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Chapter 73

Enwrappedal-Muzzammil ( المزمل )

20 verses • revealed at Meccan

»The surah that opens by addressing the mantled Prophet as the Enwrapped Messenger. It takes its name from the word “wrapped in mantle” (muzzammil) in verse 1. The surah describes how God relaxed the early regime of devotion first imposed on the Prophet (verse 1 ff.) to prepare him for the weighty message. The Prophet is urged to be patient (verse 10 ff.), told of the punishment that awaits the disbelievers in Hell (verse 12 ff.), and reminded of the punishment that befell Pharaoh in this life (verse 15 ff.).«

The surah is also known as Bundled up, Enfolded, Folded in Garments, The Enwrapped Messenger, The Enwrapped One, The Mantled One, Wrapped in Mantle

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Muhammad Asad: In The Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace:

1
يا أَيُّهَا المُزَّمِّلُ

Muhammad Asad

THIS SURAH is almost certainly the fourth in the order of revelation. Although some of its verses may have come at a slightly later date, the whole of it belongs to the earliest Mecca period. The contention of some authorities that verse 20 was revealed at Medina lacks all substance, as is pointed out in note 13 below.
O THOU enwrapped one!1
  • The expression muzzammil has a meaning similar to that of muddaththir, which occurs at the beginning of the next surah: namely, "one who is covered [with anything]", "enwrapped" or "enfolded [in anything]"; and, like that other expression, it may be understood in a concrete, literal sense - i.e., "wrapped up in a cloak" or "blanket" - as well as metaphorically, i.e., "wrapped up in sleep" or even "wrapped up in oneself". Hence, the commentators differ widely in their interpretations of the above apostrophe, some of them preferring the literal connotation, others the metaphorical; but there is no doubt that irrespective of the linguistic sense in which the address "O thou enwrapped one" is understood, it implies a call to heightened consciousness and deeper spiritual awareness on the part of the Prophet.