Sūrat al-Muddaththir
سورۃ المدثر
Sūrat al-Muddaththir was revealed in Makkah. It contains 56 āyāt and two rukūʿs.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ
yā ayyuhā l-muddaththir.
"O you who is wrapped up!" (al-Muddaththir 74:1)
Yā ayyuhā l-muddaththiru — O you who wraps himself up in a cloak, wraps himself up inside — when divine revelation first descended upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ He would become wholly unaware of the world, wrap something over Himself, and remain lying thus.
Translation: "O you who wraps himself up in a cloak to sleep."
قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ
qum fa-andhir.
"Arise and warn!" (al-Muddaththir 74:2)
Qum — rise up, stand upright, prepare yourself, become ready. Fa-andhir — so warn, proclaim, give the frightening news of what is coming — inform the disbelievers of their terrifying condition.
Translation: "Rise up and warn (meaning: arise O Messenger, you who are lying covered, and warn the disbelievers and give them the tidings of fear)."
وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ
wa-rabbaka fa-kabbir.
"And your Lord — declare His greatness." (al-Muddaththir 74:3)
Wa-rabbaka — and your Lord. Fa-kabbir — declare great, proclaim His greatness, understand and convey His greatness — declare the takbīr — the pronouncement of greatness.
Translation: "And declare the greatness of your Lord."
وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ
wa-thiyābaka fa-ṭahhir.
"And your garments — purify them." (al-Muddaththir 74:4)
Wa-thiyābaka — and your garments, all your clothing. Fa-ṭahhir — purify them, keep them pure and clean — keep them in a state of purity and cleanliness.
Translation: "And keep your garments pure and clean (along with purity)."
وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ
wa-l-rujza fa-hjur.
"And filth — flee from it." (al-Muddaththir 74:5)
Al-rujzu — filth, impurity, impious acts. Fa-hjur — so flee, stay away, avoid and abandon, stay at a distance — keeping oneself far away, leaving one's country.
Translation: "And keep far away from impure works."
وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ
wa-lā tamnun tastakthir.
"And do not confer favour expecting more." (al-Muddaththir 74:6)
Wa-lā tamnun — and do not confer favors as if expecting something in return — do not give and then stop — do not consider doing good for the religion as too much to ask. Tastakthiru — seeking more and more in return — expecting a great return.
Translation: "(And do not regard it) as too much (that you are fulfilling a great service to the religion) to the point that you stop — (or: do not do favors to others and then consider yourself to have fulfilled your obligation)."
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ
wa-li-rabbika fa-ṣbir.
"And for your Lord — endure with patience." (al-Muddaththir 74:7)
Wa-li-rabbika — and for your Lord, for your Master's sake. Fa-ṣbir — so remain patient, be steadfast — your propagation must be with sincere intention and even the difficulties of propagation are exclusively for the sake of Allah.
Translation: "And endure patience for your Lord (the sake of God)."
فَإِذَا نُقِرَ فِي النَّاقُورِ
fa-idhā nuqira fī l-nāqūr.
"Then when the trumpet is blown." (al-Muddaththir 74:8)
Fa-idhā nuqira — then when it is blown, sounded. Al-nāqūru — the trumpet, the horn — the bugle, the drum.
Translation: "Then when the trumpet will be blown."
فَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ
fa-dhālika yawmaʾidhin yawmun ʿasīr.
"That day will be a difficult day." (al-Muddaththir 74:9)
Fa-dhālika — then that will be the time when the trumpet is blown. Yawmaʾidhin — on that day. Yawmun ʿasīr — a day of great difficulty and hardship — a very weighty day.
Translation: "On that day (for the disbelievers) it will be a most difficult and unbearable day."
عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ غَيْرُ يَسِيرٍ
ʿalā l-kāfirīna ghayru yasīr.
"Upon the disbelievers — not easy." (al-Muddaththir 74:10)
ʿAlā l-kāfirīna — for the disbelievers. Ghayru yasīrin — not easy, not smooth, not simple.
Translation: "For the disbelievers it will be (an extremely difficult and) very hard day (that is, the day of pain, anguish and punishment)."
ذَرْنِي وَمَنْ خَلَقْتُ وَحِيدًا
dharnī wa-man khalaqtu waḥīdā.
"Leave Me with him whom I created alone." (al-Muddaththir 74:11)
Dharnī — leave Me, leave them to Me. Wa-man khalaqtu — and that person whom I created. Waḥīdā — alone — I alone. The person about whom it is said that he was created in a solitary state — man khalaftu waḥīdā — this could be read in two ways: one reading is that it was I who created him, meaning he is here due to My help alone — for he came into this world alone, without any companion, with no relatives or supporters to stand by him — everything We have is Our gift.
Translation: "Leave Me and that person whom I created alone (who was created)."
وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ مَالًا مَّمْدُودًا
wa-jaʿaltu lahū mālan mamdūdā.
"And I gave him extensive wealth." (al-Muddaththir 74:12)
Wa-jaʿaltu lahū — and I gave for him, bestowed upon him. Mālan mamdūdā — extended, expanded wealth — the wealth spread broadly in every direction.
Translation: "And I gave him very abundant wealth."
وَبَنِينَ شُهُودًا
wa-banīna shuhūdā.
"And sons as witnesses." (al-Muddaththir 74:13)
Wa-banīna — and sons — banayn is the plural of ibn — children and progeny, given. Shuhūdā — those who are present, who stand by, who are always ready and attentive.
Translation: "And (We gave him) sons who are present and always at his side (ready to serve him)."
وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُ تَمْهِيدًا
wa-mahhadtu lahū tamhīdā.
"And I smoothed the way for him greatly." (al-Muddaththir 74:14)
Wa-mahhadtu — and I prepared for him, made available, gave ease. Tamhīdā — spreading smoothly, preparing beautifully.
Translation: "And I gave him ease in abundance (of all provisions)."
ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَن أَزِيدَ
thumma yaṭmaʿu an azīd.
"Then he is eager that I should increase him." (al-Muddaththir 74:15)
Thumma yaṭmaʿu — then he is greedy, harbors hope — he is optimistic. An azīda — that I will increase him further, give him more.
Translation: "(Even at this level of wealth) he hopes that I will give him yet more."
كَلَّا إِنَّهُ كَانَ لِآيَاتِنَا عَنِيدًا
kallā innahu kāna li-āyātinā ʿanīdā.
"Absolutely not — he has been stubbornly opposed to Our signs." (al-Muddaththir 74:16)
Kallā — no, never. Innahu kāna — indeed he was. Li-āyātinā — toward Our signs. ʿAnīdā — persistently obstinate and opposed, a stubborn denier.
Translation: "No indeed — he has been a persistent stubborn opponent of Our signs."
سَأُرْهِقُهُ صَعُودًا
sa-urhiquhū ṣaʿūdā.
"I shall make him climb a steep mountain." (al-Muddaththir 74:17)
Sa-urhiquhu — I shall soon force him, compel him. Ṣaʿūdā — a high, mountainous terrain — to climb upwards, into the great heights of difficulties — it is one of the high ascending places of punishment.
Translation: "I will compel him to climb a mountain (where he will be trapped in great hardships)."
إِنَّهُ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ
innahu fakkara wa-qaddara.
"Indeed he thought and calculated." (al-Muddaththir 74:18)
Innahu fakkara — indeed he thought deeply and deliberated. Wa-qaddara — and calculated, measured, estimated things — devising plans.
Translation: "He certainly pondered and devised schemes."
فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
fa-qutila kayfa qaddara.
"Then perish he — how he devised!" (al-Muddaththir 74:19)
Fa-qutila — then may he be struck down, he will be killed. This is an Arabic expression used to express extreme displeasure — the way we say "woe to him" or "curse upon him." In Arabic, "he was slain" (fa-qutila) is a figurative curse. Kayfa qaddara — how wrongly did he plan things.
Translation: "Then may he be stricken — what terrible plans he made."
ثُمَّ قُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
thumma qutila kayfa qaddara.
"Then perish he — how he calculated!" (al-Muddaththir 74:20)
Thumma qutila — and I say again: may he be stricken — he is the most accursed, how wrongly did he calculate?
Translation: "Then may he be further accursed — what terrible plans he made."
ثُمَّ نَظَرَ
thumma naẓara.
"Then he looked." (al-Muddaththir 74:21)
Translation: "Then he looked around (and pondered) — (but no matter occurred to his mind)."
ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ
thumma ʿabasa wa-basara.
"Then he frowned and scowled." (al-Muddaththir 74:22)
Thumma ʿabasa — then he turned his face sourly. Wa-basara — and his face fell, his expression darkened, his face showed displeasure.
Translation: "Then he turned sour and his face darkened."
No matter came to his heart — so he did the following:
ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ
thumma adbara wa-stakbara.
"Then he turned his back and waxed arrogant." (al-Muddaththir 74:23)
Thumma adbara — then he turned his back, walked away. Wa-stakbara — and arrogance came over him — he thought himself a very great person and became arrogant.
Translation: "Then he turned away and arrogance arose in him."
Without objecting with any word, he remained silent for the time being — but then he said:
فَقَالَ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ
fa-qāla in hādhā illā siḥrun yuʾthar.
"And said: This is nothing but magic transmitted from before." (al-Muddaththir 74:24)
Fa-qāla — he said to them. In hādhā — this is not. Illā siḥrun — nothing but magic. Yuʾtharu — it is transmitted, passed along — this is magic that is being passed down from former times and will continue to pass down until the Day of Judgment.
Translation: "Then he said: This is only a form of transmitted magic (that will not stop anywhere)."
Esteemed readers, this is the complete story of ʿUtba ibn Rabīʿa who was a great chief of the Arabs, distinguished in eloquence and rhetoric. It is evident from the context that Abū Jahl sent ʿUtba to the Prophet ﷺ to raise objections. He went and listened — then thought it over. No objection came to his mind — no matter at all troubled his heart. He remained silently without objection for it was not proper for him to remain silent. Then his final objection appeared — he thought this is outwardly a human matter, human power — and the last objection he raised was that it is magic. ʿUtba accepted by admitting it as an adīb (literary man) that the Qurʾān as a whole is the guidance of the world — it is the mercy for all the world. He said: Just the thing called magic is mere delusion — magic gives harm to people and leads them astray — and magic also is regarded as beyond human power. ʿUtba was considered by his very nature as one who understood power beyond human nature — and says:
إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا قَوْلُ الْبَشَرِ
in hādhā illā qawlu l-bashar.
"This is nothing but the words of a human." (al-Muddaththir 74:25)
In hādhā — this is nothing. Illā qawlu l-bashari — nothing but human speech — a human being's words.
Translation: "This is simply a human being's words."
What is the punishment for this obstinate denial?
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ
sa-uṣlīhi saqar.
"I shall soon roast him in Saqar." (al-Muddaththir 74:26)
Sa-uṣlīhī — I will soon make him enter, I will roast him. Saqara — Saqar — the blazing fire, a burning flame.
Translation: "I will soon make him enter Saqar."
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سَقَرُ
wa-mā adrāka mā saqar.
"And what will inform you what Saqar is?" (al-Muddaththir 74:27)
Wa-mā adrāka — and what has told you, informed you — you know nothing. Mā saqaru — what is Saqar? What kind of thing is it?
Translation: "And what do you know what Saqar is?"
لَا تُبْقِي وَلَا تَذَرُ
lā tubqī wa-lā tadhar.
"It leaves nothing and spares nothing." (al-Muddaththir 74:28)
It is a blazing fire — lā tubqī — it retains nothing of those who enter it, leaves nothing remaining. Wa-lā tadhar — and it does not leave off or abandon.
Translation: "It (Hell) leaves nothing remaining and nothing does it spare."
لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ
lawwāḥatun li-l-bashar.
"Scorching to human skin." (al-Muddaththir 74:29)
Lawwāḥatun — blackening and scorching. Li-l-bashari — human skin, the human face, the complexion.
Translation: "It (Hell) is one that scorches and blackens human skin."
عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ
ʿalayhā tisʿata ʿashar.
"Over it are nineteen." (al-Muddaththir 74:30)
Translation: "Over it there are 19 (angels, the guards and wardens of Hell) who are its guardians."
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 اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَى لِلْبَشَرِ
wa-mā jaʿalnā aṣḥāba l-nāri illā malāʾikatan wa-mā jaʿalnā ʿiddatahum illā fitnatan li-lladhīna kafarū li-yastayqina lladhīna ūtū l-kitāba wa-yazdāda lladhīna āmanū īmānan wa-lā yartāba lladhīna ūtū l-kitāba wa-l-muʾminūna wa-li-yaqūla lladhīna fī qulūbihim maraḍun wa-l-kāfirūna mādhā arāda llāhu bi-hādhā mathalā kadhālika yuḍillu llāhu man yashāʾu wa-yahdī man yashāʾu wa-mā yaʿlamu junūda rabbika illā huwa wa-mā hiya illā dhikrā li-l-bashar.
"And We have made the wardens of the Fire none but angels, and We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve — that those given the Scripture might have certainty, and the believers might increase in faith, and those given the Scripture and the believers might have no doubt — and that those in whose hearts is disease and the disbelievers might say: 'What does Allah intend by this as an example?' Thus Allah leads astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except He — and it is nothing but a reminder for humankind." (al-Muddaththir 74:31)
Wa-mā jaʿalnā — and We have not made. Aṣḥāba l-nāri — the wardens of the Fire, the custodians of Hell. Illā malāʾikatan — except angels, the angels alone — not human beings. Wa-mā jaʿalnā ʿiddatahum — and We have not made their number. Illā fitnatan — except as a trial, an examination. Li-lladhīna kafarū — for those who have disbelieved. Li-yastayqina lladhīna ūtū l-kitāba — so that those given the Book may come to firm conviction — the People of the Book, the scholars of their texts. Wa-yazdāda lladhīna āmanū īmānan — and so that those who believe might increase further in faith. Wa-lā yartāba lladhīna ūtū l-kitāba wa-l-muʾminūna — and so that the People of the Book and the believers have no remaining doubt. Wa-li-yaqūla lladhīna fī qulūbihim maraḍun — and so that those in whose hearts is an illness, a disease, a plague of doubt and suspicion — and the disbelievers might say. Mādhā arāda llāhu bi-hādhā mathalā — what is Allah's purpose in giving this example? Kadhālika yuḍillu llāhu man yashāʾu — Allah leads astray those He wills — those of deficient nature — and guides those He wills, showing mercy to those He intends. Wa-mā yaʿlamu junūda rabbika — and the armies of your Lord are not known. Illā huwa — only He alone. Wa-mā hiya illā dhikrā li-l-bashari — and this is only a reminder for human beings.
Translation: "And We have not made the wardens of Hell except angels and We have not made their number (19) except as a trial for those who disbelieve — so that the People of the Book may come to certainty and the believers' faith may increase — and so that the People of the Book and the believers have no remaining doubt — and so that those whose hearts are diseased (with doubt) and the disbelievers may say: what does Allah intend by this? — Allah guides those He wills (those who are upright) and leads astray those He wills (those of deficient nature) — and God's armies are not known to anyone — and this is only a reminder for some people."
كَلَّا وَالْقَمَرِ
kallā wa-l-qamar.
"No! By the moon." (al-Muddaththir 74:32)
Kallā — no indeed, they hold this view wrongly. Wa-l-qamara — by the moon, truly by the moon — the phases of the moon. 29 or 30 of them can be counted — and all these changes will testify.
Translation: "No indeed — by the moon (all its phases will testify)."
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذْ أَدْبَرَ
wa-l-layli idh adbara.
"And the night when it departs." (al-Muddaththir 74:33)
Wa-l-layli — and the oath is by the night and the night is also an ʿaṭf upon the moon. Idh adbara — when it departs, goes away. The night going away testifies to the fact that the disbeliever will always dwell in darkness.
Translation: "And the oath of the night when it passes away."
وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا أَسْفَرَ
wa-l-ṣubḥi idhā asfar.
"And the dawn when it brightens." (al-Muddaththir 74:34)
Wa-l-ṣubḥi — and the dawn. Idhā asfara — when it grows bright, when brightness comes — the night's going, dawn's coming, these bear testimony to this matter — this testifies to the certainty of the Day of Judgment — and the dawn of spiritual brightness in the believer's hearts will come also.
Translation: "And the dawn when it brightens — our call will be given testimony by the brightening."
إِنَّهَا لَإِحْدَى الْكُبَرِ
innahā la-iḥdā l-kubar.
"Indeed it is one of the greatest things." (al-Muddaththir 74:35)
Innahā — indeed, without doubt. La-iḥdā l-kubari — it is surely one of the great and important matters — one of the great and formidable dangers — kubar is the plural of kubrā, a thing that is a great calamity.
Translation: "Indeed the Day of Judgment is a very great calamity (a terrifying event)."
نَذِيرًا لِّلْبَشَرِ
nadhīran li-l-bashar.
"A warning for humankind." (al-Muddaththir 74:36)
Nadhīrā — one that warns, one that gives a frightening piece of news. Li-l-bashari — for human beings, for all people.
Translation: "It is a warning event for all people."
لِمَن شَاءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوْ يَتَأَخَّرَ
li-man shāʾa minkum an yataqaddama aw yataʾakhkhara.
"For whoever of you wills to go forward or to stay behind." (al-Muddaththir 74:37)
Li-man shāʾa minkum — for whoever of you wishes. An yataqaddama — to go forward. Aw yataʾakhkhara — or to stay behind. This event warns whoever of you is thinking and deliberating — either to move forward or to fall back. Whatever you do, think and ponder.
Translation: "For that person among you who wishes (to advance in deeds or to fall back in them)."
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ
kullu nafsin bimā kasabat rahīna.
"Every soul is held in pledge for what it has earned." (al-Muddaththir 74:38)
Kullu nafsin — every soul. Bimā kasabat — for what it has done — from those deeds that it committed and earned. Rahīnatun — is a pledge, is a hostage, is in bondage.
Translation: "Every person (in the account of what they will give) is held as a pledge in their own deeds."
إِلَّا أَصْحَابَ الْيَمِينِ
illā aṣḥāba l-yamīn.
"Except the People of the Right." (al-Muddaththir 74:39)
But those of the right hand — those people who have done good deeds — those who have been given the deed-record in the right hand. These people will not be held in their deeds as a pledge — (for alongside good deeds the bad will be included too).
Translation: "Except the People of the Right Hand."
فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ
fī jannātin yatasāʾalūn.
"In gardens they will ask one another." (al-Muddaththir 74:40)
Fī jannātin — in gardens, they will be. Yatasāʾalūna — they will ask one another, converse with one another.
Translation: "They will be in gardens and ask one another."
عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
ʿani l-mujrimīn.
"About the sinners." (al-Muddaththir 74:41)
Translation: "About the criminals (sinners and disbelievers)."
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ
mā salakakum fī saqar.
"What has brought you into Saqar?" (al-Muddaththir 74:42)
Mā — what. Salakakum — brought you in, caused you to enter. Fī saqara — in the blazing fire of Hell.
Translation: "What has brought you to Hell (what deeds caused you to be deserving of Hell)?"
قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ
qālū lam naku mina l-muṣallīn.
"They will say: We were not among those who prayed." (al-Muddaththir 74:43)
Qālū — the criminals will say. Lam naku — we were not. Mina l-muṣallīna — among those who pray, those who established ṣalāt.
Translation: "They will say: We were not those who pray."
وَلَمْ نَكُ نُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ
wa-lam naku nuṭʿimu l-miskīn.
"And we were not among those who fed the poor." (al-Muddaththir 74:44)
Wa-lam naku — and we were not. Nuṭʿimu l-miskīna — those who fed the poor, the destitute. We did not pray nor feed the poor.
Translation: "And we did not feed the poor and needy."
وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ الْخَائِضِينَ
wa-kunnā nakhuḍu maʿa l-khāʾiḍīn.
"And we used to plunge in with those who plunged in." (al-Muddaththir 74:45)
Wa-kunnā nakhuḍu — and we used to plunge in vainly, speak frivolously. Maʿa l-khāʾiḍīna — with those who plunge in, those who waste time in idle talk — with the idle and frivolous ones.
Translation: "And we used to join those who idle and those who waste time frivolously."
وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ
wa-kunnā nukadhibu bi-yawmi l-dīn.
"And we used to deny the Day of Recompense." (al-Muddaththir 74:46)
Wa-kunnā nukadhibu — and we used to deny, lie about, reject. Bi-yawmi l-dīni — the Day of Recompense, the Day of Judgment.
Translation: "And we used to deny the Day of Judgment (and did not believe in it)."
حَتَّى أَتَانَا الْيَقِينُ
ḥattā atānā l-yaqīn.
"Until certainty came to us." (al-Muddaththir 74:47)
Ḥattā atānā — until that came to us. Al-yaqīnu — certainty — meaning death, which is here meant by al-yaqīn.
Translation: "Until certainty (meaning death) came to us."
فَمَا تَنفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ
fa-mā tanfaʿuhum shafāʿatu l-shāfiʿīn.
"So the intercession of the intercessors shall not benefit them." (al-Muddaththir 74:48)
Fa-mā tanfaʿuhum — then it shall not benefit them, be of any use. Shafāʿatu l-shāfiʿīna — the intercession of those who intercede — the intercession, the advocacy of those who perform intercession.
Translation: "Then the intercession of those who intercede will not benefit them."
فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ التَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ
fa-mā lahum ʿani l-tadhkirati muʿriḍīn.
"Then what is the matter with them that they are turning away from the reminder?" (al-Muddaththir 74:49)
Fa-mā lahum — then what has happened to them? ʿAni l-tadhkirati — from the reminder, the counsel. Muʿriḍīna — turning away, making themselves averse, turned against.
Translation: "What has happened to them that they are turning away from the Qurʾānic counsel?"
كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُّسْتَنفِرَةٌ
ka-annahum ḥumurun mustanfira.
"As though they were wild donkeys in stampede." (al-Muddaththir 74:50)
Ka-annahum — as though they were. Ḥumurun — donkeys — the plural of ḥimār — wild, untamed animals. Mustanfiratun — panicked and fleeing, wild creatures — animals that flee.
Translation: "It is as though they were wild donkeys in stampede."
فَرَّتْ مِن قَسْوَرَةٍ
farrat min qaswara.
"Fleeing from a lion." (al-Muddaththir 74:51)
Farrat — they flee. Min qaswara — from a lion, from its terror. They flee from the Messenger ﷺ as wild donkeys flee from a lion.
Translation: "Fleeing from the (fear of) a lion."
بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُؤْتَى صُحُفًا مُّنَشَّرَةً
bal yurīdu kullu mriʾin minhum an yuʾtā ṣuḥufan munashsara.
"Rather, every one of them desires to be given unrolled scriptures." (al-Muddaththir 74:52)
Bal yurīdu — rather, he desires. Kullu mriʾin minhum — every one of them. An yuʾtā ṣuḥufan — that he should be given books, letters. Munashsharatan — unrolled, open — meaning they want to be given heavenly books directly and openly.
Translation: "Rather, each one of them desires to be given open (heavenly) scriptures."