يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ
O you wrapped up in your mantle!
Commentary on Quran 74:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:1] Like muzzamil, muddaththir is also one of the titles of the Holy Prophet by which Allah has addressed His most beloved prophet.
قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ
Rise up and warn!
Commentary on Quran 74:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:2] The Holy Prophet was now to go forth boldly to deliver the divine message, publicly proclaim the unity of Allah (tawhid) and invite mankind to worship Allah alone and follow His religion.
وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ
Magnify your Lord,
Commentary on Quran 74:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:3] Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Magnify your Lord by saying Allahu akbar in prayers and at all occasions and by making known the absolute authority of Allah and His infinite might and wisdom over the whole creation.
وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ
and purify your clothes,
Commentary on Quran 74:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:4] In the light of the commentary of Baqarah: 187 (They are your dress and you are theirs), some commentators say that thiyab means his wives. Some commentators say that these verses refer to the dirt and filth which the pagans used to throw at the Holy Prophet. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Thiyab literally means a cloth which covers the body, but as interpreted by the Ahl ul Bayt, it is used here to point out the nature, attributes and style which surround the inner self, and also the external environment in which a man lives.
وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ
and keep away from all impurity!
Commentary on Quran 74:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:5] The injunctions are made known to the followers of the Holy Prophet through him because he was their leader and guide so that they may follow the discipline which takes them to the higher regions of spiritual bliss. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Rujz or rijz (abomination) such as idols diverts man from Allah, therefore it should be avoided. Refer to the commentary of Hajj: 30, wherein this idea has been comprehensively dealt with. The spiritual bliss is available to those who give but expect nothing from the receiver.
وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ
Do not grant a favour seeking a greater gain,
Commentary on Quran 74:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:6] (see commentary for verse 5)
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ
and be patient for the sake of your Lord.
Commentary on Quran 74:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:7] (see commentary for verse 5)
فَإِذَا نُقِرَ فِي النَّاقُورِ
When the Trumpet will be sounded,
Commentary on Quran 74:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:8] There will be nothing save loss, deprivation and distress for the disbelievers on the day of judgement.
فَذَلِكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ
that will be a day of hardship,
Commentary on Quran 74:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:9] (see commentary for verse 8)
عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ غَيْرُ يَسِيرٍ
not at all easy for the faithless.
Commentary on Quran 74:10
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:10] (see commentary for verse 8)
ذَرْنِي وَمَنْ خَلَقْتُ وَحِيدًا
Leave Me [to deal] with him whom I created alone,
Commentary on Quran 74:11
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:11] Once the Holy Prophet noticed that Walid bin Mughayra was sitting near the masjid, so he repeatedly recited the early verses of surah Mumin. Walid went to his people and said: "I assure you that the words I have heard can be neither of a man nor of a genie. The melody and glory of those words surpass all human abilities." Then he returned to his house. The pagans were very much worried and annoyed that their leader had become a Muslim. Abu Jahl followed Walid to his house. There he reproached Walid for his betrayal. Walid again went to the people and said: "Do you think Muhammad is mad, or a soothsayer, or a poet, or a liar?" They said: "No." Walid stood still for a few minutes and then said: "He is a sorcerer." The people shouted in delight and praised Walid for his conclusion. Then these verses were revealed. Walid was an illegitimate child and an expert mischief maker (refer to the commentary of Qalam: 8 to 13 and 16). Pagan to the core he was an inveterate enemy of the Holy Prophet. He was very rich, had a large number of sons. Sa-ud also refers to a very grievous kind of punishment to be given to disbelievers like Walid. Three of his sons embraced Islam, and the rest died. In the end he died in utter misery, disgrace and poverty. There are Walids in all ages. They do not understand divine guidance and seek to explain its rational influence over the lives of intelligent men by some such meaningless formula as "magic or sorcery". Their perversity can only end in the fire of punishment.
وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ مَالًا مَّمْدُودًا
and furnished him with extensive means,
Commentary on Quran 74:12
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:12] (see commentary for verse 11)
وَبَنِينَ شُهُودًا
[gave him] sons to be at his side,
Commentary on Quran 74:13
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:13] (see commentary for verse 11)
وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُ تَمْهِيدًا
and facilitated [all matters] for him.
Commentary on Quran 74:14
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:14] (see commentary for verse 11)
ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ
Still he is eager that I should give him more.
Commentary on Quran 74:15
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:15] (see commentary for verse 11)
كَلَّا إِنَّهُ كَانَ لِآيَاتِنَا عَنِيدًا
No indeed! He is an obstinate opponent of Our signs.
Commentary on Quran 74:16
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:16] (see commentary for verse 11)
سَأُرْهِقُهُ صَعُودًا
Soon I will overwhelm him with hardship.
Commentary on Quran 74:17
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:17] (see commentary for verse 11)
إِنَّهُ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ
Indeed he reflected and decided.
Commentary on Quran 74:18
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:18] (see commentary for verse 11)
فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
Perish he, how he decided!
Commentary on Quran 74:19
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:19] (see commentary for verse 11)
ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
Again, perish he, how he decided!
Commentary on Quran 74:20
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:20] (see commentary for verse 11)
ثُمَّ نَظَرَ
Then he looked;
Commentary on Quran 74:21
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:21] (see commentary for verse 11)
ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ
then frowned and scowled.
Commentary on Quran 74:22
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:22] (see commentary for verse 11)
ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ
Then he walked away disdainfully,
Commentary on Quran 74:23
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:23] (see commentary for verse 11)
فَقَالَ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ
saying, ‘It is nothing but traditional sorcery.
Commentary on Quran 74:24
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:24] (see commentary for verse 11)
إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا قَوْلُ الْبَشَرِ
It is nothing but the speech of a human.’
Commentary on Quran 74:25
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:25] (see commentary for verse 11)
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ
Soon I will cast him into Saqar.
Commentary on Quran 74:26
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:26] (see commentary for verse 11)
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سَقَرُ
And what will show you what is Saqar?
Commentary on Quran 74:27
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:27] The disbelievers will be in a state in which they neither live nor die. The nineteen guardians of the fire are the angels who are appointed to "administer" the hell. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: All interpretations of number nineteen, based upon conjecture, should not be taken as true. The text of verse 31 itself gives the reason for the mention of this number. It is only a trial which creates aversion in the hearts of the disbelievers and the hypocrites and increases faith and conviction in the hearts of the believers. The verse further makes it known that Allah alone knows the (number of) forces at His command, and further explains it by stating that He leaves to stray whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases. The act or will of Allah creates different reactions in men according to the nature of their receptivity. See commentary of Fatihah: 5 for action and reaction. Hiya (this) in the last sentence of verse 31 refers to the warning given above that by the act of Allah some receive guidance and some go astray.
لَا تُبْقِي وَلَا تَذَرُ
It neither spares, nor leaves [anything].
Commentary on Quran 74:28
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:28] (see commentary for verse 27)
لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ
It burns the skin.
Commentary on Quran 74:29
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:29] (see commentary for verse 27)
عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ
There are nineteen [keepers] over it.
Commentary on Quran 74:30
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:30] (see commentary for verse 27)
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا أَصْحَابَ النَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَائِكَةً وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَانًا وَلَا يَرْتَابَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَلِيَقُولَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَذَا مَثَلًا كَذَلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَى لِلْبَشَرِ
We have assigned only angels as keepers of the Fire, and We have made their number merely a stumbling block for the faithless, and so that those who were given the Book may be reassured, and the faithful may increase in [their] faith, and so that those who were given the Book and the faithful may not be in doubt, and so that the faithless and those in whose hearts is a sickness may say, ‘What did Allah mean by this description?’ Thus does Allah lead astray whomever He wishes and guides whomever He wishes. No one knows the hosts of your Lord except Him, and it is just an admonition for all humans.
Commentary on Quran 74:31
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:31] (see commentary for verse 27)
كَلَّا وَالْقَمَرِ
No indeed! By the Moon!
Commentary on Quran 74:32
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:32] An oath calls in evidence something sacred in the heart of the swearer. In Allah's message, also, when delivered in words known to man, something outstanding among the signs of Allah, visible to man, is referred to so as to make it reach the human heart. The moon, the night and the dawn are all manifestations of the divine control over the working of the universe. The moon reflects light in a regulated manner, by which day and night follow each other in a regular cycle. This is but one of the numerous signs of Allah. The day of judgement is one of the greatest signs of Allah.
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذْ أَدْبَرَ
By the night when it recedes!
Commentary on Quran 74:33
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:33] (see commentary for verse 32)
وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا أَسْفَرَ
By the dawn when it brightens!
Commentary on Quran 74:34
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:34] (see commentary for verse 32)
إِنَّهَا لَإِحْدَى الْكُبَرِ
Indeed they are one of the greatest [signs of God]
Commentary on Quran 74:35
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:35] (see commentary for verse 32)
نَذِيرًا لِّلْبَشَرِ
—a warner to all humans,
Commentary on Quran 74:36
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:36] "A warning to mankind" refers to Islam which has been conveyed by the Holy Prophet to all people in all ages.
لِمَن شَاءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوْ يَتَأَخَّرَ
[alike] for those of you who like to advance ahead and those who would remain behind.
Commentary on Quran 74:37
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:37] Aqa Mahdi Puya says: This verse asserts that man is responsible for his reaction to the action of Allah because he has been given free will to choose or reject the right guidance.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ
Every soul is hostage to what it has earned,
Commentary on Quran 74:38
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:38] Refer to the commentary of Tur: 21 and other references mentioned therein.
إِلَّا أَصْحَابَ الْيَمِينِ
except the People of the Right Hand.
Commentary on Quran 74:39
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:39] Refer to the commentary of the verses of Waqi-ah: 27 to 40 pertaining to the people of the right hand.
فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ
[They will be] in gardens, questioning
Commentary on Quran 74:40
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:40] (see commentary for verse 39)
عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
the guilty:
Commentary on Quran 74:41
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:41] These verses describe the agony and torment of the sinners.
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ
‘What drew you into Hell?’
Commentary on Quran 74:42
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:42] (see commentary for verse 41)
قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ
They will answer, ‘We were not among those who prayed.
Commentary on Quran 74:43
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:43] (see commentary for verse 41)
وَلَمْ نَكُ نُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ
Nor did we feed the poor.
Commentary on Quran 74:44
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:44] (see commentary for verse 41)
وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ الْخَائِضِينَ
We used to indulge in [profane] gossip along with the gossipers,
Commentary on Quran 74:45
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:45] (see commentary for verse 41)
وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ
and we used to deny the Day of Retribution
Commentary on Quran 74:46
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:46] (see commentary for verse 41)
حَتَّى أَتَانَا الْيَقِينُ
until death came to us.’
Commentary on Quran 74:47
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:47] (see commentary for verse 41)
فَمَا تَنفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ
So the intercession of the intercessors will not avail them.
Commentary on Quran 74:48
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:48] For intercession refer to Baqarah: 48 and other references mentioned therein.
فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ التَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ
What is the matter with them that they evade the Reminder
Commentary on Quran 74:49
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:49] The disbelievers are frightened at that which is revealed to the Holy Prophet as a warning as if they were thoughtless and obstinate asses stampeding by seeing a lion. Refer to the commentary of Baqarah: 118 and Bani Israil: 93. Each one of the pagans wanted to be given a separate book. The Quran is a reminder, the last and final among the revealed books of Allah. If man has the will to be guided aright he will follow its message and the laws mentioned therein. There is no compulsion in the religion of Allah. See commentary of Baqarah: 256. For taqwa see commentary of Baqarah: 2 and 177. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Man's reaction to Allah's action is the result of his own free will. Refer to the commentary of Fatihah: 5 for action and reaction.
كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُّسْتَنفِرَةٌ
as if they were terrified asses
Commentary on Quran 74:50
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:50] (see commentary for verse 49)
فَرَّتْ مِن قَسْوَرَةٍ
fleeing from a lion?
Commentary on Quran 74:51
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:51] (see commentary for verse 49)
بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُؤْتَى صُحُفًا مُّنَشَّرَةً
But everyone of them desires to be given unrolled scriptures [from Allah]!
Commentary on Quran 74:52
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:52] (see commentary for verse 49)
كَلَّا بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ الْآخِرَةَ
No! Indeed, they do not fear the Hereafter.
Commentary on Quran 74:53
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:53] (see commentary for verse 49)
كَلَّا إِنَّهُ تَذْكِرَةٌ
No! It is indeed a reminder.
Commentary on Quran 74:54
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:54] (see commentary for verse 49)
فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ
So let anyone who wishes be mindful of it.
Commentary on Quran 74:55
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:55] (see commentary for verse 49)
وَمَا يَذْكُرُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَى وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ
And they will not be mindful unless Allah wishes. He is worthy of [your] being wary [of Him] and He is worthy to forgive.
Commentary on Quran 74:56
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 74:56] (see commentary for verse 49)
