Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One) commands the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to stand in prayer during the night, recite the Quran with measured rhythm, and seek strength for his heavy mission. It highlights the importance of night vigils as a means to build spiritual resilience, urging the believers to perform regular prayer, pay charity, and loan to God a beautiful loan.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha almuzzammilu
Translation
O you Enwrapped one
An affectionate divine address to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: in the earliest days of revelation, he returned home shivering from the awe of encountering Angel Gabriel, asking his wife Khadijah to wrap him in blankets. God tenderly summoned him to rise and prepare for his monumental mission.
Transliteration
Qumi allayla illa qaleelan
Translation
Stay up during the night, except a little
The divine order commanding the Prophet ﷺ and the early Muslims to stand in voluntary night vigil (Tahajjud), serving as an intensive spiritual incubator to fortify their souls before persecution began.
Transliteration
Nisfahu awi onqus minhu qaleelan
Translation
For half of it, or reduce it a little
Demonstrates divine compassion and flexibility, allowing believers to calibrate their night devotion according to their personal energy and circumstances.
Transliteration
Aw zid AAalayhi warattili alqurana tarteelan
Translation
Or add to it; and chant the Quran rhythmically
Establishes the art of 'Tartil'—reciting the Quran with calm, measured, articulate pronunciation and deep contemplation, rather than rushing through verses mechanically.
Transliteration
Inna sanulqee AAalayka qawlan thaqeelan
Translation
We are about to give you a heavy message
Characterizes the Quran as a 'Heavy Word' ('Qawlan Thaqila'): Aisha recalled that on bitterly cold desert winter mornings, beads of sweat would cascade from the Prophet's forehead from the sheer spiritual weight of descending revelation, causing the camel he was riding to sink to its knees.
Transliteration
Inna nashiata allayli hiya ashaddu watan waaqwamu qeelan
Translation
The vigil of night is more effective, and better suited for recitation
Explains the unique psychological clarity of late-night prayer (Tahajjud): during the quiet stillness of the night, distractions vanish, harmonizing the tongue and heart in profound spiritual alignment ('Ashaddu Wat'an').
Transliteration
Inna laka fee alnnahari sabhan taweelan
Translation
In the daytime, you have lengthy work to do
Transliteration
Waothkuri isma rabbika watabattal ilayhi tabteelan
Translation
So remember the Name of your Lord, and devote yourself to Him wholeheartedly
Transliteration
Rabbu almashriqi waalmaghribi la ilaha illa huwa faittakhithhu wakeelan
Translation
Lord of the East and the West. There is no god but He, so take Him as a Trustee
Transliteration
Waisbir AAala ma yaqooloona waohjurhum hajran jameelan
Translation
And endure patiently what they say, and withdraw from them politely
Defines the golden rule of conflict endurance: commands the Prophet ﷺ to bear public ridicule patiently and practice 'Gracious Avoidance' ('Hajran Jamila')—stepping away from toxic confrontations without resentment, vulgarity, or desire for personal revenge.
Transliteration
Watharnee waalmukaththibeena olee alnnaAAmati wamahhilhum qaleelan
Translation
And leave Me to those who deny the truth, those of luxury, and give them a brief respite
Transliteration
Inna ladayna ankalan wajaheeman
Translation
With Us are shackles, and a Fierce Fire
Transliteration
WataAAaman tha ghussatin waAAathaban aleeman
Translation
And food that chokes, and a painful punishment
Transliteration
Yawma tarjufu alardu waaljibalu wakanati aljibalu katheeban maheelan
Translation
On the Day when the earth and the mountains tremble, and the mountains become heaps of sand
Transliteration
Inna arsalna ilaykum rasoolan shahidan AAalaykum kama arsalna ila firAAawna rasoolan
Translation
We have sent to you a messenger, a witness over you, as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger
Transliteration
FaAAasa firAAawnu alrrasoola faakhathnahu akhthan wabeelan
Translation
But Pharaoh defied the Messenger, so We seized him with a terrible seizing
Transliteration
Fakayfa tattaqoona in kafartum yawman yajAAalu alwildana sheeban
Translation
So how will you, if you persist in unbelief, save yourself from a Day which will turn the children gray-haired
A chilling apocalyptic metaphor: describes the terror of Judgment Day as so intense that the emotional shock would cause newborn infants to turn gray-haired ('Yaj'alu al-wildana shiba').
Transliteration
Alssamao munfatirun bihi kana waAAduhu mafAAoolan
Translation
The heaven will shatter thereby. His promise is always fulfilled
Transliteration
Inna hathihi tathkiratun faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi sabeelan
Translation
This is a reminder. So whoever wills, let him take a path to his Lord
Transliteration
Inna rabbaka yaAAlamu annaka taqoomu adna min thuluthayi allayli wanisfahu wathuluthahu wataifatun mina allatheena maAAaka waAllahu yuqaddiru allayla waalnnahara AAalima an lan tuhsoohu fataba AAalaykum faiqraoo ma tayassara mina alqurani AAalima an sayakoonu minkum marda waakharoona yadriboona fee alardi yabtaghoona min fadli Allahi waakharoona yuqatiloona fee sabeeli Allahi faiqraoo ma tayassara minhu waaqeemoo alssalata waatoo alzzakata waaqridoo Allaha qardan hasanan wama tuqaddimoo lianfusikum min khayrin tajidoohu AAinda Allahi huwa khayran waaAAthama ajran waistaghfiroo Allaha inna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun
Translation
Your Lord knows that you stay up nearly two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or one-third of it, along with a group of those with you. God designed the night and the day. He knows that you are unable to sustain it, so He has pardoned you. So read of the Quran what is possible for you. He knows that some of you may be ill; and others travelling through the land, seeking God’s bounty; and others fighting in God’s cause. So read of it what is possible for you, and observe the prayers, and give regular charity, and lend God a generous loan. Whatever good you advance for yourselves, you will find it with God, better and generously rewarded. And seek God’s forgiveness, for God is Forgiving and Merciful
A major legislative ease and abrogation: for the first year of Islam, standing in prayer for half to two-thirds of every night was mandatory for early believers. This concluding verse permanently lightened the obligation, acknowledging human illness, travel for livelihood, and community defense, commanding them to pray whatever is manageable and easy.