74.

Sura Muddassir (or One Wrapped Up)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This Sura dates from about the same time as the last one. Its subject-
matter is also similar in many aspects. Emphasis is laid on Prayer, Praise and
the need of Patience in a period of great spiritual stress. Those who are
responsible for this shall suffer the same agony in the Hereafter.

The Sura commences with a personal address to the Holy Prophet: O

you who are wrapped up in your mantle, rise and give warning. You should
glorify the magnificence of your Lord, cleanse your garments, and keep away
from all pollutions. Give but expect no favours from the receiver. You serve
Allah and Allah’s creatures. Be patient for your Lord’s sake. Finally when the
trumpet sounds, that shall be a day of distress and far from ease for the
unbelievers.

Allah then advised the Prophet to leave the man to Him for settlement
of scores with him. Then without naming the person Allah remarked about
him: That He had created him all alone and endowed him with vast riches and
thriving children. Allah made his progress smooth and easy: yet he hopes that
Allah may give him more. By no means! Surely he had been inimical to His
Signs (i.e. the Quranic verses) and Allah would lay on him mounting torment.
Allah then declared that he would be put in the Hell. Then as an introduction
to Hell Allah observed that it never omitted to draw its victims and having
taken them in, it never allowed recess or escape to the visitors. It roasted them
by its scorching fire. Nineteen wardens were posted over it.

The Sura further says that Allah has appointed none but angels to guard
the Fire, and made their number a subject of dispute among the unbelievers, so
that those to whom the Scriptures were given may be convinced and the true
believers strengthened in their faith. That to whom the Scriptures were given,
and the true believers, may have no doubts. But those in whose hearts there is
disease may question as to what Allah meant by this? Thus Allah leaves in
error whom He will and guides whom He pleases. None knows the warriors of
your Lord but Himself. This is no more than an admonition to mankind.

This admonition is then followed by a further advise from the Lord that
reference to Hell and its wardens was not a light matter to be ridiculed by the
infidels. Allah then swore by the moon and the receding night and the bright
morning. He asserted that the Day of Judgement was one of the greatest
calamities for the rejectors of the Qur-an, which is a clear exhortation and they
shall be in Hell. They shall confess their sins to its custodians. The unbelievers
will not heed unless Allah willeth (it). He is the fount of fear. He is the fount
of Mercy.