Surah 73 of 114 · Makki · 20 ayat
Al-Muzzammil المزمل
The Enshrouded One
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمُزَّمِّلُ
PickthallO thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
Yusuf AliO thou folded in garments!
The agreed readingO you wrapped in your cloak. The commentaries agree the address is to the Prophet, wrapped in his garment, and that the sūrah begins by calling him out of it to the night that follows.
قُمِ ٱلَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
PickthallKeep vigil the night long, save a little -
Yusuf AliStand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-
The agreed readingStand the night, except a little — the commentaries agree the standing meant is prayer, and that the whole night is not what is asked.
نِّصْفَهُۥٓ أَوِ ٱنقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا
PickthallA half thereof, or abate a little thereof
Yusuf AliHalf of it,- or a little less,
The agreed readinghalf of it, or take a little off that — down to a third, the commentaries say, the amount left open rather than fixed.
أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا
PickthallOr add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
Yusuf AliOr a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
The agreed readingor add to it; and recite the Qur'ān in a measured recitation. The commentaries agree the measure means unhurried and distinct, each letter given its due rather than run together.
إِنَّا سَنُلْقِى عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا
PickthallFor we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
Yusuf AliSoon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
The agreed readingWe are about to cast upon you a weighty word. The commentaries take the weight both ways together: heavy in what it lays on those who receive it, and heavy in its coming down on him.
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
PickthallLo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
Yusuf AliTruly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).
The agreed readingThe night vigil is firmer in tread and more upright in speech. The commentaries agree on what makes it so: at night the tongue and the heart go together, with nothing else pulling at either.
إِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا
PickthallLo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
Yusuf AliTrue, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
The agreed readingYou have, in the day, a long stretch of business — the commentaries gloss it as the daytime being taken up with occupation, so that it is not the time for this.
وَٱذْكُرِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا
PickthallSo remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
Yusuf AliBut keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole-heartedly.
The agreed readingAnd remember the name of your Lord, and devote yourself to Him wholly — cutting yourself off, the commentaries agree, from everything besides Him.
رَّبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا
PickthallLord of the East and the West; there is no Allah save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -
Yusuf Ali(He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
The agreed readingLord of the east and the west; there is no god but He. So take Him as the one you rely on.
وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا
PickthallAnd bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave-taking.
Yusuf AliAnd have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
The agreed readingAnd be patient with what they say, and part from them with a fair parting — a withdrawal, the commentaries agree, with no anger in it, and this was before he was commanded to fight.
وَذَرْنِى وَٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُو۟لِى ٱلنَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا
PickthallLeave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.
Yusuf AliAnd leave Me (alone to deal with) those in possession of the good things of life, who (yet) deny the Truth; and bear with them for a little while.
The agreed readingAnd leave Me with the deniers, the men of ease — the commentaries agree these are the chiefs of Quraysh, named by their comfort. And give them a little time.
إِنَّ لَدَيْنَآ أَنكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا
PickthallLo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
Yusuf AliWith Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
The agreed readingWith Us are heavy fetters and a fierce fire — the fetters glossed as weighted shackles, and the fire as the kind that consumes.
وَطَعَامًا ذَا غُصَّةٍ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
PickthallAnd food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
Yusuf AliAnd a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
The agreed readingand food that sticks in the throat, and a painful punishment — food, the commentaries agree, that will neither go down nor come back up.
يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَثِيبًا مَّهِيلًا
PickthallOn the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
Yusuf AliOne Day the earth and the mountains will be in violent commotion. And the mountains will be as a heap of sand poured out and flowing down.
The agreed readingOn the Day the earth and the mountains shake, and the mountains become a heap of sliding sand — solid rock, the commentaries note, reduced to sand that will not hold together.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًا شَٰهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولًا
PickthallLo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
Yusuf AliWe have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
The agreed readingWe have sent to you a messenger as a witness over you, just as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh. The commentaries agree the messenger sent to Pharaoh is Moses, and that the comparison is a warning drawn from what followed.
فَعَصَىٰ فِرْعَوْنُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا
PickthallBut Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
Yusuf AliBut Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.
The agreed readingBut Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous grip — the commentaries let the outcome make the argument: the pattern is set, and Mecca is being shown it.
فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنَ شِيبًا
PickthallThen how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
Yusuf AliThen how shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary-headed?-
The agreed readingHow then, if you refuse, will you protect yourselves from a Day that turns children grey — grey, the commentaries agree, from the sheer terror of it?
ٱلسَّمَآءُ مُنفَطِرٌۢ بِهِۦ كَانَ وَعْدُهُۥ مَفْعُولًا
PickthallThe very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
Yusuf AliWhereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
The agreed readingThe sky splitting open with it — split by the sheer force of that Day, the commentaries gloss. His promise is a thing carried out, and not a thing that might yet fail.
إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًا
PickthallLo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
Yusuf AliVerily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path to his Lord!
The agreed readingThis is a reminder. So whoever wishes may take a way to his Lord — a way, the commentaries gloss, of belief and obedience, and the choosing is left to the one who hears it.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌۢ
PickthallLo! thy Lord knoweth how thou keepest vigil sometimes nearly two-thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with thee. Allah measureth the night and the day. He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite, then, of the Qur'an that which is easy for you. He knoweth that there are sick folk among you, while others travel in the land in search of Allah's bounty, and others (still) are fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite of it that which is easy (for you), and establish worship and pay the poor-due, and (so) lend unto Allah a goodly loan. Whatsoever good ye send before you for your souls, ye will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Yusuf AliThy Lord doth know that thou standest forth (to prayer) nigh two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so doth a party of those with thee. But Allah doth appoint night and day in due measure He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. So He hath turned to you (in mercy): read ye, therefore, of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for you. He knoweth that there may be (some) among you in ill-health; others travelling through the land, seeking of Allah's bounty; yet others fighting in Allah's Cause, read ye, therefore, as much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls ye shall find it in Allah's Presence,- yea, better and greater, in Reward and seek ye the Grace of Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The agreed readingYour Lord knows that you stand nearly two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or a third, and so does a group of those with you. God measures the night and the day. He knew you could not keep count of it, and He has turned to you: so recite what is easy of the Qur'ān. He knew that some of you would be ill, and others travelling in the land seeking God's bounty, and others fighting in God's way — so recite what is easy of it, and establish the prayer and give the zakat and lend God a good loan. Whatever good you send ahead for yourselves you will find with God, better and greater in reward. And ask God's forgiveness; God is forgiving and merciful.