Surah Al-Muzzammil

Surah Muzzammil, the 73rd Surah in the Holy Quran, takes its name from Alla Azzawajal’s name, ‘Al-Muzzammil,’ which translates to ‘The One Covering Himself’ or ‘The Enshrouded One.’ It was revealed in the initial Makkan days and thus is a Makki Surah. However, the 20th and last verse of the surah is much longer than the first 19 and is believed to have been revealed in Madinah. It consists of 2 ruku’ and 20 verses. The Surah can be found in the 29th Juz (Para) of the Holy Quran. Surah Muzzammil, as its revelation period indicates, was sent upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to prepare him for the future tasks and challenges that the proclamation of Islam merited. The Surah also carried the message of praying through most of the night and reciting the Holy Quran. Therefore, the word ‘Al-Muzzammil’ also refers to the state of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) at night during prayer sessions when he would be covered in his cloak.

٧٣ - ٱلْمُزَّمِّل

73 - Al-Muzzammil

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ۝۱ۙ
Ya ayyuha almuzzammilu

English

Ahmed Ali

O YOU ENWRAPPED in the cloak (of Prophethood),

1

قُـمِ الَّيْلَ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا۝۲ۙ
Qumi allayla illa qaleelan

English

Ahmed Ali

Keep watch all the night except some,

2

نِّصْفَہٗۗ اَوِ انْقُصْ مِنْہُ قَلِيْلًا۝۳ۙ
Nisfahu awi onqus minhu qaleelan

English

Ahmed Ali

A half of it or a little less

3

اَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْہِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْاٰنَ تَرْتِيْلًا۝۴ۭ
Aw zid AAalayhi warattili alqurana tarteelan

English

Ahmed Ali

Or a little more, and recite the Qur'an slowly and distinctly.

4

اِنَّا سَـنُلْقِيْ عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَـقِيْلًا۝۵
Inna sanulqee AAalayka qawlan thaqeelan

English

Ahmed Ali

We shall soon entrust to you a message heavy (with solemnity).

5

اِنَّ نَاشِـئَۃَ الَّيْلِ ہِيَ اَشَدُّ وَطْـاً وَّاَقْوَمُ قِيْلًا۝۶ۭ
Inna nashiata allayli hiya ashaddu watan waaqwamu qeelan

English

Ahmed Ali

Surely in the watches of the night the soul is most receptive and words more telling.

6

اِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّہَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيْلًا۝۷ۭ
Inna laka fee alnnahari sabhan taweelan

English

Ahmed Ali

Indeed during the day you have a long schedule of occupations.

7

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ اِلَيْہِ تَبْتِيْلًا۝۸ۭ
Waothkuri isma rabbika watabattal ilayhi tabteelan

English

Ahmed Ali

But recite the name of your Lord withdrawing yourself from everything, devoting yourself exclusively to Him.

8

رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَاۗ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَفَاتَّخِذْہُ وَكِيْلًا۝۹
Rabbu almashriqi waalmaghribi la ilaha illa huwa faittakhithhu wakeelan

English

Ahmed Ali

He is the Lord of the East and the West. There is no god but He. So take Him alone as your protector.

9

وَاصْبِرْ عَلٰي مَا يَقُوْلُوْنَ وَاہْجُرْہُمْ ہَجْرًا جَمِيْلًا۝۱۰
Waisbir AAala ma yaqooloona waohjurhum hajran jameelan

English

Ahmed Ali

Bear with patience what they say, and gracefully come away from them.

10

Surah Muzammil Asbab al-Nuzul (Context and Historical Background)

Suran Muzammil was revealed at a time when the Prophet (ﷺ) was facing strong opposition from the people of Mecca as he had openly started calling people to Islam.

Significance of Surah Muzammil

Surah Muzammil sheds light on the relationship between Allah and Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is giving solace to the Prophet (ﷺ), telling him to put his faith in Allah Azzawajal and not to be disheartened seeing the worldly status, comfort, and glory of the disbelievers who are making life difficult for him and the Muslims in Mecca. Allah promises that this status and comfort is short-lived, and there is hellfire waiting for the disbelievers in their eternal abode. This fact that Allah revealed verses to comfort the Prophet (ﷺ) and prepare him for the heavy task of spreading the word of Allah shows Muslims how dear the Prophet (ﷺ) is to Allah. It also gives the Muslims a roadmap on how to behave when faced with adversity. The Surah is also significant because it made Qiyam al-Layl optional, while it was previously compulsory for Muslims.

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Muzammil

Surah Muzzammil starts with the importance of the message of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and the extraordinary ordeal upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) of spreading this message amongst the people. The verses address the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) on how he has to stay firm and ready and ask him to prepare himself to shoulder the arduous responsibilities of the divine mission on which he was sent to this world. He is entrusted with the task, and the best form of working on that mission is to stand up during the night and pray for half of it.

The Surah also comforts the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to not worry too deeply about the opponents of Islam and what they say regarding the revelations. The Surah asks the Prophet (ﷺ) to leave the case of the disbelievers to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), and He shall deal with them. Surah Muzzammil also warns the disbelievers of the extreme repercussions they will face for their actions and apprises them of the punishments for opposing the Holy Prophet (ﷺ).

The last verses of the Surah, which were revealed after one year, relieved the Prophet (ﷺ)and the believers of the long standings during the night and asked them to pray as much as they could during the night and recite as much of the Quran as is easy for them. Before this revelation, the Prophet (ﷺ) was enjoined to stand in prayer for two-thirds of the night, reciting all the Quranic verses that had been revealed so far. In Surah Muzammil, the previous command was relaxed, and the Prophet (ﷺ) was instructed to recite the Quran in moderation so worldly affairs could be managed as well. It also commands the Muslims to establish the five daily prayers and Zakat.

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Muzammil

Reciting Surah Muzzammil during the night after Isha prayers or Tahajjud is believed to keep one's heart pure and clean. This Surah safeguards the reciter from any mental illness and provides one with the contentment of heart and peace of mind. The recitation of this Surah is also encouraged for the forgiveness of sins and the resolution of the hardships and difficulties one may face. Surah Muzzammil, upon its recitation, is also known to provide a believer with abundance and prosperity concerning wealth and financial security.

The virtues and benefits of Surah Muzammil arise from the reason behind its revelation. At the point when this Surah was revealed, the Prophet (ﷺ) was in a state of grief and distress. The verses here give us guidance and a spiritual connection to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), instructing us to stand part of the night in prayer. We also get the instruction about reciting the Quran slowly and distinctly, which is helpful in understanding its meaning. In this way, the Surah teaches us patience, perseverance, and to hold on to Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) guidance when we're passing through difficult times. This benefit is also why some recite this Surah when experiencing difficulties in their married life or any other relationship. 

Listen to the Recitation of Surah Muzammil by Renowned Qaris

It's important to recite Surah Muzammil correctly and with the right pronunciation. Even slight changes in how we say the words can change their meaning, so we should listen to correct recitations and learn to recite correctly ourselves. It's also essential to pause at the right places and know when not to pause. Like all other Surah, Surah Muzammil should also be recited with proper Tajweed so we can get the benefits and rewards from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). 

If you have doubts about how to recite Surah Muzammil, listening to authentic and known Qaris can help. Listening to Quranic recitation can also help us gain benefits and rewards. The MuslimandQuran app makes this option quite easy, as we offer recitations of each Surah from various Qaris. Anyone can download the app, select the Surah they want to listen to and choose the recitation that resounds with them the most. Along with the benefits, the practice of listening will help you understand how to pronounce each Quranic word correctly.  You can get the MuslimandQuran mobile app for your Android or iOS simply by going to the Google Play or App Store respectively. Download it now by clicking the following links: 

Surah Muzammil PDF

Surah Muzammil is the 73rd Surah in Quran Kareem, with 19 ayats revealed in Makkah. Its second ruku is made up of a single verse and was revealed in Madinah. This unique feature makes the ruku one of the shortest in the Quran according to the number of ayats. You can download the full text of the Surah Muzammil PDF online. Readers can recite the Surah Muzammil PDF online after downloading it and saving the file on their phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Press Control + P keys on your device to download the Surah as PDF. In the destination drop-down, choose Save as PDF, and then select Save.

FAQs:

'Muzammil' literally means 'The Enshrouded One' or 'The Enfolded One', denoting the meaning of someone bundled up (in a blanket or shawl). The name or word 'Muzammil' comes from the root 'zammil', which also denotes the meaning of wrapping or covering one's person. The meaning has a positive connotation and usually refers to someone being protected or spiritually encased in a covering or wrapping. 

Surah Muzammil has 20 verses.

Many sources report that reciting this Surah frequently will help purify the hearts and souls of the believers. It's also believed that the recitation can insha'Allah help to protect the believer from several kinds of mental diseases or weaknesses. It may also help us figure out how to navigate problems in close relationships, especially marriage. To get more surety of removing all these benefits, though, we must make sure to recite the Surah with great focus, understanding, and competent faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). 

Like any other part of the Quran, Surah Muzammil can be recited at any time. Reciting the Surah can be especially helpful for a believer who is stuck in some problem or feeling sad and confused. Some sources state that it's most effective to recite Surah Muzammil at night or after the Fajr prayer, while others state that its full benefits might be reaped when we recite it after each mandatory prayer or Tahajjud. Yet another source states that a hundred major sins might be forgiven if the believer recites this Surah a hundred times on Thursday evening. 

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: When the opening verses of Surah Al-Muzzammil were revealed, the Companions would pray as long as they would pray during Ramadan until its last verses were revealed. The period between the revelation of its opening and the last verses was one year. - Sunan Abi Dawud 1305.

Yes, Surah Muzammil is available for listening online and its audio is also available for download. One of the best platforms for listening to Surah Muzammil online is the MuslimandQuram mobile application, which you can install on both iOS and Android devices.

Since 'Muzammil' is designated as one of the names of our beloved Prophet (), some sources state that reciting Surah Muzammil may give us the chance to see the Prophet () in our dreams. Reciting Surah Muzammil daily may also help protect us from evil, gain inner peace, and save us from becoming enslaved to people instead of Almighty Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). 

Insha'Allah, we can gain the benefits of Surah Muzammil even if we don't understand or speak Arabic. The benefits are present for those who recite the Surah and have faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). However, it is much better to read the surah with translation or learn basic Arabic to understand the meaning of the surah. 

The history behind this Surah comes from the incident where the Prophet () was in the cave of Hira and saw the Angel Jibraeel. The appearance of Hazrat Jibraeel was very frightening and overwhelming, so the Prophet () ran home and said 'زملوني زملوني'  or 'cover me, cover me' to his wife Hazrat Khadeeja (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا). Due to this covering, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) later blessed the Prophet () with the names al-Muzzammil and al-Muddathir, both of which refer to covering or being wrapped up.