Discover the powerful message of Surah Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One) – a divine call to rise with courage, purity, and devotion. Explore its deep wisdom, spiritual guidance, and timeless reminder for every believer seeking strength and renewal.
Surah 74: Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One)
Al-Muddaththir: Introduction
Surah Al-Muddaththir, meaning “The Cloaked One”, is the seventy-fourth chapter of the Holy Quran. It was revealed in Makkah during the early period of Prophethood, shortly after the first revelation in Surah Al-‘Alaq. This Surah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he had wrapped himself in his cloak, overwhelmed by the weight of the divine mission. Allah calls upon him to rise and warn humanity, purify himself, and dedicate his efforts wholly to his Lord. It also warns those who reject the truth, vividly describing the punishment of Hell and the seriousness of the Day of Judgment. The Surah draws attention to human accountability, the rejection of arrogance, and the need for sincere worship. It is a chapter of awakening, commanding action and patience in the face of hostility, and affirming that guidance rests solely with Allah. 0 0 0
Surah 74: Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One): Text
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. O you who are wrapped up in a cloak,
2. Arise and warn,
3. And magnify your Lord,
4. And purify your garments,
5. And shun all impurity and falsehood,
6. And do not give in order to receive more in return,
7. And persevere patiently for the sake of your Lord.
8. For when the Trumpet is blown,
9. That Day will be a day of hardship,
10. Not easy for the disbelievers.
11. Leave Me alone to deal with the one (Al-Walid ibn Al-Mughīrah, one of the wealthy leaders of Quraysh who rejected the Quran) whom I created alone,
12. And to whom I gave abundant wealth,
13. And children ever present by his side,
14. And I made life smooth and easy for him,
15. Yet he desires that I give him more.
16. No! Surely he has been stubborn towards Our signs,
17. I will make him suffer a mounting torment.
18. Indeed, he thought and calculated,
19. So may he be destroyed for how he calculated!
20. Again, may he be destroyed for how he calculated!
21. Then he looked,
22. Then he frowned and scowled,
23. Then he turned away and behaved arrogantly,
24. And said, “This is nothing but magic handed down,
25. This is nothing but the word of a human being.”
26. I will soon cast him into Saqar (Hell).
27. And what will make you know what Saqar is?
28. It neither spares nor leaves anything,
29. Burning and blackening the skin.
30. Over it are nineteen [angels].
31. And We have appointed none but angels as guardians of the Fire, and We have made their number only a trial for those who disbelieve, so that the People of the Book may be certain, and those who believe may increase in faith, and so that those given the Scripture and the believers may not doubt, and so that those in whose hearts is a disease and the disbelievers may say, “What does Allah mean by this as an example?” Thus Allah leaves astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. And none knows the armies of your Lord except Him. And it is nothing but a reminder to humanity.
32. No! By the moon,
33. And by the night as it departs,
34. And by the morning as it brightens,
35. Indeed, it is one of the greatest (signs),
36. A warning to all mankind,
37. To those among you who wish to advance or to lag behind.
38. Every soul will be held accountable for what it has earned,
39. Except the people of the right hand,
40. They will be in gardens, asking one another,
41. About the criminals,
42. “What brought you into Saqar?”
43. They will say, “We were not of those who prayed,
44. And we did not feed the poor,
45. And we used to indulge in vain talk with those who indulged,
46. And we used to deny the Day of Judgment,
47. Until the certainty (death) came to us.”
48. So the intercession of intercessors will be of no benefit to them.
49. Then what is the matter with them that they turn away from the reminder,
50. As if they were frightened donkeys,
51. Fleeing from a lion?
52. Rather, every one of them desires to be given scrolls unrolled.
53. No! But they do not fear the Hereafter.
54. No! Indeed, it is a reminder,
55 So whoever wills will take heed of it.
56. And they will not take heed unless Allah wills. He is worthy to be feared, and worthy to forgive. 0 0 0
Al-Muddaththir: Comment
Surah Al-Muddaththir carries a tone of urgency and awakening, marking the transition of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from private reflection to public proclamation. The command to “Arise and warn” symbolizes the beginning of his mission as a warner to mankind. The instructions about purifying garments and avoiding selfish charity remind us that moral and spiritual purity must accompany outward efforts. The Surah also confronts the arrogance of the Quraysh leaders, highlighting one specific disbeliever who dismissed the message as “human words” and was promised severe punishment. The imagery of Hellfire—Saqar—serves as a fearful reminder, and the mention of nineteen angels becomes a test of faith for many. The closing verses stress that the Quran is a universal reminder, but only those whom Allah wills will benefit from it. It teaches us that sincerity, steadfastness, and fear of the Hereafter are essential for salvation, while pride, denial, and heedlessness lead to ruin. The chapter’s call is timeless—it invites every believer to rise, reform, and warn, living a life driven by the consciousness of Allah. 0 0 0
Read Also: Surah 67: Al-Mulk
Frequently Asked Questions on Surah Al-Muddaththir
Q1. What is Surah Al-Muddaththir about?
Surah Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One) is about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) being called to rise, warn humanity, glorify Allah, maintain purity, and remain steadfast in his mission.
Q2. Why is Surah Al-Muddaththir called “The Cloaked One”?
It is called “The Cloaked One” because it refers to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he was wrapped in his cloak, symbolizing the moment of divine call and responsibility.
Q3. Which chapter of the Quran is Surah Al-Muddaththir?
Surah Al-Muddaththir is the 74th chapter of the Holy Quran, revealed in Makkah, and one of the earliest surahs addressing the mission of Prophethood.
Q4. What is the main lesson of Surah Al-Muddaththir?
The main lesson of Surah Al-Muddaththir is to rise with courage, warn people against disbelief, worship Allah sincerely, and uphold purity in life and actions.
Q5. How many verses are there in Surah Al-Muddaththir?
Surah Al-Muddaththir consists of 56 verses, emphasizing faith, accountability, and the seriousness of the Day of Judgment.
Q6. What is the significance of Surah Al-Muddaththir in Islam?
Surah Al-Muddaththir holds great significance as it marks the beginning of the Prophet’s mission to deliver the divine message with strength, devotion, and perseverance.
Q7. How does Surah Al-Muddaththir guide believers today?
Surah Al-Muddaththir guides believers today by reminding them to rise for truth, stay pure in worship, avoid arrogance, and prepare for accountability before Allah.
