Surah Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)

This Surah has twenty verses and was revealed in Mecca.

Verse 1

{ O you, the enshrouded one! }

Surah Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One) - Verse 1

1. O you, the enshrouded one!

Issue 1: The Meaning of "Al-Muzzammil" (The Enshrouded One)

There is consensus that "Al-Muzzammil" refers to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

The original form is Al-Mutazammil (with a Tā’), meaning one who wraps himself tightly in his garment. The Tā’ was assimilated into the Zāy, similar to how Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One) is derived from Al-Mutadaththir.

There are several differing opinions as to why the Prophet (PBUH) wrapped himself in his garment:

Fear after Revelation: Ibn Abbas narrated that when Gabriel (peace be upon him) first brought the revelation, the Prophet (PBUH) feared him and thought he might be afflicted by a jinn. He returned from the mountain trembling and said, "Wrap me up!" (Zammilūnī). While he was in that state, Gabriel came and called out to him, "O you, the enshrouded one!"
Preparation for Prayer: Al-Kalbī said that the Prophet (PBUH) wrapped himself in his garment to prepare for the night prayer. This view is favored by Al-Farra’.
Interruption during Sleep: He (PBUH) was sleeping at night, wrapped in a blanket (quṭayfah), when he was called, which interrupted that state. It is said: "O you, the sleeper, wrapped in your garment, rise and engage in servitude (to God)."
Seeking Comfort: He was wrapped in a cloak belonging to Khadijah, seeking comfort with her, when he was told: {Rise during the night...} (referencing the next verse). It is as if he was told: "Leave what benefits your self and engage in servitude (to God)."
Carrying a Great Burden: 'Ikrimah said: "O you who has wrapped himself around a great matter," meaning he carried it. Zammala means to carry a burden, and Izdāmala means to bear it.

Issue 2: The Recitation of "Al-Muzzammil"

'Ikrimah recited both Al-Muzzammil and Al-Muddaththir with a lightened Zāy and Dāl, and a doubled Mīm and Thā’ (i.e., Al-Muzammil and Al-Muddaththir).

If read as an Active Participle (Ism Fā'il): The object would be omitted. The meaning would be: "O you who has wrapped himself." The omission of the object in such contexts is eloquent, just as in the verse: {And I have been given from everything} (Qur'an 27:23), meaning "I have been given something from everything."
If read as a Passive Participle (Ism Maf'ūl): This would imply that either he wrapped himself, or someone else wrapped him.

It has also been recited according to the original form: Yā ayyuhā Al-Mutazammil (O you, the one who wrapped himself).