1-7
[Read out to them, O Prophet,] In the name of Allah, Mercy abundant, Mercy eternal. You, wrapped-up in your garment[1], arise and warn [these people][2], and glorify your Lord alone[3], and keep yourself[4] unblemished [in your worship of the One God], and keep away from this filth [of polytheism] and do not discontinue your efforts[5] considering them to be sufficient; and remain steadfast [in your efforts,] waiting for the decree of your Lord[6].
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ(1)قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ(2)وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ(3)وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ(4)وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ(5)وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ(6)وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ(7)
8-17
[Remain steadfast in your efforts, irrespective of their mocking response.] Because when the trumpet is blown, that day shall be an extremely severe day; not easy upon these rejecters. Leave to Me the one[7] whom I created [in a state of his being] all alone[8] and [then] I granted him vast riches[9] and [gave him] sons present by his side and [thereby,] granted him ease [in the life of this world]. Then he hopes that [just as he has been blessed in the life of this world,] I shall grant him even more [in the hereafter]? Absolutely Not! He was an open enemy to Our clear signs. [Therefore,] I shall soon tread him the uphill path [of torment].
فَإِذَا نُقِرَ فِي النَّاقُورِ(8)فَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ(9)عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ غَيْرُ يَسِيرٍ(10)ذَرْنِي وَمَنْ خَلَقْتُ وَحِيدًا(11)وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ مَالًا مَّمْدُودًا(12)وَبَنِينَ شُهُودًا(13)وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُ تَمْهِيدًا(14)ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ(15)كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ لِآيَاتِنَا عَنِيدًا(16)سَأُرْهِقُهُ صَعُودًا(17)
18-25
[Look at his response to My revelations[10].] He reflected[11] and he schemed. He be damned, what a scheme did he scheme. Again, he be damned, what a scheme did he scheme: Then he looked [around][12]; then he frowned and he grimaced [in distaste][13]; then he turned away with pride and said: "This is but a magic [of words], transmitted from old[14]; this [is no revelation of God, and] is mere word of man".
إِنَّهُ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ(18)فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ(19)ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ(20)ثُمَّ نَظَرَ(21)ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ(22)ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ(23)فَقَالَ إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ(24)إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا قَوْلُ الْبَشَرِ(25)
26-30
[I will surely tread him the mounting path of torment.] I will soon cast him in Hell. And what do you understand Hell is? It shall neither have mercy [on anyone] nor shall it spare [any soul]; a scorcher of skins. Over it are nineteen guards.
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ(26)وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سَقَرُ(27)لَا تُبْقِي وَلَا تَذَرُ(28)لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ(29)عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ(30)
31-31
And [these rejecters are surely going to make a fuss about the mention of 'nineteen guards'. Tell the believers that] We have appointed only angels[15] as the guards of Hell; and We have mentioned their number only as a stumbling block[16] for those who are bent upon rejecting - so that those who were given the Book may be certain [about this revelation][17] and those who have believed [in this revelation] may increase in their faith and those who were given the Book and the believers may not doubt [it] and so that [as a result of this stumbling block] those whose hearts are infected with malice [from among the people of the book] and those who are bent upon rejecting may [mockingly] say: 'What does God want [to tell] from this illustration?' - Thus God leads astray whomsoever He decides and guides whomsoever he decides[18]. And [the fact is that] no one knows about the armies of your Lord, except Him. And this [account of the hereafter] is nothing but a reminder for man.
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا أَصْحَابَ النَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَائِكَةً ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَانًا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ(31)
32-37
[But they think that if it has not taken place thus far, then the Judgment Day is mere fantasy.] Absolutely not! The moon bears witness [as it grows one step at a time] and the night bears witness, as it turned its back and the day, when it brightens up [that the phenomena in this world progresses towards its end one step at a time. Therefore, the Hereafter is not mere fantasy.] It is indeed one of the most significant pieces of information given to warn man [of the dire consequences that he will have to face], for all those among you who desire to advance [in accepting it] or back away [rejecting it].
كَلَّا وَالْقَمَرِ(32)وَاللَّيْلِ إِذْ أَدْبَرَ(33)وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا أَسْفَرَ(34)إِنَّهَا لَإِحْدَى الْكُبَرِ(35)نَذِيرًا لِّلْبَشَرِ(36)لِمَن شَاءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوْ يَتَأَخَّرَ(37)
39-47
[That day,] Every person shall be pledged against his deeds[19], except for the people of the right hand[20]; they shall be in gardens [of bliss], inquiring about these criminals. [They will ask them:] What was it that led you to Hell? They will say: 'We did not pray nor did we feed the destitute[21], but were among those who remained involved in vain arguments[22] and rejected the Day of Judgment. Till, [at last,] the inevitable end overtook us.'
إِلَّا أَصْحَابَ الْيَمِينِ(39)فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ(40)عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ(41)مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ(42)قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ(43)وَلَمْ نَكُ نُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ(44)وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ الْخَائِضِينَ(45)وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ(46)حَتَّىٰ أَتَانَا الْيَقِينُ(47)
48-48
Then [on that day,] no intercession of these [supposed] intercessors shall benefit them.
فَمَا تَنفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ(48)
49-56
But what is the matter with them that they turn away from this reminder? As if they are frightened asses, running from a lion. [They are not going to deliberate over the Prophet's call, for] each one of them, on the contrary, desires that he should be given open scriptures [and should be appointed as God's messenger, in place of the Prophet][23]. Absolutely not! [This shall never happen. It is not their doubt about the Prophet's truthfulness which keeps them from accepting his call] but, in fact, they do not expect [to face the accountability of] the hereafter. No! [Do not be so concerned about their acceptance.] It is indeed a reminder. Whoever desires may take admonition from it - And no one shall take admonition from it, except that God [with His absolute knowledge and justice] wills [to allow him to take admonition] - [as for him, who takes admonition from it,] he is only the righteous and the one who deserves to be forgiven [by his Lord].
فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ التَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ(49)كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُّسْتَنفِرَةٌ(50)فَرَّتْ مِن قَسْوَرَةٍ(51)بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُؤْتَىٰ صُحُفًا مُّنَشَّرَةً(52)كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ الْآخِرَةَ(53)كَلَّا إِنَّهُ تَذْكِرَةٌ(54)فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ(55)وَمَا يَذْكُرُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَىٰ وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ(56)
The Prophet is being addressed here. Being wrapped-up in his garment presents a picture of the Prophet's deep concern and sorrow at the negative response of the Quraysh at his initial call towards the revealed message as well as his isolation from the society.
This is the responsibility which was referred in the words ' We are soon going to entrust you with a heavy responsibility' in Al-Muzzammil 73: 5.
Clear of all associates, partners and equals.
The Arabic word "ثياب" literally used for 'clothes', is used figuratively in the classical Arabic literature to imply one's personality, in general.
i.e., your efforts of warning these people.
i.e., you must continue to warn these people, irrespective of their response to these warnings, and do not discontinue your efforts, considering them to be sufficient, or leave your people disheartened by their response. On the contrary, you must continue to warn them till the time that God directs you to do otherwise.
This is a literary style in which a singular pronoun is used for a group to address or to refer to each one of the individual members of that group. This verse refers to the leaders of the Quraysh, who, due to their affluence and arrogance, had closed upon themselves the doors of submission to their Creator and were hopeful that just as they have been selected for God's blessings in the life of this world, God shall be even kinder upon them in the hereafter.
Each man at birth is all alone. God provides him with company and other blessings that strengthen him as well as make his life wonderful.
i.e., I created him, in a state of helplessness and loneliness and then I granted him innumerable blessings and affluence and thereby made his life comfortable.
This is a picture of the rejecter's antagonistic response to the call of the Prophet (pbuh), which has been alluded to earlier in the words: "He became an open enemy to Our clear signs".
As if analyzing it and deliberating over it very seriously.
As if deep in thoughtful consideration.
To show his disapproval.
i.e., the same as is practiced by poets and soothsayers.
Neither Jinn nor men, but only the powerful, strong and obedient angels are appointed as the guards of Hell. So, there is no chance for the rejecters to conspire with them against the Almighty.
The point that it became a stumbling block for those who were bent upon rejection is further clarified in the latter part of this verse, where it is said that these people would ask mocking questions about such verses and, thereby, bring their malice and hatred against this revelation out in the open.
Being aware of God's law of taking people through various tests and circumstances to separate the good from the evil, the believers from the rejecters and the pious from the impious. This law is clearly alluded to in the Torah and the Gospels - see, for instance, Deuteronomy 8: 2, Deuteronomy 13: 3, Luke 2: 34 - 35, 1 Corinthians 11: 19 - due to which the Jews and the Christians were fully aware of it.
According to His absolute knowledge, wisdom and justice.
i.e., those who do not have good deeds to redeem themselves shall have to pay by their own selves.
Those, who shall receive their records in their right hands.
Regular prayers and helping the needy around us are the two primary and the most basic of good deeds.
To refute the call of the Prophet (pbuh), warning us about the approaching Day of Judgment.
That is, they desire that if God were to select a messenger from among them, then it should have been they, rather than Muhammad (pbuh), who should have been selected for this purpose. This is the same objection of the rejecters, which has also been referred in Al-An`aam 6: 124.
