73. Sūrat al-Muzzammil

٧٣۔ سُورَةُ المُزَّمّـِل

Qurʾān > Chapter 73
القرآن > كتاب ٧٣

The Enshrouded One (Meccan)

quran:73:1 – In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

O you who wraps himself ˹in clothing˺,  

O you enwrapped in your garment!, the Prophet (al-muzzammil is actually al-mutazammil, but the tā’ has been assimilated with the zāy), that is to say, the one who wraps himself up in his clothes when the Revelation ˹Gabriel˺ comes to him, in fear of him because of his awe-inspiring presence.
القرآن:٧٣:١ – بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ  

{يا أيها المزمل} النبي وأصله المتزمل أُدغمت التاء في الزاي، أي المتلفف بثيابه حين مجيء الوحي له خوفا من لهيبته.
quran:73:2 –

Arise ˹to pray˺ the night, except for a little -  

Stand vigil, perform prayer, through the night, except a little,
القرآن:٧٣:٢ –

قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا  

{قم الليل} صل {إلا قليلا}.
quran:73:3 –

Half of it - or subtract from it a little  

a half of it (nisfahu substitutes for qalīlan, with ‘little’ ˹being little by˺ taking into account the whole ˹night˺), or reduce of it, of the half, a little, up to a third,
القرآن:٧٣:٣ –

نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انْقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا  

{نصفه} بدل من قليلا وقلَّته بالنظر إلى الكل {أو انقص منه} من النصف {قليلا} إلى الثلث.
quran:73:4 –

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

or add to it, up to two thirds (aw implies ˹free˺ choice), and recite the Qur’ān, recite it carefully, in a measured tone.
القرآن:٧٣:٤ –

أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا  

{أو زد عليه} إلى الثلثين وأو للتخيير {ورتل القرآن} تثبت في تلاوته {ترتيلا}.
quran:73:5 –

Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.  

Verily ˹soon˺ We shall cast on you a weighty, an awe-inspiring or stern, word, ˹a weighty˺ Qur’ān, because of the prescriptions ˹imposed˺ in it.
القرآن:٧٣:٥ –

إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا  

{إنا سنلقي عليك قولا} قرآنا {ثقيلا} مهيبا أو شديدا لما فيه من التكاليف.
quran:73:6 –

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

Assuredly rising in the night, to wake up after ˹having been in˺ sleep, is firmer in tread, ˹more˺ conducive to ˹establishing˺ harmony between the hearing and the heart for the purpose of comprehending the Qur’ān, and more upright in respect to speech, clearer for utterance ˹of devotions˺.
القرآن:٧٣:٦ –

إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا  

{إن ناشئة الليل} القيام بعد النوم {هي اشد وطئا} موافقة السمع للقلب على تفهم القرآن {وأقوم قليلا} أبين قولا.
quran:73:7 –

Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.  

˹For˺ assuredly during the day you have extended engagements, administering your affairs, and you do not have the time to recite Qur’ān.
القرآن:٧٣:٧ –

إِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا  

{إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا} تصرفا في إشغالك لا تفرغ فيه لتلاوة القرآن.
quran:73:8 –

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

And mention the Name of your Lord, that is, say, bi’smi’Llāhi’l-rahmāni’l-rahīm, ‘In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful’, to begin your recitation, and devote yourself ˹exclusively˺ to Him with complete devotion (tabtīlan is the verbal noun from batala, used here ˹instead of tabattulan˺ in order to concord with the end-rhyme of the verses) for he ˹the Prophet˺ is obliged to devote himself to God.
القرآن:٧٣:٨ –

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا  

{واذكر اسم ربك} أي قل بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم في ابتداء قراءتك {وتبتل} انقطع {إليه تبتيلا} مصدر بتلَ جيء به رعاية للفواصل وهو ملزوم التبتل.
quran: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˺ affairs.  

He is, Lord of the east and the west; there is no god except Him, so take Him for a Guardian, entrusting your affairs to Him,
القرآن:٧٣:٩ –

رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا  

هو {ربُّ المشرق والمغرب لا إله إلا هو فاتخذه وكيلا} موكلا له أمورك.
quran:73:10 –

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

and bear patiently what they say, that is, the disbelievers of Mecca, in the way of their maltreatment ˹of you˺, and part with them in a gracious manner, without any anguish — this was ˹revealed˺ before the command to fight them.
القرآن:٧٣:١٠ –

وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا  

{واصبر على ما يقولون} أي كفار مكة من أذاهم {واهجرهم هجرا جميلا} لا جزع فيه وهذا قبل الأمر بقتالهم.
quran:73:11 –

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

And leave Me ˹to deal˺ with the deniers (wa’l-mukadhdhibīna is a supplement to the direct object, or ˹it is˺ an object of accompaniment; the meaning is: ‘I will avail you of them’, they being the doughty ˹leaders˺ of Quraysh), those enjoying affluence, and respite them a little, while — they were killed soon afterwards at Badr.
القرآن:٧٣:١١ –

وَذَرْنِي وَالْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُولِي النَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا  

{وذرني} اتركني {والمكذبين} عطف على المفعول معه والمعنى أنا كافيكهم وهم صناديد قريش {أُولي النعمة} التنعم {ومهلهم قليلا} من الزمن فقتلوا بعد يسير منه ببدر.
quran:73:12 –

Indeed, with Us ˹for them˺ are shackles and burning fire  

˹For˺ indeed with Us are heavy fetters (ankāl is the plural of nikl), heavy shackles, and a hell-fire, a scorching Fire,
القرآن:٧٣:١٢ –

إِنَّ لَدَيْنَا أَنْكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا  

{إن لدينا أنكالا} قيودا ثقالا جمع نكل بكسر النون {وجحيما} نارا محرقة.
quran:73:13 –

And food that chokes and a painful punishment -  

and a food that chokes, one that causes the throat to choke, and this is ˹either˺ zaqqūm ˹cf. Q. 44:43˺, darī‘ ˹cf. Q. 88:6˺, ghislīn ˹cf. Q. 69:36˺ or thorns of fire, which can neither be vomited nor ingested, and a painful chastisement, in addition to the ˹punishment˺ mentioned, for those who deny the Prophet (s),
القرآن:٧٣:١٣ –

وَطَعَامًا ذَا غُصَّةٍ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمًا  

{وطعاما ذا غصة} يغص به في الحلق وهو الزقوم أو الضريع أو الغسلين أو شوك من نار لا يخرج ولا ينزل {وعذابا أليما} مؤلما زيادة على ما ذكر لمن كذب النبي ﷺ .
quran:73:14 –

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

on the day when the earth and the mountains will quake and the mountains will be like heaps of shifting sand (mahīl derives from hāla, yahīlu; it is actually mahyūl, but the damma sound is considered too heavy for the yā’ and is therefore transposed onto the hā’, while the wāw, the second of two unvocalised consonants, is omitted on account of it being extra, and the damma is replaced by a kasra because of its ˹phonetic˺ affinity the ˹letter˺ yā’).
القرآن:٧٣:١٤ –

يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ الْأَرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ الْجِبَالُ كَثِيبًا مَهِيلًا  

{يوم ترجف} تزلزل {الأرض والجبال وكانت الجبال كثيبا} رملا مجتمعا {مهيلا} سائلا بعد اجتماعه وهو من هال يهيل وأصله مهيول استثقلت الضمة على الياء فنقلت إلى هاء وحذفت الواو ثاني الساكنين لزيادتها وقلبت الضمة كسرة لمجانسة الياء.
quran:73:15 –

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

We have indeed sent to you, O people of Mecca, a Messenger, namely, Muhammad (s), to be a witness against you, on the Day of Resurrection to any disobedience that you engage in, just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger, namely, Moses, peace be upon him.
القرآن:٧٣:١٥ –

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًا شَاهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولًا  

{إنا أرسلنا إليكم} يا أهل مكة {رسولا} هو محمد ﷺ {شاهدا عليكم} يوم القيامة بما يصدر منكم من العصيان {كما أرسلنا إلى فرعون رسولا} هو موسى عليه الصلاة والسلام.
quran:73:16 –

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

But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a severe seizing.
القرآن:٧٣:١٦ –

فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ الرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا  

{فعصى فرعون الرسول فأخذناه أخذا وبيلا} شديدا.
quran:73:17 –

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

So, if you disbelieve, in this world, how will you guard against a day (yawman is the direct object of tattaqūna, ‘you guard against’) that is, against the chastisement thereof, by what defence will you defend yourselves against the chastisement of a day, that will make the children grey-haired (shīb is the plural of ashyab) by the severity of its terrors, this being the Day of Resurrection (the shīn of shīb should actually have a damma, but it is given a kasra because of its ˹phonetic˺ affinity with the yā’) — a distressing day is described as being ‘a day that makes the forelocks of children turn grey’, which is ˹usually˺ understood figuratively; but it may be that in the case of this verse it is meant literally —
القرآن:٧٣:١٧ –

فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِيبًا  

{فكيف تتقون إن كفرتم} في الدنيا {يوما} مفعول تتقون، أي عذابه بأيِّ حصن تتحصنون من عذاب يوم {يَجعل الولدان شيباً} جمع أشيب لشدة هوله وهو يوم القيامة والأصل في شين شيبا الضم وكسرت لمجانسة الياء ويقال في اليوم الشديد يوم يشيب نواصي الأطفال وهو مجاز ويجوز أن يكون المراد في الآية الحقيقة.
quran:73:18 –

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

with the heaven being rent asunder thereon, on that Day, because of its severity. His promise, exalted be He, of the coming of that ˹Day˺, shall be fulfilled, that is to say, it will come to pass without doubt.
القرآن:٧٣:١٨ –

السَّمَاءُ مُنْفَطِرٌ بِهِ ۚ كَانَ وَعْدُهُ مَفْعُولًا  

{السماء منفطر} ذات انفطار، أي انشقاق {به} بذلك اليوم لشدته {كان وعده} تعالى بمجيء ذلك {مفعولا} أي هو كائن لا محالة.
quran:73:19 –

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

Indeed these, threatening verses, are a reminder, an admonition for all creatures. Let him who will, then, choose a way to his Lord, a path ˹to Him˺, through faith and obedience.
القرآن:٧٣:١٩ –

إِنَّ هَٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ ۖ فَمَنْ شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا  

{إن هذه} الآيات المخوِّفة {تذكرة} عظة للخلق {فمن شاء اتخذ إلى ربه سبيلا} طريقا بالإيمان والطاعة.
quran:73:20 –

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.  

Assuredly your Lord knows that you stand vigil less than two thirds of the night, or ˹at times˺ a half of it or a third of it (if read wa-nisfihi wa-thuluthihi, then these constitute a supplement to thuluthay, ‘two thirds’; if read wa-nisfahu wa-thuluthahu, then a supplement to adnā, ‘less than’) — his keeping vigil in the way mentioned is in accordance with what was enjoined on him at the beginning of this sūra — along with a group of those with you (wa-tā’ifatun mina’lladhīna ma‘aka constitutes a supplement to the subject ˹of the verb˺ taqūmu, ‘you stand vigil’, but it may also constitute, although it is not certain, a separating clause). The keeping vigil by some of his companions in this way indicates their emulation of him. Some of them could not tell how much of the night they had spent in prayer and how much of it had remained, and would therefore keep vigil all night as a precaution; and so they used to keep vigil ˹in this way˺ for a whole year or more with their feet swollen, until God alleviated matters for them. He, exalted be He, says: and God keeps measures, He keeps count of, the night and the day. He knows that (an: softened in place of the hardened form, its subject having been omitted, that is to say, annahu) you will not be able to keep count of it, that is, the ˹length of the˺ night, so that you may perform the vigil at the time in which it is required unless you stay up all night, which is hard on you, and so He has relented to you, making you revert to what is easier. So recite as much as is feasible of the Qur’ān, during prayer, by performing as much prayer as is feasible. He knows that (an: softened in place of the hardened form, that is to say, annahu) some of you will be sick, while others will be travelling in the land, seeking the bounty of God, seeking of His provision through commerce and otherwise, and others will be fighting in the way of God: for each of the three groups mentioned the keeping of nightly vigil is hard, and so God has alleviated things for them by ˹enjoining on them˺ what is feasible. Later this was abrogated by the five ˹daily˺ prayers. So recite as much as is feasible of it (as ˹explained˺ above) and perform, obligatory, prayer and pay alms and lend God, by expending in the way of good in addition to what is due from your wealth ˹as alms˺, a goodly loan, out of the goodness of ˹your˺ hearts. For whatever good you send ahead for ˹the sake of˺ your souls, you will find that, with God, it will be better, than what you left behind (huwa khayran: huwa is for separation; what follows it ˹khayran, ‘better’˺ is comparable to a definite, even if it is not ˹actually˺ so, on account of the impossibility of it being given ˹the al- of˺ definition) and greater in terms of reward. And seek forgiveness from God; assuredly God is Forgiving, Merciful, to believers. Mecca, consisting of 56 verses.
القرآن:٧٣:٢٠ –

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِنْ ثُلُثَيِ اللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَنْ لَنْ تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَنْ سَيَكُونُ مِنْكُمْ مَرْضَىٰ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ  

{إن ربك يعلم أنك تقوم أَدنى} أقل {من ثلثي الليل ونصفِه وثلثِه} بالجر عطف على ثلثي وبالنصب على أدنى وقيامه كذلك نحو ما أمر به أول السورة {وطائفة من الذين معك} عطف على ضمير تقوم وجاز من غير تأكيد للفصل وقيام طائفة من أصحابه كذلك للتأسي به ومنهم من كان لا يدري كم صلّى من الليل وكم بقي منه فكان يقوم الليل كله احتياطا فقاموا حتى انتفخت أقدامهم سنة أو أكثر فخفف عنهم قال تعالى: {والله يقدر} يحصي {الليل والنهار علم أن} مخففة من الثقيلة واسمها محذوف، أي أنه {لن تحصوه} أي الليل لتقوموا فيما يجب القيام فيه إلا بقيام جميعه وذلك يشق عليكم {فتاب عليكم} رجع بكم إلى التخفيف {فاقرؤوا ما تيسر من القرآن} في الصلاة بأن تصلوا ما تيسر {علم أن} مخففة من الثقيلة، أي أنه {سيكون منكم مرضى وآخرون يضربون في الأرض} يسافرون {يبتغون من فضل الله} يطلبون من رزقه بالتجارة وغيرها {وآخرون يقاتلون في سبيل الله} وكل من الفرق الثلاثة يشق عليهم ما ذكر في قيام الليل فخفف عنهم بقيام ما تيسر منه ثم نسخ ذلك بالصلوات الخمس {فاقرؤوا ما تيسر منه} كما تقدم {وأقيموا الصلاة} المفروضة {وآتوا الزكاة وأقرضوا الله} بأن تنفقوا ما سوى المفروض من المال في سبيل الخير {قرضا حسنا} عن طيب قلب {وما تقدموا لأنفسكم من خير تجدوه عند الله هو خيرا} مما خلفتم وهو فصل وما بعده وإن لم يكن معرفة يشبهها لامتناعه من التعريف {وأعظم أجرا واستغفروا الله إن الله غفور رحيم} للمؤمنين.