Beyonce recites verses from the Quran for Yosra

Beyonce shared two verses from the Quran on Instagram last Sunday. She shared the fifth and sixth verses from Surah ash-Sharh, meaning “For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.” The quotation stirred her fans, especially Muslims all around the world.

Many Muslims shared tweets implying that Beyonce was converting to Islam and gave positive reactions. For others, it was simply politics. However, Al Bawaba news website suggested a tragic story is behind Beyonce’s Instagram post.

Beyonce’s official World Tour photographer, Yosra el-Essawy, sadly passed away after a failed battle with cancer. Yosra, an Egyptian Briton, was diagnosed with inoperable esophageal cancer a year and a half ago.

The verses happen to have Yosra’s name in them, which is Arabic for ‘relief.’ The thoughtful singer chose those verses in particular as a way of honoring her late Muslim friend,” Al Bawaba wrote.

It is known that the deceased photographer took many photos of Beyonce and they passed a lot of time together. The successful photographer is remembered on Beyonce’s website in the lines “You will forever be embedded in the hearts of all you have encountered. May you rest in perfect peace.”