Sūrat al-Muddaththir

Sūrah No.74, Revealed in Makkah, 56 verses. 

This Sūrah was revealed at the beginning of the period when the Prophet a was told to announce his mission publicly.

Merits of reciting the Sūrah

Whoever recites Sūrat al-Muddaththir in his obligatory prayers, it is on Allah to keep him in the company of Muhammad a, and he will not face misfortune in the world.

Imam al-Bāqir (a) (Tafsīr Majma‘ al-Bayān)

Note: Quranic Scholars say that the reward is connected to the contents of the Sūrah and requires that recitation be done with awareness, comprehension, reflection and having an intention of implementation.

General synopsis of contents

1) Preparing for announcing the word of God

2) Details of the hereafter

3) Condition of the people in hell

4) Oaths to emphasize the truthfulness of the resurrection

5) The Quran as a reminder

Selected Lessons

1) Spreading the word of God to others requires patience (v. 7)

2) The Day of Judgment will be a difficult day for those who did not have faith (v. 10)

3) Human being is always greedy for more (vv. 11-15)

4) One of the reasons people will give for being in Hell is indulging in vain talks and gossip while in the world (v. 45)

5) Paying heed to the message of God requires a tawfīq that comes from Him (v. 56)

Important Messages

1) Those who oppose faith think and plan out their sinister strategies.

2) Accusing the Quran of being magic is a proof that it was effective on the listeners.

3) Participating in gatherings of vain discourses will be a source of regret on the Day

of Judgment.

4) Intercession will not be available for those who have taken salāt lightly and have disregarded the rights of the poor.

Suggested verses for reflection and memorization.

1) 74:31 (part of the verse) – No one knows the hosts of your Lord except Him

2) 74:38 – Every soul is hostage to what it has earned

3) 74:43-47 – [the guilty would say]: We were not among those who prayed. Nor did we feed the

poor. We used to indulge in [profane] gossip along with the gossipers, and we used to deny the Day of Retribution, until death came to us.

Activities for self-study

1) Verses 2-7 give instructions to the Prophet a on warning the people. What rules can you derive from these verses for spreading the word of God?

2) What attitudes of the rejecters of faith are revealed in verses 19-25?