Surat Muzzammil

Assalamu alaikoum wa rahmatAllah wa barakatoh,
It was the 50th anniversary of the marriage of the grandparents of my Jewish friend that I visited just a couple weeks ago. I stayed in their home. They were originally from Tunis and northern Morocco. They are sooooo sweet and kind-hearted and they treated me like their own granddaughter when I was there. They took such good care of me from the first moment I arrived at 3:30 before the rising of the sun. Mariam, and Shlomo. Mariam and I have the same name! Shlomo is Hebrew for Suleman or Solomon in English. I remember Mariam was awake and made me some yummy nescafe and gave me some pastries when I arrived. She didn't know much English so we spoke in part spanish, part Arabic and part Hebrew. It was fun. And she had set up a nice room for me and everything. I loved staying with them. I miss them. I hope that Allah will grant me the favor to have a long and strong and happy relationship with my future husband as she has with her dear husband Shlomo.

At any rate, Ramadan is going great but it is going by too fast!! :( Masha Allah. It was a great learning experience for me. I feel I grew a lot in this short time and I enjoy this great opportunity to draw nearer and nearer to Allah. I had a nice opportunity to talk about Islam with my roommate tonight. Her name is Kara and she is here studying at AUK also. Her major is Philosophy and minor is Islamic Studies. She is very nice and has a big heart and very articulate. Tonight she asked me what this prayer vigil event during the last ten days of Ramadan was all about.

I had not yet studied much about it myself so I took the opportunity to go back and read in the Quran where it is mentioned about this time of Ramadan and about the Qayim salat.

I found a nice commentary about it and Tahajud on http://islami-online.net :
Using the verb fatahajjad, a derivative from the root hajada (meaning to keep vigil), Allah says: "And some part of the night awake for it (fatahajjad), a largess for thee. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate." (Al-Isra': 79) This last verse means to get up and perform Tahajjud Prayer. Tahajjud refers to getting up after sleeping and performing optional night prayer. Since this optional night prayer is most probably performed after sleeping for some time, it is named Tahajjud, though the original name of night prayer is Qiyam, which literally means standing. It is also said that Tahajjud is prayer after sleeping, while Qiyam refers to spending the night in worship in general, whether it is Prayer (salah) or any other form of worship.

Tahajjud and Qiyam are the same thing, namely optional night prayer. However, the only difference appears when these two names are used during Ramadan. The prayer after `Isha' Prayer is referred to as Qiyam (or, more commonly, Tarawih), while spending the night in worship (after some sleep) is called Tahajjud. Both names have been used in the Qur'an. Referring to Qiyam, the Qur’an uses the phrase qum al-layl when Almighty Allah says: "O thou wrapped up in thy raiment! Keep vigil the night long (qum al-layl), save a little, a half thereof, or abate a little thereof, or add (a little) thereto and chant the Qur’an in measure…" (Al-Muzzammil: 1-4)

This prompted me to share wth you ALL of this surat because it give s clear picture of what the Qum al-layl is all about. May this word from Allah fill you with His peace and provide you with clear guidance in your spiritual walk with Him:

A3udu billahi minna shaytaneerrajeem - I seek refuge from the acursed satan
Bismillahirrahmaneeraheem - In the name of Allah, the most gracious the most merciful.....

Surat 73 MUZZAMMIL
- Asad - English / Muhammad Asad

73:1 O thou enwrapped one!

Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Muhammad:enfolded _ wrapped up in garments]

Ya ayyuha almuzzammilu
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ (73:1)


73:2 Keep awake [in prayer] at night, all but a small part
Qumi allayla illa qaleelan
قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (73:2)


73:3 of one-half thereof [2] - or make it a little less than that,

Nisfahu awi onqus minhu qaleelan
نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا (73:3)

73:4 or add to it [at will]; and [during that time] recite the Qur’an calmly and distinctly, with thy mind attuned to its meaning. [3]

Aw zid AAalayhi warattili alqurana tarteelan
أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا (73:4)


73:5 Behold, We shall bestow upon thee a weighty message –

Inna sanulqee AAalayka qawlan thaqeelan
إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا (73:5)


73:6 [and,] verily, the hours of night the mind most strongly and speak with the clearest voice, [4]

Inna nashiata allayli hiya ashaddu watan waaqwamu qeelan
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْءًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا (73:6)


73:7 whereas by day a long chain of doings is thy portion.

Inna laka fee alnnahari sabhan taweelan
إِنَّ لَكَ فِي اَلنَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا (73:7)


73:8 But [whether by night or by day,] remember thy Sustainer's name, and devote thyself unto Him with utter devotion.

Waothkuri isma rabbika watabattal ilayhi tabteelan
وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا (73:8)


73:9 The Sustainer of the east and the west [is He]: there is no deity save Him: hence, ascribe to Him alone the power to determine thy fate, [5]

Rabbu almashriqi waalmaghribi la ilaha illa huwa faittakhithhu wakeelan
رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا (73:9)


73:10 and endure with patience whatever people may say [against thee], and avoid them with a comely avoidance.

Waisbir AAala ma yaqooloona waohjurhum hajran jameelan
وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا (73:10)


73:11 And leave Me alone [to deal] with those who give the lie to the truth [6] - those who enjoy the blessings of life [without any thought of God] - and bear thou with them for a little while:

Watharnee waalmukaththibeena olee alnnaAAmati wamahhilhum qaleelan
وَذَرْنِي وَالْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُولِي النَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا (73:11)


73:12 for, behold, heavy fetters [await them] with Us, and a blazing fire,

Inna ladayna ankalan wajaheeman
إِنَّ لَدَيْنَا أَنكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا (73:12)


73:13 and food that chokes, and grievous suffering [7]

WataAAaman tha ghussatin waAAathaban aleeman
وَطَعَامًا ذَا غُصَّةٍ وَعَذَابًا أَلِيمًا (73:13)


73:14 on the Day when the earth and the mountains will be convulsed and the mountains will [crumble and] become like a sand-dune on the move! [8]


Yawma tarjufu alardu waaljibalu wakanati aljibalu katheeban maheelan
يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ الْأَرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ الْجِبَالُ كَثِيبًا مَّهِيلًا (73:14)


73:15 BEHOLD, [O men,] We have sent unto you an apostle who shall bear witness to the truth before you, even as We sent an apostle unto Pharaoh: [9]

Inna arsalna ilaykum rasoolan shahidan AAalaykum kama arsalna ila firAAawna rasoolan
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًا شَاهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولًا (73:15)


73:16 and Pharaoh rebelled against the apostle, whereupon We took him to task with a crushing grip.

FaAAasa firAAawnu alrrasoola faakhathnahu akhthan wabeelan
فَعَصَى فِرْعَوْنُ الرَّسُولَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ أَخْذًا وَبِيلًا (73:16)


73:17 How, then, if you refuse to acknowledge the truth, will you protect yourselves on that Day which shall turn the hair of children grey, [10]

Fakayfa tattaqoona in kafartum yawman yajAAalu alwildana sheeban
فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِيبًا (73:17)


73:18 [the Day] on which the skies shall be rent asunder, [and] His promise [of resurrection] fulfilled?

Alssamao munfatirun bihi kana waAAduhu mafAAoolan
السَّمَاء مُنفَطِرٌ بِهِ كَانَ وَعْدُهُ مَفْعُولًا (73:18)


73:19 This, verily, is a reminder: let him who wills, then set out on a way to his Sustainer!

Inna hathihi tathkiratun faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi sabeelan
إِنَّ هَذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَاء اتَّخَذَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا (73:19)

73:20 BEHOLD, [O Prophet,] thy Sustainer knows that thou keepest awake [in prayer] nearly two-thirds of the night, or one-half of it, or a third of it, together with some of those who follow thee. [11] And God who determines the measure of night and day, is aware that you would never grudge it: [12] and therefore He turns towards you in His grace. Recite, then, as much of the Qur’an as you may do with ease. He knows that in time there will be among you sick people, and others who will go about the land in search of God's bounty, and others who will fight in God’s cause. [13] Recite, then, [only] as much of it as you may do with ease, and be constant in prayer, and spend in charity, [14] and [thus] lend unto God a goodly loan: for whatever good deed you may offer up in your own behalf, you shall truly find it with God - yea, better, and richer in reward. And [always] seek God's forgiveness: behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace!

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
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَى مِن ثُلُثَيِ اللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَكَ وَاللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْرَؤُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَى وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَآخَرُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَاقْرَؤُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (73:20)