أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا 4
Translations
Or add to it, and recite the Qur’ān with measured recitation.
Transliteration
Aw zid 'alayhi wa rattil al-Qur'ana tartilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to recite the Qur'an with deliberate pacing and clear enunciation (tartil), emphasizing quality of recitation over speed. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that tartil involves pausing at appropriate points, reflecting on meanings, and articulating each letter distinctly—a practice that aids understanding and retention. The instruction to either maintain the prescribed night vigil or add to it is coupled with this directive, showing that proper Qur'anic recitation requires mindful, measured engagement rather than hasty recitation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Muzzammil, revealed during the early Meccan period when the Prophet was commanded to establish night prayers (qiyam al-layl) and intensive spiritual devotion. The surah addresses the challenges of this demanding spiritual practice, and this particular ayah balances the rigor of extended night worship with the practical instruction that recitation quality matters more than quantity, making the practice sustainable and spiritually beneficial.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, Umm Salamah described the Prophet's recitation as 'letter by letter, distinct and clear' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), exemplifying the tartil mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that spiritual practice gains its true value through conscious, intentional engagement rather than mere quantitative effort—whether in Qur'an recitation or any act of worship. For modern believers, it emphasizes that reflecting deeply on a few verses with understanding is spiritually superior to rushing through many verses without comprehension.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَثِيبًا مَّهِيلًا
On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down.
إِنَّ لَدَيْنَآ أَنكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا
Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire.
۞ 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.
قُمِ ٱلَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -