THE HOLY QUR'AAN
INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 20 verses, 285 sentences, 838 letters and 2 Rukus.
The Surah has been so designated after the word al-muzzammil occurring in the very first verse. This is only a name and not a title of its subject matter.
The two sections of this Surah were revealed in two separate periods. The first section (vv. 1-19) is unanimously a Makki Revelation, and this is supported both by its subject matter and by the traditions of the Hadith. As for the question, in which specific period of the life at Makkah it was revealed, it is not answered by the tradition, but the internal evidence of the subject matter of this section helps to determine the period of its revelation.
First, in it the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been instructed to the effect: "Arise during the night and worship Allah so that you may develop the capability to shoulder the heavy burden of Prophethood and to discharge its responsibilities." This shows that this Command must have been given in the earliest period of the Prophethood when training was being imparted to the Holy prophet by Allah for this office.
Secondly, a Command has been given in it that the Quran be recited in the Tahajjud Prayer for half the night, or thereabout. This Command by itself points out that by that time at least so much of the Quran had been revealed as could be recited for that long.
Thirdly, in this section the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been exhorted to have patience at the excesses being committed by his opponents, and the disbelievers of Makkah have been threatened with the torment. This shows that this section was revealed at a time when the Holy Propliet (upon whom be peace) had openly started preaching Islam and the opposition to him at Makkah had grown active and strong.
About the second section (v. 20) although many of the commentators have expressed the opinion that this too was sent down at Makkah, yet some other commentators regard it as a Madani Revelation, and this same opinion is confirmed by the subject matter of this section. For it mentions fighting in the way of Allah, and obviously, there could be no question of it at Makkah; it also contains the Command to pay the obligatory zakat, and it is fully confirmed that the zakat at a specific rate and with an exemption limit (nisab) was enjoined at Madinah.
In the first seven verses the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been commanded to the effect: "Prepare yourself to shoulder the responsibilities of the great Mission that has been entrusted to you; its practical form is that you should rise during the hours of night and stand up in Prayer for half the night, or for a little more or less of it."
In vv. 8-14, he has been exhorted to the effect: "Devote yourself exclusively to that God Who is the Owner of the whole universe, intrust all your affairs to Him with full satisfaction of the heart. Bear with patience whatever your opponents may utter against you. Do not be intimate with them. Leave their affair to God: He Himself will deal with them."
Then, in vv. 15-19, those of the people of Makkah, who were opposing the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) have been warned, so as to say: "We have sent a Messenger to you just as We sent a Messenger to the Pharaoh. Just consider what fate the Pharaoh met when he did not accept the invitation of the Messenger of Allah. Supposing that you are not punished by a torment in this world, how will you save yourselves from the punishment for disbelief on the Day of Resurrection."
This is the subject matter of the first section. The second section, according to a tradition from Hadrat Sa'id bin Jubair, was sent down ten years later, and in it the initial Command given in connection with the Tahajjud Prayer, in the beginning of the first section, was curtailed. The new Command enjoined, "Offer as much of the Tahajjud Prayer as you easily can, but what the Muslims should particularly mind and attend to is the five times obligatory Prayer a day, they should establish it regularly and punctually; they should discharge their zakat dues accurately; and they should spend their wealth with sincere intentions for the sake of Allah. In conclusion, the Muslims have been exhorted, saying: "Whatever good works you do in the world, will not go waste, but they are like the provision which a traveller sends up in advance to his permanent place of residence. Whatever good you send up from the world, you will find it with Allah, and the provision thus sent up is much better than what you will have to leave behind in the world, and with Allah you will also get a much better and richer reward than what you have actually sent up before."
Maududi
THE HOLY QUR'AAN
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Section 1.
73 : 1
1. Ya ayyuha almuzzammilu
O you enshrouded in garments!
73 : 2
2. Qumi allayla illa qaleelan
Keep vigil right through the night save a little -
73 : 3
3. Nisfahu awi onqus minhu qaleelan
Half of it or a little less -
73 : 4
4. Aw zid AAalayhi warattili alqur-ana tarteelan
Or a little more! And recite the Qur'aan in slow and measured rhythmic tones!
73 : 5
5. Inna sanulqee AAalayka qawlan thaqeelan
For verily We shall entrust you with a momentous charge.
73 : 6
6. Inna nashi-ata allayli hiya ashaddu wat-an waaqwamu qeelan
Verily worship at night is a time when your concentration is sharper and your speech is clearer!
73 : 7
7. Inna laka fee alnnahari sabhan taweelan
Whereas by day you are engrossed in protracted preoccupations.
73 : 8
8. Waothkuri isma rabbika watabattal ilayhi tabteelan
So remember the name of your Lord with firm devotion!
73 : 9
9. Rabbu almashriqi waalmaghribi la ilaha illa huwa faittakhithhu wakeelan
Lord of the East and of the West! There is no God other than Him, so take none but Him as your saviour!
73 : 10
10. Waisbir AAala ma yaqooloona waohjurhum hajran jameelan
Ignore their utterances and part company with them with due dignity!
73 : 11
11. Watharnee waalmukaththibeena olee alnnaAAmati wamahhilhum qaleelan
And leave Me to deal with the repudiators who are in comfort for the time being and you too give them a brief respite.
73 : 12
12. Inna ladayna ankalan wajaheeman
Verily with Us are heavy shackles and fierce flames for them -
73 : 13
13. WataAAaman tha ghussatin waAAathaban aleeman
And asphyxiating food and an acerbic stricture -
73 : 14
14. Yawma tarjufu al-ardu waaljibalu wakanati aljibalu katheeban maheelan
On the Day when the earth with all its mountains will quaver from tremors and the hills turn into cascades of sand!
73 : 15
15. Inna arsalna ilaykum rasoolan shahidan AAalaykum kama arsalna ila firAAawna rasoolan
Verily We have sent to you a messenger to bear witness for you in the same way as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
73 : 16
16. FaAAasa firAAawnu alrrasoola faakhathnahu akhthan wabeelan
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, so We seized him in a vicious clasp.
73 : 17
17. Fakayfa tattaqoona in kafartum yawman yajAAalu alwildana sheeban
How then, if you disbelieve, you can protect yourself against the Day which will transmute infants into seniles -
73 : 18
18. Alssamao munfatirun bihi kana waAAduhu mafAAoolan
And will rent asunder the very heaven under its impact so that His promise comes to pass?
73 : 19
19. Inna hathihi tathkiratun faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi sabeelan
Verily this is a Reminder, so let each find his own way to his Lord! (R)
Section 2.
73 : 20
20. Inna rabbaka yaAAlamu annaka taqoomu adna min thuluthayi allayli wanisfahu wathuluthahu wata-ifatun mina allatheena maAAaka waAllahu yuqaddiru allayla waalnnahara AAalima an lan tuhsoohu fataba AAalaykum faiqraoo ma tayassara mina alqur-ani AAalima an sayakoonu minkum marda waakharoona yadriboona fee al-ardi yabtaghoona min fadli Allahi waakharoona yuqatiloona fee sabeeli Allahi faiqraoo ma tayassara minhu waaqeemoo alssalata waatoo alzzakata waaqridoo Allaha qardan hasanan wama tuqaddimoo li-anfusikum min khayrin tajidoohu AAinda Allahi huwa khayran waaAAthama ajran waistaghfiroo Allaha inna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun
Verily your Lord knows how you keep vigil, sometimes for nearly two thirds of the night, and sometimes for half the night, and sometimes for a third of the night, as do a group of those who are with you. Allah measures the night and the day. He knows how difficult it is for you to do the same and therefore turns to you in mercy. Recite from the Qur'aan only that much as you can cope with ease. He knows that there are some among you who are sick, others out in pursuit of Allah's benefactions and some still striving for the cause of Allah! So recite from it only that much as you can cope with ease, and offer worship, and give to the deserving their due, and lend to Allah a munificent loan! Whatever good you send ahead of you for your souls, you will get a bigger and a better reward from Allah in return! And seek forgiveness of Allah, for verily He is Magnanimous and Merciful! (R)
1. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinns[] listened (to this Qur'ān). They said: 'Verily! We have heard a wonderful Recital (this Qur'ān)!
2. 'It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allāh).
3. 'And exalted be the Majesty of our Lord, He has taken neither a wife, nor a son (or offspring or children).[]
4. 'And that the foolish among us [i.e. Iblīs (Satan) or the polytheists amongst the jinns] used to utter against Allāh that which was wrong and not right.
5. 'And verily, we thought that men and jinns would not utter a lie against Allāh.
6. 'And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the masculine among the jinns, but they (jinns) increased them (mankind) in sin and disbelief.
7. 'And they thought as you thought, that Allāh will not send any Messenger (to mankind or jinns).
8. 'And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires.
9. 'And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.
10. 'And we know not whether evil is intended for those on earth, or whether their Lord intends for them a Right Path.
11. 'There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups each having a different way (religious sect, etc.).
12. 'And we think that we cannot escape (from the punishment of) Allāh in the earth, nor can we escape (from the punishment) by flight.
13. 'And indeed when we heard the Guidance (this Qur'ān), we believed therein (Islāmic Monotheism), and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in punishment for his sins.
14. 'And of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allāh, after listening to this Qur'ān), and of us some are Al-Qāsitūn (disbelievers those who have deviated from the Right Path)'. And whosoever has embraced Islām (i.e. has become a Muslim by submitting to Allāh), then such have sought the Right Path."
15. And as for the Qāsitūn (disbelievers who deviated from the Right Path), they shall be firewood for Hell,
16. If they (non-Muslims) had believed in Allāh, and went on the Right Way (i.e. Islām) We should surely have bestowed on them water (rain) in abundance.
17. That We might try them thereby. And whosoever turns away from the Reminder of his Lord (i.e. this Qur'ān, and practice not its laws and orders), He will cause him to enter in a severe torment (i.e. Hell).
18. And the mosques are for Allāh (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allāh.[]
19. (It has been revealed to me that) When the slave of Allāh (Muhammad SAW) stood up invoking (his Lord Allāh) in prayer to Him they (the jinns) just made round him a dense crowd as if sticking one over the other (in order to listen to the Prophet's recitation).
20. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I invoke only my Lord (Allāh Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him."
21. Say: "It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the Right Path."
22. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "None can protect me from Allāh's punishment (if I were to disobey Him), nor should I find refuge except in Him.
23. "(Mine is) but conveyance (of the truth) from Allāh and His Messages (of Islāmic Monotheism), and whosoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever[] ."
24. Till, when they see that which they are promised, then they will know who it is that is weaker concerning helpers and less important concerning numbers.
25. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I know not whether (the punishment) which you are promised is near or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.
26. "(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Ghā'ib (unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghā'ib (unseen)."
27. Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen (He informs him of unseen as much as He likes), and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him.
28. [He (Allāh) protects them (the Messengers)], till He sees that they (the Messengers) have conveyed the Messages of their Lord (Allāh). And He (Allāh) surrounds all that which is with them, and He (Allāh) keeps count of all things (i.e. He knows the exact number of everything).
073.001
YUSUFALI:
O thou folded in garments!
PICKTHAL:
O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
SHAKIR:
O you who have wrapped up in your garments!
073.002
YUSUFALI:
Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-
PICKTHAL:
Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
SHAKIR:
Rise to pray in the night except a little,
073.003
YUSUFALI:
Half of it,- or a little less,
PICKTHAL:
A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
SHAKIR:
Half of it, or lessen it a little,
073.004
YUSUFALI:
Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
PICKTHAL:
Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
SHAKIR:
Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.
073.005
YUSUFALI:
Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
PICKTHAL:
For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
SHAKIR:
Surely We will make to light upon you a weighty Word.
073.006
YUSUFALI:
Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most
suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).
PICKTHAL:
Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech
more certain.
SHAKIR:
Surely the rising by night is the firmest way to tread and the best corrective
of speech.
073.007
YUSUFALI:
True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
PICKTHAL:
Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
SHAKIR:
Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.
073.008
YUSUFALI:
But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him
whole-heartedly.
PICKTHAL:
So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
SHAKIR:
And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (exclusive)
devotion.
073.009
YUSUFALI:
(He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him
therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
PICKTHAL:
Lord of the East and the West; there is no Allah save Him; so choose thou Him
alone for thy defender -
SHAKIR:
The Lord of the East and the West-- there is no god but He-- therefore take Him
for a protector.
073.010
YUSUFALI:
And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
PICKTHAL:
And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair
leave-taking.
SHAKIR:
And bear patiently what they say and avoid them with a becoming avoidance.
073.011
YUSUFALI:
And 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.
PICKTHAL:
Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and
do thou respite them awhile.
SHAKIR:
And leave Me and the rejecters, the possessors of ease and plenty, and respite
them a little.
073.012
YUSUFALI:
With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
PICKTHAL:
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
SHAKIR:
Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a flaming fire,
073.013
YUSUFALI:
And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
PICKTHAL:
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
SHAKIR:
And food that chokes and a painful punishment,
073.014
YUSUFALI:
One 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.
PICKTHAL:
On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of
running sand.
SHAKIR:
On the day when the earth and the mountains shall quake and the mountains shall
become (as) heaps of sand let loose.
073.015
YUSUFALI:
We have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even
as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
PICKTHAL:
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent
unto Pharaoh a messenger.
SHAKIR:
Surely We have sent to you a Messenger, a witness against you, as We sent a
messenger to Firon.
073.016
YUSUFALI:
But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.
PICKTHAL:
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no
gentle grip.
SHAKIR:
But Firon disobeyed the messenger, so We laid on him a violent hold.
073.017
YUSUFALI:
Then how shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that will
make children hoary-headed?-
PICKTHAL:
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will
turn children grey,
SHAKIR:
How, then, will you guard yourselves, if you disbelieve, on the day which shall
make children grey-headed?
073.018
YUSUFALI:
Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
PICKTHAL:
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
SHAKIR:
The heaven shall rend asunder thereby; His promise is ever brought to
fulfillment.
073.019
YUSUFALI:
Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight)
path to his Lord!
PICKTHAL:
Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
SHAKIR:
Surely this is a reminder, then let him, who will take the way to his Lord.
073.020
YUSUFALI:
Thy 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.
PICKTHAL:
Lo! 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.
SHAKIR:
Surely your Lord knows that you pass in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night,
and (sometimes) half of it, and (sometimes) a third of it, and (also) a party of
those with you; and Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are
not able to do it, so He has turned to you (mercifully), therefore read what is
easy of the Quran. He knows that there must be among you sick, and others who
travel in the land seeking of the bounty of Allah, and others who fight in
Allah's way, therefore read as much of it as is easy (to you), and keep up
prayer and pay the poor-rate and offer to Allah a goodly gift, and whatever of
good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; that is
best and greatest in reward; and ask forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is
Forgiving, Merciful.