Surah Al-Muzzammil

The Enrapped

Introduction

Name of Surah and Reason for its Name

This chapter is called Surah Al-Muzzammil and the name has been taken from the first verse where the Prophet has been addressed as Al-Muzzammil (one wrapped up in a mantle).

Chapter Number

Surah Al-Muzzammil is the 73rd chapter of the Quran.

Number of Verses

This chapter has 20 verses.

Place of Revelation

Some exegetes deem this chapter to have been revealed in Mecca, while some mention that verses 10, 11 and 20 were revealed in Medina.

Content

Important Concepts in this Chapter

Verses 1-10

Ordering the Prophet to stay up during the nights and to be patient. The initial verses of Surah al-Muzzammil command the Prophet to establish the night prayers, in order to prepare himself for taking on the responsibility of receiving revelation. Furthermore, it tells the Prophet to be patient over what the enemies say to him, thus asking him to distance himself from them in a graceful manner.

Verses 11-18

Condemning the deniers and mentioning their fate. These last few verses condemn the deniers and describes their painful fate in the Hereafter. [5]

Discussions on this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah عن رسول‌ الله صلی‌ الله علیه و سلم: من قرأ سورة المزمّل دفع الله عنه العسر فی الدنیا و الآخرة

The Messenger of Allah has said: “A person who recites Surah Al-Muzzammil, Allah will remove hardships from him in this world and in the Hereafter.”

Verses 4: “Or add to it, and recite the Quran in a measured tone.”

أَوۡ زِدۡ عَلَيۡهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَرۡتِيلًا ٤ و قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عبد الرّحمن عن سفیان عن عاصم عن زر عن عبد الله بن عمرو عن النبی صلی‌الله علیه و سلّم قال: یقال لقارئ القرآن: اقرأ و ارق و رتل کما کنت ترتل فی الدنیا فإن منزلتک عند آخر آیة تقرؤها»

Imam Ahmad said that Abd al-Rahman narrated to me from Sufyaan ibn Asim, from Zurr, from Abdullah ibn Amr, from the Messenger of Allah who said: “It will be told to a reciter of the Quran: ‘Recite and ascend as you used to recite when you were in the world. For indeed your rank will be at the last verse which you recite.’”

Verses 17: “So, if you disbelieve, how will you avoid the day which will make children white-headed.”

فَكَيۡفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرۡتُمۡ يَوۡمٗا يَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡوِلۡدَٰنَ شِيبًا ١٧ قال الطبرانی: حدثنا یحیی بن أیوب العلاف حدثنا سعید بن أبی مریم حدثنا نافع بن یزید، حدثنا عثمان بن عطاء الخراسانی عن أبیه عن عکرمة عن ابن عباس رضیالله عنهما أن رسول‌اللهصلی‌الله علیه و سلّم قرأیوْماً یجْعَلُ الْوِلْدانَ شِیباً قال: «ذلکیوم القیامة و ذلکیوم یقول الله لآدم قم فابعث من ذریتک بعثا إلی النار، قال من کم یا رب؟ قال من کل ألف تسعمائة و تسعة و تسعون و ینجو واحد»

Tabarani has said: Yahya ibn Ayyub al-Allaf has narrated to us from Saeed ibn Abu Maryam Nafi ibn Yazeed, from Uthman ibn Ata al-Khorasani, from his father, from Akramah, from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah recited the words: ‘The day which will make children white-headed’ and said: “That is the Day of Judgement, and that is the day when Allah will say to Adam: ‘Stand up, and dispatch a delegation from your descendants to Hell.’ He will say: ‘How many my Lord?’ He will reply: ‘From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine, while one will be saved.’”

According to the Shia Traditions

Verses 4: “Or add to it, and recite the Quran in a measured tone.”

أَوۡ زِدۡ عَلَيۡهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَرۡتِيلًا ٤ و فی أصول الکافی، بإسناده عن علی بن أبی حمزة قال قال أبو عبد الله : إِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ لَا یقْرَأُ هَذْرَمَةً، وَلکنْ یرَتَّلُ تَرْتِیلًا، فَإِذَا مَرَرْتَ بِآیةٍ فی‌ها ذِکرُالْجَنَّةِ، فَقِفْ عِنْدَهَا، وَسَلِ الله - عَزَّوَجَلَّ - الْجَنَّةَ، وَإِذَا مَرَرْتَ بِآیةٍ فی‌ها ذِکرُالنَّارِ، فَقِفْ عِنْدَهَا، وَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ»

In Usul al-Kafi with his chain from Ali ibn Abi Hamza who quotes Abu Abdillah as having said: “The Holy Quran should not be read in a rush. It should be read in a measured tone. When you come across a verse that speaks about Paradise, then you should pause and ask Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, for Paradise; and when you come across a verse that speaks about the Fire, then pause and seek refuge with Allah against it.”

عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِالله قَالَ: إِذَا مَرَرْتَ بِآیةٍ فی‌ها ذِکرُالْجَنَّةِ فَاسْأَلِ الله الْجَنَّةَ وَإِذَا مَرَرْتَ بِآیةٍ فی‌ها ذِکرُالنَّارِفَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّار

Abu Abdillah said: “When you come across a verse (in the Quran) that speaks about Paradise you should pause and ask Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, for Paradise; and when you come across a verse that speaks about the fire, then you should pause and seek refuge with Allah against the fire.”

Verses 20: “Indeed your Lord knows that you stand vigil 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 towards 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 grace, 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.”

۞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 ٢٠ وَرُوِی عَنِ الرِّضَاعَنْ أَبِیهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: مَا تَیسَّرَمِنْهُ لَکمْ فِیهِ خُشُوعُ الْقَلْبِ وَصَفَاءُ السِّرِّ

It has been reported from al-Ridha who narrated from his father, who narrated from his grandfather that he said: “Recite an amount of the Quran in which you possess humility of the heart, and clearness of conscience.”

و فی الخصال، عن أمیر المؤمنین فی حدیث الأربعمائة: أَکثِرُوا الِاسْتِغْفَارَ تَجْلِبُوا الرِّزْقَ وَ قَدِّمُوا مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِ الْخَیرِ تَجِدُوهُ غَدا

In Al-Khisaal, it has been reported from Imam Ali who said: “Increase your seeking of forgiveness [and if you do so], then you will attract more sustenance to yourself. Send ahead as many good deeds as possible and you then will see them tomorrow [on the Day of Judgement].” [Ibid.]