Overview - Surah 74: al-Mudathir (The Cloaked One)

The subject of this Surah is da'wah of Islam.  The Prophet and his followers are told to stand up to remove the evils and vices from the society.  It also gives the warnings of the coming doom for those who deny the truth.

This Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ "O you who covers himself [with a garment]," [74:1].

There are 56 Ayat in this Surah.

The subject of this Surah is da'wah of Islam.  The Prophet and his followers are told to stand up to remove the evils and vices from the society.  It also gives the warnings of the coming doom for those who deny the truth.

This Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ "O you who covers himself [with a garment]," [74:1].

There are 56 Ayat in this Surah.

Theme 1: Striving in giving Dawah

The first seven verses of this Surah belong to the earliest period at Makkah. Even according to some hadith which have been related in Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad, etc., on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah, these are the very earliest verses of the Qur’an to be revealed to the Prophet. But the Muslim Ummah almost unanimously agreed that the earliest revelation to the Prophet consisted of the first five verses of Surah 96: al-‘Alaq (The Clinging Substance). However, what is established by authentic hadith that after this first Revelation, no Revelation came down to the Prophet for quite some time. Then, when it was resumed, it started with the verses of Surah al-Muddathir - Imam Zuhri has given the following details of it:

“Revelation to the Prophet remained suspended for quite some time and it was such a period of deep grief and distress for him that he started going early to the tops of the mountains to throw himself down from them. But whenever he stood on the edge of a peak, the Angel Gabriel would appear and tell him that he was God’s Prophet. This would console him and restore to him full peace of mind.” (Ibn Jarir). After this Imam Zuhri relates the following tradition on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah; “The Messenger of God describing the period of ‘break in revelation’ (falrat al-wahi) said: One day when I was passing on the way, I suddenly heard a call from heaven. I raised my head and saw that the same Angel who had visited me in the Cave of Hira was sitting on a throne between heaven and earth. This struck terror in my heart, and reaching home quickly, I said: ‘Cover me up, cover me up’. So the people of the house covered me up with a quilt (or blanket). At that time God sent down the Revelation: “O you who covers himself” (Ya ayyuhal-Muddathiru...). From then on revelation became intense and continuous.” (Bukhari, Muslim Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Jarir).

The rest of the Surah (v. 8-56) was revealed when the first Hajj season came after public preaching of Islam had begun in Makkah.

Theme 1: Striving in giving Dawah

The first seven verses of this Surah belong to the earliest period at Makkah. Even according to some hadith which have been related in Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad, etc., on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah, these are the very earliest verses of the Qur’an to be revealed to the Prophet. But the Muslim Ummah almost unanimously agreed that the earliest revelation to the Prophet consisted of the first five verses of Surah 96: al-‘Alaq (The Clinging Substance). However, what is established by authentic hadith that after this first Revelation, no Revelation came down to the Prophet for quite some time. Then, when it was resumed, it started with the verses of Surah al-Muddathir - Imam Zuhri has given the following details of it:

“Revelation to the Prophet remained suspended for quite some time and it was such a period of deep grief and distress for him that he started going early to the tops of the mountains to throw himself down from them. But whenever he stood on the edge of a peak, the Angel Gabriel would appear and tell him that he was God’s Prophet. This would console him and restore to him full peace of mind.” (Ibn Jarir). After this Imam Zuhri relates the following tradition on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah; “The Messenger of God describing the period of ‘break in revelation’ (falrat al-wahi) said: One day when I was passing on the way, I suddenly heard a call from heaven. I raised my head and saw that the same Angel who had visited me in the Cave of Hira was sitting on a throne between heaven and earth. This struck terror in my heart, and reaching home quickly, I said: ‘Cover me up, cover me up’. So the people of the house covered me up with a quilt (or blanket). At that time God sent down the Revelation: “O you who covers himself” (Ya ayyuhal-Muddathiru...). From then on revelation became intense and continuous.” (Bukhari, Muslim Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Jarir).

The rest of the Surah (v. 8-56) was revealed when the first Hajj season came after public preaching of Islam had begun in Makkah.

• Surah al-Muzzammil [73] and al-Mudathir [74] both begin with addressing the Prophet.
• Surah al-Muzzammil [73] and al-Mudathir [74]  both have similar Ayat speaking of the Qur'an being a reminder
  
  إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ ۖفَمَن شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا "Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way." [73:19]
  
  كَلَّا إِنَّهُ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ  "No! Indeed, the Qur'an is a reminder. Then whoever wills will remember it." [74:54-55]
• Towards the end of Surah al-Mudadathir [74] we have the Ayat كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ الْآخِرَةَ "No! But they do not fear the Hereafter." [74:53]. The following Surah is al-Qiyamah - about the Akhirah. 

• Surah al-Muzzammil [73] and al-Mudathir [74] both begin with addressing the Prophet.
• Surah al-Muzzammil [73] and al-Mudathir [74]  both have similar Ayat speaking of the Qur'an being a reminder
  
  إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ ۖفَمَن شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا "Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way." [73:19]
  
  كَلَّا إِنَّهُ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ  "No! Indeed, the Qur'an is a reminder. Then whoever wills will remember it." [74:54-55]
• Towards the end of Surah al-Mudadathir [74] we have the Ayat كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ الْآخِرَةَ "No! But they do not fear the Hereafter." [74:53]. The following Surah is al-Qiyamah - about the Akhirah. 

(74:31) is the longest Ayat of this Surah with 57 words,

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 اللَّـهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّـهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ "And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allah intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity." (74:31)

(74:31) is the longest Ayat of this Surah with 57 words,

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 اللَّـهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّـهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ "And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allah intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity." (74:31)

The first seven verses of this Surah belong to the earliest period at Makkah. Even according to some hadith which have been related in Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad, etc., on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah, these are the very earliest verses of the Qur’an to be revealed to the Prophet. But the Muslim Ummah almost unanimously agreed that the earliest revelation to the Prophet consisted of the first five verses of Surah 96: al-‘Alaq (The Clinging Substance). However, what is established by authentic hadith that after this first Revelation, no Revelation came down to the Prophet for quite some time. Then, when it was resumed, it started with the verses of Surah al-Muddathir - Imam Zuhri has given the following details of it:

“Revelation to the Prophet remained suspended for quite some time and it was such a period of deep grief and distress for him that he started going early to the tops of the mountains to throw himself down from them. But whenever he stood on the edge of a peak, the Angel Gabriel would appear and tell him that he was God’s Prophet. This would console him and restore to him full peace of mind.” (Ibn Jarir). After this Imam Zuhri relates the following tradition on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah; “The Messenger of God describing the period of ‘break in revelation’ (falrat al-wahi) said: One day when I was passing on the way, I suddenly heard a call from heaven. I raised my head and saw that the same Angel who had visited me in the Cave of Hira was sitting on a throne between heaven and earth. This struck terror in my heart, and reaching home quickly, I said: ‘Cover me up, cover me up’. So the people of the house covered me up with a quilt (or blanket). At that time God sent down the Revelation: “O you who covers himself” (Ya ayyuhal-Muddathiru...). From then on revelation became intense and continuous.” (Bukhari, Muslim Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Jarir). The rest of the Surah (v. 8-56) was revealed when the first Hajj season came after public preaching of Islam had begun in Makkah.

The first seven verses of this Surah belong to the earliest period at Makkah. Even according to some hadith which have been related in Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad, etc., on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah, these are the very earliest verses of the Qur’an to be revealed to the Prophet. But the Muslim Ummah almost unanimously agreed that the earliest revelation to the Prophet consisted of the first five verses of Surah 96: al-‘Alaq (The Clinging Substance). However, what is established by authentic hadith that after this first Revelation, no Revelation came down to the Prophet for quite some time. Then, when it was resumed, it started with the verses of Surah al-Muddathir - Imam Zuhri has given the following details of it:

“Revelation to the Prophet remained suspended for quite some time and it was such a period of deep grief and distress for him that he started going early to the tops of the mountains to throw himself down from them. But whenever he stood on the edge of a peak, the Angel Gabriel would appear and tell him that he was God’s Prophet. This would console him and restore to him full peace of mind.” (Ibn Jarir). After this Imam Zuhri relates the following tradition on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah; “The Messenger of God describing the period of ‘break in revelation’ (falrat al-wahi) said: One day when I was passing on the way, I suddenly heard a call from heaven. I raised my head and saw that the same Angel who had visited me in the Cave of Hira was sitting on a throne between heaven and earth. This struck terror in my heart, and reaching home quickly, I said: ‘Cover me up, cover me up’. So the people of the house covered me up with a quilt (or blanket). At that time God sent down the Revelation: “O you who covers himself” (Ya ayyuhal-Muddathiru...). From then on revelation became intense and continuous.” (Bukhari, Muslim Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Jarir). The rest of the Surah (v. 8-56) was revealed when the first Hajj season came after public preaching of Islam had begun in Makkah.

• Instructions to the Prophet for cleanliness and patience.
• The fact that the Day of Judgement will be very difficult especially for those who deny Allah's revelations and oppose His cause.
• Actions which lead to the hellfire are: Not offering Salah, not feeding the poor, wasting time in vain talk and denying the Day of Judgement.

• Instructions to the Prophet for cleanliness and patience.
• The fact that the Day of Judgement will be very difficult especially for those who deny Allah's revelations and oppose His cause.
• Actions which lead to the hellfire are: Not offering Salah, not feeding the poor, wasting time in vain talk and denying the Day of Judgement.

• Surah 74. Al-Mudathir - Saad al Ghamidi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX6pfbqKBzs&index=74&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN
• Surah 74. Al-Mudathir Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdHbFdBXcts&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=74​
• Surah 74. Al-Mudathir Muhammad Al Luhaydan  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6LzGuJlWUY&index=74&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe​
• idris abkar  Al-Mudathir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r178NwpYIZw​
• Surah 74. Al-Mudathir Muhammad Minshawi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBScoL3O4-A&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=74​