Surah Muzammil (Al-Muzzammil): full text and meaning

Surah Al-Muzzammil in full: Arabic and English

The Arabic above can be copied. Below, our own division into four passages, for reading and not marked in the text, gives each verse in Arabic and English.

What is Surah Al-Muzzammil?

Al-Muzzammil is the 73rd surah of the Quran and has 20 verses (source 5). It falls in the 29th part (juz) of the Quran (source 8). The Tanzil metadata gives its English name as The Enshrouded One (source 6) and classes it as Meccan (from the Makkan period, before the move to Madinah) (source 7).

Ibn Kathir heads his commentary on the surah with the note that it is Makki (source 9). The page reports both labels as given. They are for the surah as a whole, and this page records no view on individual verses.

Muzammil, Muzzammil and Al-Muzzammil are spellings of the same chapter, so search by chapter 73 as well as by name.

What does Al-Muzzammil mean?

The Tanzil metadata renders the name as The Enshrouded One (source 6), and the surah opens with the address "O you wrapped up in your clothing" (source 1).

Ibn Kathir reads the opening as Allah addressing His Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and calling him to rise for standing before his Lord (source 10).

The commentary reports different readings of the word. Ibn Kathir reports that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, al-Dahhak and al-Suddi take it as "the sleeper", and that Qatada takes it as the one wrapped up (source 10). The page gives no ruling on which reading is right.

What does measured recitation involve?

Verse 4 asks for the Quran to be chanted in measure (source 1). Ibn Kathir explains the instruction as reading unhurriedly, which helps understanding and reflection on the Quran (source 11).

As a learning exercise, choose a short passage and read its meaning before returning to the Arabic. A teacher can help with the sounds and the stopping points. This is a study suggestion, with no repetition count and no promised result. For a first look at reading with care, see Tajweed for beginners.

What does the final verse say about night prayer?

Verse 20 is the closing verse. It says Allah knows "you keep vigil sometimes nearly two-thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with you". It gives its own reasons: "He knows that you count it not". It adds "there are sick folk among you, while others travel in the land in search of Allah's bounty, and others (still) are fighting for the cause of Allah" (source 3).

It says "Recite, then, of the Quran that which is easy for you". It then addresses everyone: "establish prayer and pay the poor-due, and (so) lend to Allah a goodly loan", and ends with "seek forgiveness of Allah".

The verse gives its reasons but does not say when the earlier instruction ended. In Sahih Muslim 746a, 'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, says that Allah made night standing obligatory at the start of this surah. She reports that the Prophet and his companions kept it for a year, that its ending was held back for twelve months in heaven, that the easing then came at the end of the surah, and that night standing became voluntary after an obligation (source 12). Grade: sahih by collection convention. This is the grade Sahih Muslim carries as a collection, not a separate grader's verdict on this wording.

For a practical introduction to night prayer, see How to pray Tahajjud. Questions about your own night prayer belong with a scholar you trust.

What benefits of Surah Muzammil do these sources establish?

This page cites no reward for reciting the surah, no number of readings, and no promised outcome such as marriage, employment or wealth. Verse 20 does say of "Whatever good you send before you for your souls" that "you will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense" (source 3). That is the verse's statement about good sent ahead, not a reward stated for reciting the surah, and the page draws no ruling from it.

A claim about a reward needs its own graded report. If someone sends you a particular promise, keep its exact wording and ask for the report and its grading.

How can you study the surah?

One approach is to take the four passages above over separate sessions. After each, write a one-sentence summary and check it against the verses. Keep your own reflection apart from the translation.

Say you first learnt the opening verses as a child. You could begin this time with the final verse, then return to the opening and notice how the two relate. This is one illustrative exercise, not a prescribed recitation routine.