: dropping a wrong you are owed, without the other person having to earn it.العَفْو
- Ghadd al-BasarLowering the gaze: turning your eyes away from what you are not permitted to look at.غَضُّ البَصَر
- IstighfarAsking Allah for forgiveness, usually in the words astaghfirullah.الاسْتِغْفَار
- MuhasabahTaking account of yourself: a regular, honest review of what you did and why.المُحَاسَبَة
- Riya'Performing worship so that people will see it, which empties the act of its reward.الرِّيَاء
- TabarrukSeeking blessing through a person, place or object, which scholars permit narrowly and dispute widely.التَّبَرُّك