Al-Muddathir (المدثر)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ
Yaaa ayyuhal muddassir
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded!
قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ
Qum fa anzir
Arise and warn!
وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ
Wa rabbaka fakabbir
And thy Sustainer's greatness glorify!
وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ
Wa siyaabaka fatahhir
And thine inner self purify!
وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ
Warrujza fahjur
And all defilement shun!
وَلَا تَمْنُنْ تَسْتَكْثِرُ
Wa laa tamnun tastaksir
And do not through giving seek thyself to gain,
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ
Wa li Rabbika fasbir
but unto thy Sustainer turn in patience.
فَإِذَا نُقِرَ فِي النَّاقُورِ
Fa izaa nuqira fin naaqoor
And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded,
فَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ
Fazaalika yawma 'iziny yawmun 'aseer
that very Day shall be a day of anguish,
عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ غَيْرُ يَسِيرٍ
'Alal kaafireena ghayru yaseer
not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth!
ذَرْنِي وَمَنْ خَلَقْتُ وَحِيدًا
Zamee wa man khalaqtu waheedaa
LEAVE Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone,
وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ مَالًا مَمْدُودًا
Wa ja'altu lahoo maalam mamdoodaa
and to whom I have granted resources vast,
وَبَنِينَ شُهُودًا
Wa baneena shuhoodaa
and children as [love's] witnesses,
وَمَهَّدْتُ لَهُ تَمْهِيدًا
Wa mahhattu lahoo tamheeda
and to whose life I gave so wide a scope:
ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ
Summa yat ma'u an azeed
and yet, he greedily desires that I give yet more!
كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ لِآيَاتِنَا عَنِيدًا
Kallaaa innahoo kaana li Aayaatinaa 'aneedaa
Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself
سَأُرْهِقُهُ صَعُودًا
Sa urhiquhoo sa'oodaa
[and so] I shall constrain him to endure a painful uphill climb!
إِنَّهُ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ
Innahoo fakkara wa qaddar
Behold, [when Our messages are conveyed to one who is bent on denying the truth,] he reflects and meditates [as to how to disprove them] –
فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
Faqutila kayfa qaddar
and thus he destroys himself, the way he meditates:
ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
Summa qutila kaifa qaddar
yea, he destroys himself, the way he meditates!
ثُمَّ نَظَرَ
Summa nazar
and then he looks [around for new arguments],
ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ
Summa 'abasa wa basar
and then he frowns and glares,
ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ
Summaa adbara wastakbar
and in the end he turns his back [on Our message], and glories in his arrogance,
فَقَالَ إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ
Faqaala in haazaaa illaa sihruny yu'sar
and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]!
إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا قَوْلُ الْبَشَرِ
In haazaaa illaa qawlul bashar
This is nothing but the word of mortal man!"
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ
Sa usleehi saqar
[Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]!
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سَقَرُ
Wa maaa adraaka maa saqar
And what could make thee conceive what hell-fire is?
لَا تُبْقِي وَلَا تَذَرُ
Laa tubqee wa laa tazar
It does not allow to live, and neither leaves [to die],
لَوَّاحَةٌ لِلْبَشَرِ
Lawwaahatul lilbashar
making [all truth] visible to mortal man.
عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ
'Alaihaa tis'ata 'ashar
Over it are nineteen [powers].
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا أَصْحَابَ النَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَائِكَةً ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَانًا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ
Wa maaja''alnaaa As haaban naari illaa malaaa 'ikatanw wa maa ja'alnaa 'iddatahum illaa fitnatal lillazeena kafaroo liyastayqinal lazeena ootul kitaaba wa yazdaadal lazeena aamanooo eemaananw wa laa yartaabal lazeena ootul kitaaba walmu'minoona wa liyaqoolal lazeena fee quloo bihim maradunw walkaafiroona maazaaa araadal laahu bihaazaa masalaa; kazaalika yudillul laahu many yashaaa'u wa yahdee many yashaaa'; wa maa ya'lamu junooda rabbika illaa hoo; wa maa hiya illaa zikraa lil bashar
For We have caused none but angelic powers to lord over the fire [of hell]; and We have not caused their number to be aught but a trial for those who are bent on denying the truth - to the end that they who have been granted revelation aforetime might be convinced [of the truth of this divine writ]; and that they who have attained to faith [in it] might grow yet more firm in their faith; and that [both] they who have been granted the earlier revelation and they who believe [in this one] might be freed of all doubt; and that they in whose hearts is disease and the who deny the truth outright might ask, "What does [your] God mean by this parable?" In this way God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], and guides aright him that wills [to be guided]. And none can comprehend thy Sustainers forces save Him alone: and all this is but a reminder to mortal man.
كَلَّا وَالْقَمَرِ
Kallaa walqamar
NAY, but consider the moon!
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذْ أَدْبَرَ
Wallaili adbar
Consider the night when it departs,
وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا أَسْفَرَ
Wassub hi izaaa asfar
and the morn when it dawns!
إِنَّهَا لَإِحْدَى الْكُبَرِ
Innahaa la ihdal kubar
Verily, that [hell-fire) is Indeed one of the great [forewarnings] –
نَذِيرًا لِلْبَشَرِ
Nazeeral lilbashar
a warning to mortal man –
لِمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوْ يَتَأَخَّرَ
Liman shaaa'a minkum any yataqaddama aw yata akhkhar
to everyone of you, whether he chooses to come forward or to hang back!
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ
Kullu nafsim bim kasabat raheenah
[On the Day of Judgment,] every human being will be held in pledge for whatever [evil] he has wrought –
إِلَّا أَصْحَابَ الْيَمِينِ
Illaaa as haabal yameen
save those who shall have attained to righteousness:
فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ
Fee jannaatiny yata saaa'aloon
[dwelling] In gardens [of paradise], they will inquire
عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
'Anil mujrimeen
of those who were lost in sin:
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ
Maa salakakum fee saqar
"What has brought you into hell-fire?"
قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ
Qaaloo lam naku minal musalleen
They will answer: "We were not among those who prayed;
وَلَمْ نَكُ نُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ
Wa lam naku nut'imul miskeen
and neither did we feed the needy;
وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ الْخَائِضِينَ
Wa kunnaa nakhoodu ma'al khaaa'ideen
and we were wont to indulge in sinning together with all [the others] who indulged in it;
وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Wa kunnaa nukazzibu bi yawmid Deen
and the Day of Judgment we were wont to call a lie –
حَتَّىٰ أَتَانَا الْيَقِينُ
Hattaaa ataanal yaqeen
until certainty came upon us [in death]."
فَمَا تَنْفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ
Famaa tanfa'uhum shafaa'atush shaafi'een
And so, of no benefit to them could be the intercession of any that would intercede for them.
فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ التَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ
Famaa lahum 'anittazkirati mu'rideen
WHAT, THEN, is amiss with them that they turn away from all admonition
كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُسْتَنْفِرَةٌ
Ka annahum humurum mustanfirah
as though they were terrified asses
فَرَّتْ مِنْ قَسْوَرَةٍ
Farrat min qaswarah
fleeing from a lion?
بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُؤْتَىٰ صُحُفًا مُنَشَّرَةً
Bal yureedu kullum ri'im minhum any yu'taa suhufam munashsharah
Yea, everyone of them claims that he [himself] ought to have been given revelations unfolded!
كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ لَا يَخَافُونَ الْآخِرَةَ
Kallaa bal laa yakhaafoonal aakhirah
Nay, but they do not [believe in and, hence, do not] fear the life to come.
كَلَّا إِنَّهُ تَذْكِرَةٌ
Kallaaa innahoo tazkirah
Nay, verily, this is an admonition –
فَمَنْ شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ
Fa man shaaa'a zakarah
and whoever wills may take it to heart.
وَمَا يَذْكُرُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَىٰ وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ
Wa maa yazkuroona illaaa any yashaaa'al laah; Huwa ahlut taqwaa wa ahlul maghfirah
But they [who do not believe in the life to come] will not take it to heart unless God so wills: [for] He is the Fount of all God-consciousness, and the Fount of all forgiveness.
Meaning
The Cloaked One
Ayas
56
Revelation
Meccan
Surah No
74
Surah Al-Muddathir is a Makki Surah that addresses the themes of prophethood, the responsibility of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and the urgent call to spread the message of Islam. It focuses on:
The call to rise and warn: The Surah opens with Allah commanding the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to “Arise and warn,” signifying the urgency and importance of delivering the message of Islam.
The consequences of denial: It highlights the fate of those who reject the message and warns of the severe consequences for disbelievers.
Patience and perseverance: The Surah encourages the Prophet (ﷺ) to endure the difficulties he faces in calling people to Islam, assuring him of Allah’s support.
The Day of Judgment: A significant portion of the Surah describes the consequences of disobedience to Allah, specifically focusing on the torment of Hell for those who reject the message.
Call to Prophethood: The Surah marks the beginning of the Prophet’s formal mission to deliver Allah’s message to humanity.
Strengthens resolve: It serves as a reminder to the Prophet and his followers to remain steadfast and dedicated in spreading the message of Islam, despite the opposition and hardships they might face.
Emphasizes accountability: It emphasizes that all people are accountable for their actions, and those who reject the truth will face severe consequences.
Encourages patience: Reading the Surah helps in developing patience and perseverance in the face of adversity, much like the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was instructed.
Strengthens resolve in spreading the message: It inspires believers to persist in their efforts to call others to Islam and spread the truth.
Protection from harm: It is believed that reciting this Surah brings Allah’s protection and blessings.
The Prophet’s role as a warner:
“O you who is enveloped in garments, arise and warn!” (Quran 74:1-2). This is the divine command to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to deliver the message of Islam to his people.
The reward for calling to Allah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the one who follows him without that detracting from their reward.” (Sahih Muslim)
“If you find any mistakes in this, please let us know. For a more accurate translation, please refer to the English version. May Allah forgive us for any unintentional mistakes.”
