and be not like the companion of the fish… "...

and be not like the companion of the fish… "; (Jonah met with hostility, but fled from his enemies and suffered so much trouble[^4]). In fact, the phrase 'expansion of the breast' is in contrast with the phrase 'distress of the breast', as this verse: "We do indeed know how your heart is distressed at what they say" [^5] . Basically, no great leader can face his difficulties without the expansion of his breast.

In this process he whose mission is the most important among the others, like the holy Prophet (S), should have the greatest expansion of breast of all in order to be strong enough to withstand all difficulties and obstructions of the enemies; and be capable of answering any complicated question and solve the grievous problems standing in his way and this was the greatest divine gift endowed to the Messenger of Allah.

That is why the Prophet (S) in a tradition said: I asked a favour from Allah but I wished I had not done it. I said: O, Allah! Some of the prophets before me had the ability to order the wind to blow or to make the dead come alive; and I was told by Allah 'Did He not find you an orphan and sheltered you?'; I answered that I was.

Then, I was told further: 'And He found you wandering and guided you?', and I answered that I was; then, He questioned: 'Have We not expanded for you your breast?', and I answered: 'Yes, my Lord'". [^6] This tradition shows that the gift of the 'expansion of the breast' is something beyond the miracles of the prophets.

If a person studies the Prophet's conditions, carefully, and sees the amount of his 'expansion of the breast' in difficult, complicated situations in his life, he will, indeed, be certain that it could not be done through ordinary ways, but it was surely with divine approval.

Here, some have said that the objective point of the phrase 'expansion of the breast' is the event that happened to the Prophet (S) when he was a child or youth in which the angels of Heaven came, (and spiritually) opened his breast, took out his heart, washed it purified and filled it with knowledge, mercy and grace. [^7] It is obvious that the tradition does not mean his bodily heart.

It metaphorically points to the divine assistance to the Prophet (S) from the point of spirit and intention, and his purification from any frailty or devilish temptation. But, whatever the case may be, there is no reason that the current verse relates particularly to this event.