Surah Al-Muddathir is the 74th chapter of the Quran. In this surah, Allah commands the believers to take action against the non-believers. This surah has 56 verses, and it is a Makki surah. Surah Al-Muddathir got its name from the word ‘Muddathir’ in the 1st verse, which means ‘The Cloaked One/The Clothed One’. This surah is placed in 29th juz(para) and has 2 rukus. The first seven verses of this surah were revealed in the early days of prophethood, while the rest of the surah was revealed while the Prophet (ﷺ) was on pilgrimage a few months later. Thus, this is a Meccan or Makki surah.
The 1st surah that was revealed to the Last Messenger (ﷺ) was verses of Surah Alaq. After the first revelation, new verses were not revealed to the Prophet for some time. After a long pause, one day, the Prophet (ﷺ) saw Angel Gabriel sitting on a throne between heaven and earth. This sudden encounter terrified the Prophet (ﷺ), and he rushed home. He asked his family members to cover him up, and that’s why Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) was referring to him in the 1st verse by saying ‘O Cloaked One’. The 1st 7 verses of Surah Al-Muddathir were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) at this time.
٧٤ - ٱلْمُدَّثِّر
74 - Al-Muddathir
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Although a few Quran commentators suggest that the first five verses of Surah Al-Muddathir constitute the first revelation, the consensus of scholars is that the first verses of Surah Al-Alaq are the first revelation. After the revelation of the first verses of Surah Al-Alaq, revelations were discontinued for some time. It is agreed by the scholars that this temporary discontinuation of divine revelations served the purpose of consolidation for the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ to get ready for the upcoming task of Prophethood. Hence, it is a consensus that the first five verses of Surah Al-Muddathir were revealed sometime after the first revelation. Scholars also explain this sequence in the following way:
“First revelation (first verses of Surah Al-Alaq) established the Nabuwat (Prophethood) of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, whereas the revelation of the first verses of Surah Al-Muddathir was the declaration and establishment of his Risalat (Messenger-ship)”.
The historical context and purpose of the revelation of Surah Al-Muddathir are specifically described by the Prophet, as reported in various Hadiths, such as Hadith 4926 of Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Translation - Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: That he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) describing the period of pause of the Divine Inspiration, and in his description, he said, "While I was walking, I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up towards the sky, and behold! I saw the same Angel who came to me in the Cave of Hira', sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I was so terrified by him that I fell down on the ground. Then I went to my wife and said, 'Wrap me in garments! Wrap me in garments!' They wrapped me, and then Allah revealed: "O you, (Muhammad) wrapped-up! Arise and warn...and desert the idols." (74.1-5) Abu Salama said....Rujz means idols." After that, the Divine Inspiration started coming more frequently and regularly.
While the above Hadith establishes the period of revelation of the first five verses of Surah Al-Muddathir, it also sheds light on the context of its revelation. Till the revelation of this part of the Surah, the Prophet was not entrusted with the duty of spreading the Divine Message. Through the revelation of these verses, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was assigned the task of inviting the people towards the right path, warning them of the Day of Resurrection, and getting prepared for this role as a Prophet and Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. It marks the beginning of the Prophetic mission of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
Accordingly, by consensus, this Surah is known as a Makki Surah. However, some scholars also opine that the 31st verse of this Surah was revealed at a later stage, in Medina. After the revelation of the first part of this Surah, the Prophet started preaching the Divine Message publicly. A few months later, the Hajj pilgrimage of that era approached. The Prophet planned to reach out to the incoming pilgrims from various parts of the Arabian Peninsula and invite them to Allah's Message (سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ).
On the other hand, by that time, the leaders of Quraysh had started thinking that the mission of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ might destroy their interests. So, they planned to stop him from approaching the pilgrims. At this stage, one of the prominent and influential leaders of Quraysh, namely, Walid bin al-Mughirah, came up with a suggestion that we should agree on one specific accusation against the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, instead of spreading different rumors about him, among the incoming pilgrims, so that they may be prevented from being influenced by his preaching.
Different leaders suggested different things about the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, such as “he is a soothsayer”, “he has gone mad”, “he is a poet”, or “he is a sorcerer”. Walid bin al-Mughirah rejected all these suggestions because, from the depths of his heart, he was convinced that the Prophet's preaching was based on Divine revelations, and he explained that all these accusations are false and baseless. Despite that, he finally suggested that we should call him a “sorcerer”. The second part of Surah Al-Muddathir (verses 11 to 26) describes this incident without naming Walid bin al-Mughirah; however, scholars, by consensus, are of the opinion that the person referred to in this part of the Surah was Walid bin al-Mughirah.
As in the majority of the Meccan Surahs, this Surah also describes the scenario on the Day of Resurrection and the horror of Hell. Then, in the last part of the Surah, since the disbelievers are not aware of the dreadfulness of Hell and the consequences they are destined to face on the Day of Judgment, they are generally fearless about the upcoming punishment. Hence, the disbelievers are unable to realize the reality of life after death, and they think that everything is their worldly life. The Surah ends with the statement that the Quran is an admonition for those who do not believe, whereas those who believe will accept it.
By consensus, Surah Al-Muddathir is a Makki Surah. However, many scholars also believe that the 31st verse was revealed in Medina.
Surah Al-Muddathir is the 74th Surah of the Quran. It is placed in the 29th Juzz (Para). It comes after Surah Al-Muzzammil and before Surah Al-Qiyama. It is the 4th Surah in the order of revelation, and falls at number 74 in the sequence of recitation.
Surah Al-Muddathir was revealed in the earlier phase of the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. In fact, it marks the beginning of his Prophetic mission, during which he was urged to begin spreading the Divine Message, warn them of the life after death, glorify Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, and maintain spiritual and physical purity. The Surah also condemns idol worship. So, this Surah holds great significance in Islamic teachings, which are summarized here:
Surah Al-Muddathir (الْمُدَّثِّر) talks about several important topics in depth. It is a call to prophethood asking the Messenger (ﷺ) to warn people of their wrongdoings and give them the true message of Allah so they become believers. It is a reminder that the end of disbelievers is near, and there are flames of hell waiting for them. It gives a reality check that every person is accountable for their sins and good deeds. No person is accountable for the sins of another.
As explained before, the first 7 verses were revealed after a long pause in Quranic revelation upon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ). The first revelation introduced the Prophet Muhammad to His Lord and Creator. These verses instructed the Prophet (ﷺ) to tell the words of Allah to others so they may believe in the one God and come to the right path. In the 2nd verse of the surah, Allah instructs the Prophet to “Arise and deliver thy warning!”
In the subsequent verses, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) gives the Prophet a set of rules to live by, such as in verse 4, He says, and keep your clothes clean.” And in verse 7, He says, “And for the sake of your Lord, patiently endure.” In this verse, Allah was alerting him that this road to prophethood is not a smooth one and there will be a lot of bumps. However, for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), be patient.
Surah Al-Muddathir is a serious warning from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) to remind mankind of its fate on the day of Resurrection. From verse 11 to verse 26, Allah exclaims that the wishes of man are never ending. Even though humans are dependent on Allah for everything, they still are never thankful and ask for more. So, for the disbelievers who turn away from the signs of Allah and spread in the land that the preaching of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) are nothing but a magic stone of Hell are waiting. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) gives notice to wrathful non-believers that their actions are making them fuel of Hellfire.
From verses 27 to 35, Allah sheds light on what Hell is. He clearly states in verses 28 and 29 that “It neither leaves nor spares. It strips away the hide of man.” The fire in Hell won’t spare any disbelievers, they’ll be melted due to their fate. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) further explains that there are nineteen guards that are above the Hell. He is omnipotent, He guides whomever He wills. If He decides for a person to go astray, no one can make him walk on the right path. Thus, obeying Allah is the only way out of facing the misery of Hell.
In the later verses of the surah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) warns people about signs and deeds that can cause them to be in Hell. From verses 42 to 46, He makes it as clear as the daylight. Allah says that people in Paradise will ask the question to people in Hell about the reason they are in Hell. To which Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) mentioned their replies as a warning and signs. He says, “They said, “We never used to offer the prayer.” (74:43) “Nor used to feed the needy.” (74:44) “And used to dwell on evil matters with those who think evilly.” (74:45) “And used to deny the Day of Justice.” (74:46). On the day of Judgment, there will be no rescue for the people in Hell. On an ending note, Allah asks people to pay attention to their deeds and take guidance from Islam and the Holy Book; the Quran.
Reciting the Quran is one of the most noble deeds that one can do. Recitation of Surah Al-Muddathir has many benefits. It higher up the rank of readers in Jannah. Moreover, daily recitation of Surah Al-Muddathir (الْمُدَّثِّر) will be a generous addition of good deeds to your record. It is one of the best ways to obtain Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) blessings and open the door to Paradise. You should always remember the message Surah Al-Muddathir gives and make sure to act right as per the principles of Islam.
The recitation of the Quran, including Surah Al-Muddathir, with correct Tajweed, is highly important and sensitive in Islamic teachings. The Quran comprises the words of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, which need extreme care and must be recited exactly the same way as was taught by the Prophet. Even a minor mistake in the correct pronunciation of any Quranic word can be a sinful act and may lead to an entirely different meaning. It is even more important for non-Arabic-speaking Muslims, because they might have difficulty with the correct pronunciation of Quranic verses. The best solution to overcome this difficulty is to listen to the recitation of renowned and authentic Quran Reciters (Qaris), which is available at MuslimandQuran.
The MuslimandQuran mobile app helps you with this important issue. The recitation of the Quran by renowned and authentic Qaris is available on our website and mobile application, which you can listen to on your mobile devices or laptops at any time. You can select a Qari of your preference to listen to and learn the correct recitation of the Quran. You only need to download the MuslimandQuran Mobile Application to listen to any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Muddathir.
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The ability to read the Quran online is readily available in the MuslimandQuran mobile app. But if you are interested in reading it offline, you can also download any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Muddathir, as a PDF.
You can download Surah Al-Muddathir in PDF by following these simple steps:
Al-Muddathir translates to “The Cloaked Man” or “the man wrapped in clothes”. In the context of Surah Al-Muddathir, this phrase refers to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, who wrapped himself in a blanket after the incident of seeing the Angel Jibril, as also described in Hadith 4926 of Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Surah Al-Muddathir comprises 56 verses.
No specific benefits are associated with the recitation of Surah Al-Muddathir. However, regular recitation of Surah Al-Muddathir, while understanding its meanings, may strengthen our faith in the Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, the Day of Resurrection, and accountability. It also strengthens our faith in the reality of Hell and Paradise.
It can be recited at any time during the night or the day, according to your convenience and whenever you have time. No specific time is recommended by scholars for the recitation of Surah Al-Muddathir.
Yes, Hadith 4926 of Sahih Al-Bukhari narrates the context of the revelation of Surah Al-Muddathir.
Yes, you can listen to Al-Muddathir online. It is available on the Muslim and Quran mobile application. You just need to log in to the mobile app of MuslimandQuran to access all the Surahs, including Surah Al-Muddathir, for listening online.
No specific rewards are associated with the daily recitation of Surah Al-Muddathir. However, reciting any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Muddathir, while understanding its theme and meanings, may bring huge rewards, though not specifically recommended to be recited on a daily basis.
The Quran, including Surah Al-Muddathir, is not associated with any specific language, although it was revealed in Arabic. In fact, it is for the guidance of the entire mankind, irrespective of nation or language. It brings equal benefits to whoever recites any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Muddathir. A non-Arabic speaker will definitely get the same benefits from the recitation of Surah Al-Muddathir as an Arabic-speaking individual may get.