وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ 4
Translations
And your clothing purify.
Transliteration
wa-thiyābaka fa-tahhir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to purify his garments, which according to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari refers to both physical cleanliness of clothing and spiritual purification from idolatry and sin. The command emphasizes the importance of maintaining ritual purity and cleanliness as prerequisites for worship and obedience to Allah, reflecting the Islamic principle that physical cleanliness is an integral part of spiritual devotion.
Revelation Context
This verse appears in the early Meccan surah Al-Muddaththir, revealed after Surah Al-Alaq, as part of Allah's initial commands to the Prophet Muhammad to prepare himself for his prophetic mission. The context follows the command to 'arise and warn' (verse 2), establishing that spiritual preparation—including purification—was foundational to his role as a messenger.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Cleanliness is half of faith' (Sahih Muslim 223). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet would purify himself before prayer and emphasized cleanliness as essential to worship (Sunan Ibn Majah 277).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that physical cleanliness and spiritual purity are inseparable in Islamic practice; Muslims are reminded to maintain cleanliness in both body and garments as an expression of respect for Allah and preparation for worship and service to Him.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةً ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنًا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِىَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ
And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is disease [i.e., hypocrisy] and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allāh intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allāh send astray whom He wills and guide whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And it [i.e., mention of the Fire] is not but a reminder to humanity.
كَلَّآ إِنَّهُۥ تَذْكِرَةٌ
No! Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a reminder.
ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ
Then he desires that I should add more.
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا سَقَرُ
And what can make you know what is Saqar?