As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection covers the entirety of Surah 73, Al-Muzzammil or the Enfolded One, verses 1-20. This surah talks about the significance of Prayer and humility in spiritual life and the fate of those who reject Faith and Revelation.
Tafseer for this Surah is a short explanation of why Al-Muzzammil was one of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) nicknames.
If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review.
Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.
O Muzzammil (folded in garments – one of the nicknames of the Prophet Muhammad)![1] Stand in prayers at night, but not the whole night,[2] half of it or a little less,[3] or a little more; and recite the Qur’an with measured tone.[4] Soon We are going to send you a weighty message.[5] Surely the getting up at night for prayer is most effective for controlling the self and most suitable for reciting the Qur’an as well;[6] because, during the day you are hard pressed with worldly affairs.[7] Remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him exclusively.[8] He is the Lord of the east and the west: there is no god but Him, therefore, take Him as your Protector.[9] Bear patiently with what they say and leave their company in a polite manner.[10] Let me deal with rejecters who are enjoying the comforts of this life, so put up with them for a while.[11] We have in store for them heavy fetters and a blazing fire,[12] choking food and a painful punishment.[13] On the day when the earth with all its mountains will be in a violent commotion, and the mountains will crumble into heaps of shifting sand.[14] O mankind, We have sent towards you a Messenger, to bear witness for you or against you, as We sent a Messenger towards Fir’on (Pharaoh) before you.[15] Fir’on disobeyed Our Messenger; so We seized him with a firm grip.[16] If you persist in unbelief, how will you save yourselves on that Day which shall turn the children grey-headed (old),[17] the heaven shall split asunder, and His promise shall be fulfilled?[18] Surely this is but a reminder, so let him who wills, take the Right way to His Lord.[19] 73:[1-19]
Surely your Lord knows that you stand in prayers nearly two-thirds of the night, and sometimes one-half or one-third of it, so do others among your companions. Allah has the measures of the night and the day. He knows that you will not be able to keep it up, so He has turned to you in Mercy, therefore, read from the Qur’an as much as you easily can. He knows that there may be some sick people among you, and some others who travel through the land to seek Allah’s bounty; and yet some others fighting for the cause of Allah. Therefore, read as much of the Qur’an as you easily can. Establish the Salah (five time daily prayers) and pay the Zakah (poor due), and give to Allah a goodly loan. Whatever good you will send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, which will be much better and greater in reward. Seek Allah’s forgiveness, surely Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[20] 73:[20]
Ameen.
Tafseer
Muzzammil: Some Commentators understand by this, “properly dressed for prayer”, or “folded” in a sheet, as one renouncing the vanities of this world. Muzzammil is one of the titles of our Holy Prophet (pbuh). But there is a deeper mystic meaning in this and the address “Thou wrapped up” of the next Surah. Human nature requires warm garments and wrappings to protect the body from cold or heat or rain. But in the spiritual world, these wrappings are useless; the soul must stand bare and open before Allah, in the silence of the night, but not too austerely, as the following verses show.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.