Surah Al-Muzzammil 73

سُورَةُ المُزَّمِّلِ“The Enshrouded One”20 Ayat

73:1O you who wraps himself [in clothing],يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمُزَّمِّلُ
73:1

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمُزَّمِّلُ

O you who wraps himself [in clothing],

73:2Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -قُمِ ٱلَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
73:2

قُمِ ٱلَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -

73:3Half of it - or subtract from it a littleنِّصْفَهُٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا
73:3

نِّصْفَهُٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا

Half of it - or subtract from it a little

73:4Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا
73:4

أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا

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

73:5Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.إِنَّا سَنُلْقِى عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا
73:5

إِنَّا سَنُلْقِى عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا

Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.

73:6Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for …إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًٔا…
73:6

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا

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

73:7Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.إِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا
73:7

إِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا

Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.

73:8And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with [complete] devotion.وَٱذْكُرِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا
73:8

وَٱذْكُرِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا

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

73:9[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] aff…رَّبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا…
73:9

رَّبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا

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

73:10And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا…
73:10

وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا

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

73:11And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little.وَذَرْنِى وَٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُولِى ٱلنَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا
73:11

وَذَرْنِى وَٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُولِى ٱلنَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا

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

73:12Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fireإِنَّ لَدَيْنَآ أَنكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا
73:12

إِنَّ لَدَيْنَآ أَنكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا

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

73:13And food that chokes and a painful punishment -وَطَعَامًا ذَا غُصَّةٍ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
73:13

وَطَعَامًا ذَا غُصَّةٍ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

And food that chokes and a painful punishment -

73:14On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down…يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ…
73:14

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.

73:15Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًا شَٰهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ…
73:15

إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًا شَٰهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولًا

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

73:16But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous seizure.فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا
73:16

فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا

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

73:17Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white- haired?فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ…
73:17

فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنَ شِيبًا

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

73:18The heaven will break apart therefrom; ever is His promise fulfilled.ٱلسَّمَآءُ مُنفَطِرٌ بِهِ كَانَ وَعْدُهُ مَفْعُولًا
73:18

ٱلسَّمَآءُ مُنفَطِرٌ بِهِ كَانَ وَعْدُهُ مَفْعُولًا

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

73:19Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way.إِنَّ هَٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ…
73:19

إِنَّ هَٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا

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

73:20Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it…إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ…
73:20

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ وَأَقِيمُوا ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

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.

About this Surah
Meccan3rd surah revealed20 Ayat

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ - قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا - نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انْقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا - أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا - إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا - إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا - إِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا - وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا - رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا

(1. O you wrapped up!)(2. Stand (to pray) all night, except a little.)(3. Half of it or less than that, a little.)(4. Or a little more. And Rattil the Qur'an Tartil.)(5. Verily, We shall send down to you a Word Thaqil.)(6. Verily, rising (Nashi'ah) at night is better for understanding and more suitable for speech (recitation).)(7. Verily, for you in the day is lengthy Sabh.)(8. And remember the Name of your Lord and (Tabattil) devote yourself to Him with complete devotion.)(9. Lord of the east and the west; La ilaha illa Huwa, so take Him as a trustee.)

The Command to stand at Night (in Prayer)

Allah commands His Messenger ﷺ 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,

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ

(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 ﷺ did as Allah ordered him, by standing for prayer at night. This was obligatory upon him alone, as Allah said,

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَكَ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا

(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,

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ - قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

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

يَا أَيُّهَا 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,

نِصْفَهُ

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

أَوِ انْقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا - أَوْ 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 الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا

(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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ, so he replied, "He used to elongate the letters." Then he (Anas) recited,

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — the surah's virtues, naming and revelation context.