al-Muzzammil
The Enwrapped One
Meccan·20 verses·73 / 114
73:1يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُزَّمِّلُ
O you wrapped up in your mantle!
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:1]
Al Muzzammil ("The wrapped up") is one of the titles of the Holy Prophet.
In the beginning of his prophethood he used to cover his whole body with a large sheet of cloth.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The epithets Muzzammil and Muddaththir (the name of the next surah) are used to address the Holy Prophet. It means "folded in a sheet, as one renouncing the vanities of this world", or "separating himself from all worldly engagements for the purpose of meditation." Here it refers to the Holy Prophet's preparedness at the eve of his mission to receive the divine command to guide mankind. The actual meaning is: O he who is girded to undertake that which has been mentioned in verse 5.
73:2قُمِ ٱلَّيۡلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا
Stand vigil through the night, except for a little [of it],
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:2]
Midnight and after midnight prayers and contemplation are called tahajjud. In the beginning the believers used to cease sleeping and pray tahajjud throughout the night. They are now advised to pray only for a small part of the night, or increase the duration of prayers a little more if the prayer desires so.
The words of the Quran must not be read hastily, merely to complete a ritual. They must be pronounced with ease and correctness, knowing the true meaning and interpretation of every word.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
It means the Quran was with the Holy Prophet. He knew every word of it. Here the people are advised through him to recite it in slow and measured tones.
73:3نِّصۡفَهُۥٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصۡ مِنۡهُ قَلِيلًا
a half, or reduce a little from that
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:3] (see commentary for verse 2)
73:4أَوۡ زِدۡ عَلَيۡهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَرۡتِيلًا
or add to it, and recite the Quran in a measured tone.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:4] (see commentary for verse 2)
73:5إِنَّا سَنُلۡقِي عَلَيۡكَ قَوۡلٗا ثَقِيلًا
Indeed soon We shall cast on you a weighty discourse.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:5] Qawlan thaqila, (weighty word) is the Quran. The Holy Prophet has used the word thaqalayn to refer to the Quran and his Ahl ul Bayt-two weighty things. Refer to page 6, and commentary of Baqarah: 2 and Ya Sin: 12.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The responsibility to guide mankind described as weighty in this verse has been referred to as a burden in Inshirah: 2 for which he needed a supporter as Musa had Harun to assist him (see commentary of Ta Ha: 9 to 98)-as verses 15 and 16 of this surah imply and infer.
73:6إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيۡلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطۡـٔٗا وَأَقۡوَمُ قِيلًا
Indeed the watch of the night is firmer in tread and more upright in respect to speech,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:6]
For contemplation, prayer and talking directly to the Lord for seeking tranquillity, night is the most suitable time, when calm and silence prevail, free from the distracting business of the day. The daytime is for attending to and discharging duties as a citizen or a member of a community and family, or an individual. While discharging all his duties, he should work as if he is in the presence of Allah, and should in all matters and at all times feel the sense of His nearness.
Tabattal implies that man should detach himself from worldly things and devote himself to Allah, or forsake everything and apply himself to the worship or service of Allah. In this sense the daughter of the Holy Prophet, Fatimah Zahra, is known as "batul"
73:7إِنَّ لَكَ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ سَبۡحٗا طَوِيلٗا
for indeed during the day you have drawn-out engagements.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:7] (see commentary for verse 6)
73:8وَٱذۡكُرِ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلۡ إِلَيۡهِ تَبۡتِيلٗا
So celebrate the Name of your Lord and dedicate yourself to Him with total dedication.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:8] (see commentary for verse 6)
73:9رَّبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱتَّخِذۡهُ وَكِيلٗا
Lord of the east and the west, there is no god except Him; so take Him for your trustee,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 73:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:9]
Refer to the commentary of Saffat: 5 and Ma-arij: 40. Allah is Lord of all places. He rules over the universe. Therefore the believers should not be discouraged by the plots or hostility of wicked men.
73:10وَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهۡجُرۡهُمۡ هَجۡرٗا جَمِيلٗا
and be patient over what they say, and distance yourself from them in a graceful manner.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:10]
The disbelievers utter blasphemies and calumnies against Allah, His Prophet and the religion of Allah. They must be ignored. A highminded and civilised attitude makes clear to them that a true believer never pays attention to ignorant nonsense and always puts trust in Allah.
73:11وَذَرۡنِي وَٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ أُوْلِي ٱلنَّعۡمَةِ وَمَهِّلۡهُمۡ قَلِيلًا
Leave Me [to deal] with the deniers, the opulent, and give them a little respite.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:11]
Those who enjoy the various bounties of Allah must show gratitude to Him. If they do not do so, and associate themselves with the enemies of Allah, He can deal adequately with them.
73:12إِنَّ لَدَيۡنَآ أَنكَالٗا وَجَحِيمٗا
Indeed with Us are heavy fetters and a fierce fire,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:12]
The result of sin is the loss of spiritual deliverance and emancipation. The soul of a sinner is tied more and more closely in fetters, and his will itself becomes paralysed and degraded. He ultimately finds himself in a conflagration which seizes his mind, heart and body.
73:13وَطَعَامٗا ذَا غُصَّةٖ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمٗا
and a food that chokes [those who eat it], and a painful punishment [prepared for]
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:13] (see commentary for verse 12)
73:14يَوۡمَ تَرۡجُفُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَٱلۡجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَثِيبٗا مَّهِيلًا
the day when the earth and the mountains will quake, and the mountains will be like dunes of shifting sand.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:14]
Refer to the commentary of Waqi-ah: 1 to 5 and Haqqah: 1 to 5.
73:15إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكُمۡ رَسُولٗا شَٰهِدًا عَلَيۡكُمۡ كَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ رَسُولٗا
Indeed We have sent to you an apostle, to be a witness to you, just as We sent an apostle to Pharaoh.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:15]
Refer to the commentary of Yunus: 75 to 92.
73:16فَعَصَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُ أَخۡذٗا وَبِيلٗا
But Pharaoh disobeyed the apostle; so We seized him with a terrible seizing.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:16]
Allah's laws prevail in all circumstances. All else disappear. Firawn disobeyed Allah's laws and defied His authority. He was destroyed for ever.
73:17فَكَيۡفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرۡتُمۡ يَوۡمٗا يَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡوِلۡدَٰنَ شِيبًا
So, if you disbelieve, how will you avoid the day, which will make children white-headed,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:17]
Total annihilation was the punishment of Firawn for transgressing the laws of Allah in this world. The punishment awaiting him and men like him on the day of final reckoning will be so terrible that it will even turn the children hoary.
73:18ٱلسَّمَآءُ مُنفَطِرُۢ بِهِۦۚ كَانَ وَعۡدُهُۥ مَفۡعُولًا
and wherein the sky will be rent apart? His promise is bound to be fulfilled.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:18]
The promise of Allah to do justice-reward to the believers and punishment to the disbelievers-will be fulfilled.
73:19إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذۡكِرَةٞۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًا
This is indeed a reminder. So let anyone who wishes take the way toward his Lord.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:19]
The Quran is a reminder to man that he should follow the right path to earn the mercy and grace of Allah.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Verses 1 to 19 were revealed in the early period of the Holy Prophet's ministry. Verses 10 to 19 refer to the period when opposition to his preaching was started. Verse 20 refers to the period when jihad was ordained. The Ahl ul Bayt in particular and the Muslims in general have asserted this chapter to be complete and wellarranged, so it can be recited in the prayers.
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
Indeed your Lord knows that you stand vigil for nearly two thirds of the night—or [at times] a half or a third of it—along with a group of those who are with you. Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you cannot calculate it [exactly], and so He was lenient toward you. So recite as much of the Quran as is feasible. He knows that some of you will be sick, while others will travel in the land seeking Allah’s bounty, and yet others will fight in the way of Allah. So recite as much of it as is feasible, and maintain the prayer and pay the zakat and lend Allah a good loan. Whatever good you send ahead for your souls you will find it with Allah [in a form] that is better and greater with respect to reward. And plead to Allah for forgiveness; indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 73:20]
" 'A party of those with you' refers to Ali ibn abi Talib" says Ibn Abbas. Ali was with the Holy Prophet from the beginning of his ministry (refer to the commentary of Ali Imran: 52 and 53). He was the first person to pray salat with the Holy Prophet. It is written in Riyad al Nadrah that at the time of leaving this world the hand of the Holy Prophet was in the hand of Ali; and Ibn Sad writes: "At the time of the Holy Prophet's death his hand was in the lap of Ali. It was Ali who performed the last rites. When he was washing his body Fazal bin Abbas held the Holy Prophet's corpse and Usamah was pouring water."
There was several authentic traditions that Ali used to pray salat with the Holy Prophet in the nights.
Ma tayassara minal Quran means whichever part of the Quran available to memory or easy to be recited. It may also mean reciting the Quran as much as one can after praying the prescribed salat. The Quran must be recited whole-heartedly and willingly, not as a mechanical ritual nor its recitation should be felt as a burden. According to Ta Ha: 2 the Quran has not been sent down on the Holy Prophet that he should be burdened or distressed. The command of Allah should be willingly complied with.
"Fighting in Allah's cause" refers to Jihad. So this verse was revealed in Madina. The reference to prescribed salat and zakat points to the same conclusion. For "the goodly loan" refer to the commentary of Baqarah: 245; Ma-idah: 12; Hadid: 11 and 18 and Taghabun 17.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This verse explains verses 2 and 3.
"A party of those with you" refers to Ali and Abu Dhar according to authentic traditions.
As this verse deals with the command which makes easy praying of tahajjud salat the recitation of the Quran refers to its portions to be recited in the said salat.
The first and the last verses, if studied together, make it clear that though the night prayer (tahajjud) is highly desirable, yet is not obligatory. There is no compulsion to recite a complete surah in it, whereas in obligatory prayers recitation of a complete surah is compulsory.
Allah knew that if night prayer (tahajjud) was made compulsory a large number of believers would not be able to comply with the command, therefore, from the very beginning it was left to the discretion of the believers.
