Surah Muzammil - Translation and Comments

 Surah Muzzammil (Arabic: المزمل‎) is the 73rd Surah of the Quran. It is classified as a Meccan Surah meaning it’s revelation was before the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) migrated from Mecca to Medina. It is composed of 20 ayat and English title is “The Enshrouded One” or “Enfolded”.

The Surah emphasizes the importance of establishing prayers and the reading Qur’an. It encourages those who believe to gain strength from the word of Allah. The greatest rewards are those that spend your wealth in the path of Allah.

One of the goals of the My Islam site is to make it easy to read and understand the Quran. Below every ayat in Arabic text we’ve provided transliteration to help with pronunciation and Sahih International English translation to help with the understand. For those looking to learn in detail we’ve included various Tafseer at the end.

Notable Quote:

 “Establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah . It is better and greater in reward.”

Surah Muzzammil Ayat 20

Skip To Tafseer

READ SURAH MUZZAMMIL WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND TRANSLITERATION

Surah Jinn

Surah Muddaththir

Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ

Ya aiyuhal muzzammil

1. O you who wraps himself [in clothing],

قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Qumil laila illaa qaleelaa

2. Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little –

نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انْقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلً

Nisfahooo awinqus minhu qaleelaa

3. Half of it – or subtract from it a little

أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلً

Aw zid ‘alaihi wa rattilil Qur’aana tarteela

4. Or add to it, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation.

إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلً

Innaa sanulqee ‘alaika qawalan saqeelaa

5. Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا

Inn naashi’atal laili hiya ashadddu wat anw wa aqwamu qeelaa

6. Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.

إِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلً

Inna laka fin nahaari sabhan taweelaa

7. Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلً

Wazkuris ma rabbika wa tabattal ilaihi tabteelaa

8. And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with [complete] devotion.

رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا

Rabbul mashriqi wal maghriibi laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa fattakhizhu wakeelaa

9. [He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs.

وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا

Wasbir ‘alaa maa yaqoo loona wahjurhum hajran jameelaa

10. And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.

وَذَرْنِي وَالْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُولِي النَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلً

Wa zarnee walmukaz zibeena ulin na’mati wa mahhilhum qaleelaa

11. And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little.

إِنَّ لَدَيْنَا أَنْكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا

Inna ladainaaa ankaalanw wa jaheemaa

12. Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire

وَطَعَامًا ذَا غُصَّةٍ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

Wa ta’aaman zaa ghussa tinw wa’azaaban aleemaa

13. And food that chokes and a painful punishment –

يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ الْأَرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ الْجِبَالُ كَثِيبًا مَهِيلًا

Yawma tarjuful ardu waljibaalu wa kaanatil jibaalu kaseebam maheelaa

14. On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down.

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًا شَاهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولً

Innaa arsalnaaa ilaikum rasoolan shahidan ‘alikum kamaaa arsalnaaa ilaa Fir’awna Rasoolan

15. Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.

فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ الرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلً

Fa’asaa Fir’awnur Rasoola fa akhaznaahu akhzanw wabeelaa

16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous seizure.

فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِيبًا

Fakaifa tattaqoona in kafartum yawmany yaj’alul wildaana sheeba

17. Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white- haired?

السَّمَاءُ مُنفَطِرٌ بِهِ ۚ كَانَ وَعْدُهُ مَفْعُولًا

Assamaaa’u munfatirum bih; kaana wa’duhoo maf’oola

18. The heaven will break apart therefrom; ever is His promise fulfilled.

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ ۖ فَمَن شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا

Inna haazihee tazkiratun fa man shaaa’at takhaza ilaa Rabbihee sabeelaa

19. Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way.

۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَيِ اللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Inna Rabbaka ya’lamu annaka taqoomu adnaa min sulusa yil laili wa nisfahoo wa sulusahoo wa taaa’ifatum minal lazeena ma’ak; wal laahu yuqaddirul laila wanna haar; ‘alima al lan tuhsoohu fataaba ‘alaikum faqra’oo maa tayassara minal quraan; ‘alima an sa yakoonu minkum mardaa wa aakharoona yadriboona fil ardi yabtaghoona min fadlil laahi wa aakharoona yuqaatiloona fee sabeelil laahi faqra’oo ma tayassara minhu wa aqeemus salaata wa aatuz zakaata wa aqridul laaha qardan hasanaa; wa maa tuqadimoo li anfusikum min khairin tajidoohu ‘indal laahi huwa khayranw wa a’zama ajraa; wastaghfirul laahaa innal laaha ghafoorur raheem.

20. Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], 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 Allah 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’an. 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 Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah . So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah . It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah . Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

BACK TO QURAN TRANSLITERATION

Surah Jinn

Surah Muddaththir

TAFSEER OF SURAH MUDDATHTHIR

In Hadith of Sunan Ibn Majah number 3779, it tells us those who find it difficult to read the Quran will receive twice the reward for their effort.

We should continue to read the Qur’an daily. But let’s try to remember the Quran was a revelation to provide clear evidence that Islam is the one true religion and to serve as a book of guidance. We should not only read the Quran but make it a study.

There’s no one right way to do this, each person learns differently. We can listen to khutbah or lectures or an alternative is we can read the various tafseer. We personally believe the tafseer provides a more structured format and is more dense then a formal talk. You can branch off easily and explore different ayat of different Surahs as needed. We’ve included three different sources below, if you have any recommendations you can send an email to our team.

Ibn KathirMaarif-ul-QuranAbul A'la Maududi

TAFSIR OF SURAH MUZZAMMIL

Which was revealed in Makkah

 

﴿بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴾

 

(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Command to stand at Night (in Prayer)

 

Allah commands His Messenger to cease being wrapped up, and this means to be covered during the night. He commands him to get up and stand in prayer to His Lord. This is as Allah says,

﴿تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفاً وَطَمَعاً وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴾

 

(Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend out of what We have bestowed on them.) (32:16) Thus, the Prophet did as Allah ordered him, by standing for prayer at night. This was obligatory upon him alone, as Allah said,

﴿وَمِنَ الَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَى أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَاماً مَّحْمُودًا ﴾

 

(And in some parts of the night offer the Salah with it (the Qur’an), as an additional prayer for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqam Mahmud.) (17:79) Here Allah explains how much prayer he should perform. Allah says,

﴿يأَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ – قُمِ الَّيْلَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴾

 

(O you wrapped up! Stand all night, except a little.) Ibn `Abbas, Ad-Dahhak and As-Suddi all said,

﴿يأَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ ﴾

 

(O you wrapped up!) “This means, O you who are asleep.” Qatadah said, “The one who is wrapped up in his garments.” Concerning Allah’s statement,

﴿نِّصْفَهُ﴾

 

(Half of it) means, instead of the whole night.

﴿أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلاًأَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ﴾

 

(A little less than that, or a little more.) meaning, `We have commanded you to stand in prayer for half of the night, either a little more than it or a little less. There is no hardship on you concerning that (slight increase or decrease).

 

The Way of reciting the Qur’an

Concerning Allah’s statement,

﴿وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلاً﴾

 

(And Rattil the Qur’an Tartil.) meaning, recite it slowly, for that will help in understanding the Qur’an and contemplating it. This is how the Prophet used to recite. `A’ishah said, “He (the Prophet) used to recite the chapter slowly, so much so that it would be longer than chapters that were actually longer than it.” In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded from Anas that he was asked about the recitation of the Messenger of Allah , so he replied, “He used to elongate the letters.” Then he (Anas) recited,

﴿بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴾

 

(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) (1:1) and he elongated “In the Name of Allah,” and he elongated “The Most Gracious,” and he elongated “The Most Merciful.” Ibn Jurayj reported from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, who narrated from Umm Salamah that she was asked about the recitation of the Messenger of Allah , so she said, “He used to pause in his recitation, verse by verse.

﴿بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ – الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ – الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ – مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴾

 

(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is Allah’s, the Lord of all that exists. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense.) (1:1-4) This was recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi. We have already mentioned the Hadiths which prove the recommendation of slow rhythmic recitation and beautification of the voice while reciting at the beginning of this Tafsir. For example, the Hadith which states,

«زَيِّنُوا الْقُرْآنَ بِأَصْوَاتِكُم»

 

(Beautify the Qur’an with your voices.) and the Hadith,

«لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَتَغَنَّ بِالْقُرْآن»

 

(He is not of us who does not chant nicely with the recitation of the Qur’an.) and the Hadith,

«لَقَدْ أُوتِيَ هَذَا مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُد»

 

(Verily, he has been given this windpipe from the windpipes of the family of Dawud.) Referring to Abu Musa. Abu Musa replied, “If I knew that you had been listening to my recitation, I would have truly beautified it for you.” It has been narrated from Ibn Mas`ud that he said, “Do not scatter the (recitation of) Qur’an out like the scattering of sand, and do not rush through it like the hasty recitation of poetry. Stop at its amazing parts and make your heart move with it. None of you should let his concern be to reach the end of the chapter.” This has been recorded by Al-Baghawi. Al-Bukhari recorded from Abi Wa’il that he said, “A man came to Ibn Mas`ud and said, `I read the Mufassal chapters (from Qaf to An-Nas) last night in one unit of prayer.’ Ibn Mas`ud said, `This is rushing like the haste of reciting poetry. the Most Merciful. The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense.) (1:1-4) This was recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi. We have already mentioned the Hadiths which prove the recommendation of slow rhythmic recitation and beautification of the voice while reciting at the beginning of this Tafsir. For example, the Hadith which states,

«زَيِّنُوا الْقُرْآنَ بِأَصْوَاتِكُم»

 

(Beautify the Qur’an with your voices.) and the Hadith,

«لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَتَغَنَّ بِالْقُرْآن»

 

(He is not of us who does not chant nicely with the recitation of the Qur’an.) and the Hadith,

«لَقَدْ أُوتِيَ هَذَا مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُد»

 

(Verily, he has been given this windpipe from the windpipes of the family of Dawud.) Referring to Abu Musa. Abu Musa replied, “If I knew that you had been listening to my recitation, I would have truly beautified it for you.” It has been narrated from Ibn Mas`ud that he said, “Do not scatter the (recitation of) Qur’an out like the scattering of sand, and do not rush through it like the hasty recitation of poetry. Stop at its amazing parts and make your heart move with it. None of you should let his concern be to reach the end of the chapter.” This has been recorded by Al-Baghawi. Al-Bukhari recorded from Abi Wa’il that he said, “A man came to Ibn Mas`ud and said, `I read the Mufassal chapters (from Qaf to An-Nas) last night in one unit of prayer.’ Ibn Mas`ud said, `This is rushing like the haste of reciting poetry.

 

The Magnificence of the Qur’an

Allah then said,

﴿إِنَّا سَنُلْقِى عَلَيْكَ قَوْلاً ثَقِيلاً ﴾

 

(Verily, We shall send down to you a Word Thaqil.) Al-Hasan and Qatadah both said, “The actions with it.” It has also been said that it means it will be heavy at the time of its revelation due to its magnificence. This is similar to what Zayd bin Thabit said. He said, “The Messenger of Allah received some revelation while his thigh was on top of my thigh, and my thigh was almost crushed due to it.” Imam Ahmad recorded from `Abdullah bin `Amr that he said, “I asked the Prophet , `O Messenger of Allah! Do you feel anything when revelation comes (to you)’ The Messenger of Allah replied,

«أَسْمَعُ صَلَاصِلَ ثُمَّ أَسْكُتُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَمَا مِنْ مَرَّةٍ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ إِلَّا ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ نَفْسِي تُقْبَض»

 

(I hear a ringing and then I remain quiet when that occurs. There has not been a single time that revelation has come to me except that I thought that my soul was about to be taken (death).)” Ahmad was alone in narrating this. In the beginning of Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded from `A’ishah that Al-Harith bin Hisham asked the Messenger of Allah , “How does the revelation come to you” The Prophet replied,

«أَحْيَانًا يَأْتِي فِي مِثْلِ صَلْصَلَةِ الْجَرَسِ وَهُوَ أَشَدُّهُ عَلَيَّ، فَيُفْصَمُ عَنِّي وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْهُ مَا قَالَ، وَأَحْيَانًا يَتَمَثَّلُ لِي الْمَلَكُ رَجُلًا فَيُكَلِّمُنِي فَأَعِي مَا يَقُول»

 

(Sometimes it comes to me like the ringing of a bell, and it is most severe upon me. Then this state passes away from me after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the angel comes to me in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says.) `A’ishah added, “Verily, I saw him receiving revelation and I noticed the sweat dropping from his forehead on a very cold day as the revelation ended.” This is the wording recorded by Al-Bukhari. Imam Ahmad recorded from `A’ishah that she said, “If the Messenger of Allah received any revelation while he was on his riding animal, it would begin moving its Jiran intensely.” The Jiran is the bottom of the neck. Ibn Jarir chose the interpretation that it (the revelation) is heavy in both ways simultaneously. This is as `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, “Just as it is heavy in this world, it will also be heavy on the Day of Judgement in the Scales.”

 

The Virtue of standing at Night for Prayer

Allah says,

﴿إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ الَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْأً وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلاً ﴾

 

(Verily, rising (Nashi’ah) at night is better for understanding and more suitable for speech (recitation).) `Umar, Ibn `Abbas and Ibn Zubayr, all said, “The entire night is Nashi’ah.” Mujahid and others said the same. It is said “Nasha’a” when a person stands at night to pray. In one narration from Mujahid he said, “(It is) after `Isha’ (prayer).” This was also said by Abu Mijlaz, Qatadah, Salim, Abu Hazim and Muhammad bin Al-Munkadir. The point is that Nashi’ah of the night refers to its hours and its times, every hour of it is called Nashi’ah, so it refers to the periods of time. The purpose of this is that standing at night (for prayer) is better for training the heart and the tongue, and more conducive to recitation. Thus, Allah says,

﴿هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْأً وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلاً﴾

 

(is better for understanding and more suitable for speech (recitation).) meaning, more comprehensive for the matter of performing the recitation and better for understanding it than in the recitation of the day. This is because the daytime is the time for people to disperse and move about, to raise voices and be lively. Al-Hafiz Abu Ya`la Al-Mawsili said, “Ibrahim bin Sa`id Al-Jawhari told us that Abu Usamah told us that Al-A`mash informed us that Anas bin Malik recited this Ayah as: (إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَأَصْوَبُ قِيلًا) (`Verily, rising at night is better for understanding and more correct for the speech.’) So a man said to him, `We recite it;

﴿وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلاً﴾

 

(more suitable for speech).’ So Anas said to him, `Most correct (Aswab), most suitable (Aqwam), the best for preparation (Ahya’) and similar words are all the same (in meaning).”’ Thus, Allah continues saying,

﴿إِنَّ لَكَ فِى النَّهَارِ سَبْحَاً طَوِيلاً ﴾

 

(Verily, for you in the day is lengthy Sabh.) Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah and “Ata’ bin Abi Muslim, all said, “Leisure time and sleep.” Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Abu Malik, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Sufyan Ath-Thawri, all said, “A long amount of leisure time.” Qatadah said, “Leisure, aspirations and activities.” `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said concerning the statement,