Living Quran

Surah Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One)

Al-Muddaththir means "The Cloaked One" or "The One Covered in a Cloak," addressing the Prophet Muhammad as he lay covered in his garment.

Surah Al-Muddaththir is the 74th chapter of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 56 ayahs located in the 29th juz. It opens by addressing the Prophet Muhammad as one wrapped in a cloak and commanding him to arise and warn, to magnify his Lord, and to purify himself. Many scholars associate this opening with the very beginning of the Prophet's public mission of calling people to God. The surah warns of the Day of Judgment and describes the consequences awaiting those who arrogantly reject the truth, including a well-known passage depicting a man who deliberates and then turns away in disdain. It also references the Hellfire and its keepers, and it emphasizes personal accountability, with each soul held responsible for its deeds. The surah affirms that revelation is a reminder for all who wish to take heed, and closes underscoring that reverence and forgiveness belong to God.
Surah number
74
Revelation
Meccan
Ayahs
56
Arabic
المدثر

Read Surah Al-Muddaththir online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • The call to arise and warn (the beginning of public prophethood)
  • Warning of the Day of Judgment and its reckoning
  • The consequences of arrogance and rejection of truth
  • Personal accountability for one's deeds
  • The Quran as a reminder for those who heed
  • Divine majesty, purity, and forgiveness

Why this surah matters

Al-Muddaththir is widely regarded as among the earliest revelations, and its opening command to "arise and warn" is commonly held to mark the start of the Prophet Muhammad's public preaching. It occupies a notable place in discussions of the sequence of early revelation. Its vivid warnings and its emphasis on individual moral responsibility have made it a frequently studied chapter on accountability before God. Scholars often pair it with the preceding surah, Al-Muzzammil, given their similar opening addresses to the Prophet.

Frequently asked questions

What does Al-Muddaththir mean?

It means "The Cloaked One" or "The One Covered in a Cloak," referring to the Prophet Muhammad wrapped in his garment when addressed at the surah's opening.

Why is this surah considered significant to the start of the mission?

Its opening command to arise and warn is commonly held by scholars to mark the beginning of the Prophet's public call to God, making it one of the earliest revelations.

Is Al-Muddaththir Meccan or Medinan?

It is classified as a Meccan surah, revealed in the early Meccan period.

Read Surah Al-Muddaththir

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