بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Al-Muddaththir 74:1
The Cloaked One · Juz 29 · Page 575
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُدَّثِّرُ ١
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
Detailed · A modern classic, with rulings and practical points.
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Commentary on 74:1
Commentary
Surah Al-Muddththir is one of the Surahs that was sent down in very early days of the revelation. Therefore, some of the scholars considered this Surah to be the first one in order of revelation. However, according to the well-known authentic aliadith, the first instalment of revelation comprised the initial verses of Surah Iqra'. Traditions show that after a few verses of this Surah had been revealed, further revelation stopped for a period of time. The period of time during which there was a temporary cessation of revelation is termed as fatrat-ul-wahy. Towards the end of this period, an incident took place that is recounted by the Holy Prophet thus:
While I was walking, I heard a voice from the sky. So I lifted my gaze towards the sky and saw the same angel who had come to me in the cave of Hira'. He was sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. So I was struck with awe until I fell down to the ground. Then, I went to my family and I said, "Wrap me up, wrap me up" So, they wrapped me up! Allah revealed the initial verses of Surah Al-Muddaththir. (Sahihain).
The Holy Prophet is addressed in this Surah as: يٰٓاَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ
(0 you, enveloped in a mantle...74:1) The word al-Muddaththir is derived from dithar which refers to a 'thick, warm over-garment [ such as a cloak or mantle ] which a person wears in winter over his other clothes in order to protect himself from cold.' The form of address is affectionate and endearing as was explained under Al-Muzzammil in the preceding Surah. The two forms of address, al-Muzzammil and al-Muddaththir, are near-synonyms. Ruh-ul-Ma ani cites a report from Jabir Ibn Zaid who says that Al-Muddaththir was revealed after Al-Muzzammil. Some scholars attribute this narration to Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas w as well. However, according to the narration previously reported from Sahihain, it is clear that the first Surah to be revealed [ after the temporary cessation ] was Al-Muddaththir. If Al-Muzzammil was revealed before this, Sayyidna Jabir Ibn ` Abdullah [ the narrator of the Hadith ] would have narrated it. Clearly, Al-Muzzammil and Al-Muddaththir, are near-synonyms. Therefore, it is very likely that the two Surahs might have been revealed in connection with the same incident - when the Holy Prophet, whilst walking, heard a voice from the sky and saw Jibra'il Amin sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth, and then went to the house and wrapped himself in a mantle. This at least confirms the point that the initial verses of the two Surahs were among the first verses to be revealed after the temporary break in the revelation. It is however not clear as to which set of the verses was revealed first, and which was revealed subsequently. Authentic narratives confirm that the initial verses of Surah Iqra' were first to be revealed. Al-Muzzammil and Al-Muddaththir were though revealed approximately the same time in connection with the same incident, there is a difference between the two: The injunctions given at the beginning of Al-Muzzammil are related to the Holy Prophet's personal purification and perfection, and in Al-Muddaththir the injunctions are related to preaching, propagation and human reform.
Page 575
73:20
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعۡلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدۡنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَيِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَنِصۡفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٞ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحۡصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ فَٱقۡرَءُواْ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرۡضَىٰ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضۡرِبُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَبۡتَغُونَ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۖ فَٱقۡرَءُواْ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنۡهُۚ وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقۡرِضُواْ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنٗاۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُواْ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنۡ خَيۡرٖ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيۡرٗا وَأَعۡظَمَ أَجۡرٗاۚ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمُۢ ٢٠
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muḥammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allāh determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it1 and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur’ān. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allāh and others fighting for the cause of Allāh. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakāh and loan Allāh a goodly loan.2 And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allāh. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
سورة المدثر
Al-Muddaththir
The Cloaked One · Meccan · 56 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
74:1
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُدَّثِّرُ ١
O you who covers himself [with a garment],1
1 translator’s note
- Referring to the Prophet (ﷺ). ↩
74:2
قُمۡ فَأَنذِرۡ ٢
Arise and warn
74:3
وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرۡ ٣
And your Lord glorify
74:4
وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرۡ ٤
And your clothing purify
74:5
وَٱلرُّجۡزَ فَٱهۡجُرۡ ٥
And uncleanliness1 avoid
1 translator’s note
- Specifically, idols or generally, bad conduct and morals. ↩
74:6
وَلَا تَمۡنُن تَسۡتَكۡثِرُ ٦
And do not confer favor to acquire more1
1 translator’s note
- An alternative meaning is "Do not consider any favor you have conferred to be great." ↩
74:7
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَٱصۡبِرۡ ٧
But for your Lord be patient.
74:8
فَإِذَا نُقِرَ فِي ٱلنَّاقُورِ ٨
And when the trumpet is blown,
74:9
فَذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمَئِذٖ يَوۡمٌ عَسِيرٌ ٩
That Day will be a difficult day
74:10
عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ غَيۡرُ يَسِيرٖ ١٠
For the disbelievers - not easy.
74:11
ذَرۡنِي وَمَنۡ خَلَقۡتُ وَحِيدٗا ١١
Leave Me with the one I created alone1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., without wealth or children. The reference is to al-Waleed bin al-Mugheerah, who after inclining toward the Qur’ān, denied it publicly in order to win the approval of the Quraysh. ↩
74:12
وَجَعَلۡتُ لَهُۥ مَالٗا مَّمۡدُودٗا ١٢
And to whom I granted extensive wealth
74:13
وَبَنِينَ شُهُودٗا ١٣
And children present [with him]
74:14
وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُۥ تَمۡهِيدٗا ١٤
And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life].
74:15
ثُمَّ يَطۡمَعُ أَنۡ أَزِيدَ ١٥
Then he desires that I should add more.
74:16
كـَلَّآۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِأٓيَٰتِنَا عَنِيدٗا ١٦
No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate.
74:17
سَأُرۡهِقُهُۥ صَعُودًا ١٧
I will cover him with arduous torment.