المزمل
Surah Al-Muzzammil
The Enshrouded One · Surah 73 · Meccan · 20 verses
1يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُزَّمِّلُ ١O thou wrapped up in thy raiment.InsightElmalılı explains “muzzammil” as one wrapped in his cloak; it depicts someone who, before a great event, draws into himself, withdraws or seeks rest.2قُمِ ٱلَّيۡلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلࣰا ٢Keep vigil the night long, save a little.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, standing here, as the context of measured recitation, remembrance and devotion shows, is standing for worship; the commentators explain it as “rise for prayer”.3نِّصۡفَهُۥٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصۡ مِنۡهُ قَلِيلًا ٣A half thereof, or abate a little thereof.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the reduction should not go below half of the half; that is, one should stand at least a quarter of the night.4أَوۡ زِدۡ عَلَيۡهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَرۡتِيلًا ٤Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur’an in measure.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, adding means standing more than half, two thirds or at most three quarters of the night. The time is spent reciting the Qur’an slowly and distinctly.5إِنَّا سَنُلۡقِي عَلَيۡكَ قَوۡلࣰا ثَقِيلًا ٥For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the Qur’an and the mission of prophethood, very hard to bear and carry out, containing heavy duties and responsibilities. Rising at night prepares for this burden.6إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيۡلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطۡـࣰٔا وَأَقۡوَمُ قِيلًا ٦Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.InsightElmalılı explains “wat’” as treading, making suitable and harmony: in rising at night the heart and tongue agree more, and speech is firmer.7إِنَّ لَكَ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ سَبۡحࣰا طَوِيلࣰا ٧Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.InsightElmalılı explains “sabh” as swimming: by day there are tasks that occupy you and keep you from reading and worship; the night’s calm is not found amid them.8وَٱذۡكُرِ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلۡ إِلَيۡهِ تَبۡتِيلࣰا ٨So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this remembrance includes everything the Prophet was busy with day and night: glorifying, praising, magnifying, prayer, reciting the Qur’an, teaching and advising for Allah’s sake.9رَّبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱتَّخِذۡهُ وَكِيلࣰا ٩Lord of the East and the West; there is no Allah save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, He is the Lord, director and owner of everything in the world, whether it shines or fades; He makes it shine and He makes it fade.10وَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهۡجُرۡهُمۡ هَجۡرࣰا جَمِيلࣰا ١٠And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave-taking.InsightElmalılı explains “hajr jamil” as keeping away in heart and mind and not following their deeds, while not retaliating against their wrongs and acting with tolerance and good character.11وَذَرۡنِي وَٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ أُوْلِي ٱلنَّعۡمَةِ وَمَهِّلۡهُمۡ قَلِيلًا ١١Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.InsightElmalılı explains “na‘mah” as living in ease and luxury: these are the comfortable deniers who want a soft life.12إِنَّ لَدَيۡنَآ أَنكَالࣰا وَجَحِيمࣰا ١٢Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, with Allah are heavy shackles and fierce fire such as no one else has.13وَطَعَامࣰا ذَا غُصَّةࣲ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمࣰا ١٣And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is food that, once in the throat, can be neither swallowed nor brought up. It is reported that the Prophet cried out when he recited this verse.14يَوۡمَ تَرۡجُفُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَٱلۡجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَثِيبࣰا مَّهِيلًا ١٤On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, everything will be shaken in this great upheaval, but the melting of the towering mountains especially points to the fall of the mighty.15إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكُمۡ رَسُولࣰا شَٰهِدًا عَلَيۡكُمۡ كَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ رَسُولࣰا ١٥Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this Messenger conveys Allah’s commands and will testify on the Day of Judgement to what you did.16فَعَصَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُ أَخۡذࣰا وَبِيلࣰا ١٦But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.17فَكَيۡفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرۡتُمۡ يَوۡمࣰا يَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡوِلۡدَٰنَ شِيبًا ١٧Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, that day is so terrible and bitter that it turns newborn children into white-haired elders; for grief and sorrow whiten the hair.18ٱلسَّمَآءُ مُنفَطِرُۢ بِهِۦۚ كَانَ وَعۡدُهُۥ مَفۡعُولًا ١٨The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, that day not only will mountains melt and children grow old; even the lofty sky will split and a new world be established. Allah’s promise has always been fulfilled.19إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذۡكِرَةࣱۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًا ١٩Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these verses are a reminder and counsel; whoever wills takes a path of faith, obedience and good deeds to be safe from that day’s terror and reach his Lord in peace.20۞إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعۡلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدۡنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَيِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَنِصۡفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةࣱ 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 حَسَنࣰاۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُواْ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنۡ خَيۡرࣲ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيۡرࣰا وَأَعۡظَمَ أَجۡرࣰاۚ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورࣱ رَّحِيمُۢ ٢٠Lo! thy Lord knoweth how thou keepest vigil sometimes nearly two-thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with thee. Allah measureth the night and the day. He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite, then, of the Qur’an that which is easy for you. He knoweth that there are sick folk among you, while others travel in the land in search of Allah’s bounty, and others (still) are fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite of it that which is easy (for you), and establish worship and pay the poor-due, and (so) lend unto Allah a goodly loan. Whatsoever good ye send before you for your souls, ye will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there is agreement that this verse came later and lightened the command of night prayer at the start of the surah, bringing ease for the sick, travellers and those striving in Allah’s way.