يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمُزَّمِّلُ 1
Translations
O you who wraps himself [in clothing]
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha al-muzzammil
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the title 'Al-Muzzammil' (the Enshrouded One), referring to him wrapped in his garment during the night. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this was likely his condition when receiving revelations at night, emphasizing the intimate nature of divine communication. The address establishes the surah's focus on night vigils and devotional practices that would follow.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in the early Meccan period and addresses the Prophet during his nocturnal worship and Quranic recitation. The specific address 'O Enshrouded One' reflects the Prophet's practice of wrapping himself while engaged in night prayers and meditation, establishing the context for the forthcoming commandment regarding tahajjud (night prayer).
Related Hadiths
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet used to pray at night, and this surah was revealed during that period of intensive night worship (Sahih Bukhari). The hadith about the Prophet's night prayers emphasizes the virtue of qiyam al-layl as mentioned in this surah's opening.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah addresses His servants with care and specificity, acknowledging their circumstances and struggles; it also reminds us that devoted worship, particularly in solitude at night, is a means of drawing closer to divine guidance and receiving spiritual illumination.
Related Ayahs
وَذَرْنِى وَٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُو۟لِى ٱلنَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا
And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little.
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌۢ
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 it 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. 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.
وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا
And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.
نِّصْفَهُۥٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا
Half of it - or subtract from it a little