Tafsir of Al-Muddathir 74:11

Surah Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One)

Verse 11:

There is consensus that the person referred to here is al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah.

Regarding the accusative case (naṣb) of the word وَحِيدًا (waḥīdan), there are several interpretations:

First View: It is an accusative of state (ḥāl).

This state can refer back to either the Creator or the created being:

1. State of the Creator (God):
   • Meaning: "Leave Me alone with him, for I am sufficient in taking vengeance upon him."
   • Or: "I created him alone; no one shared Me in his creation."

2. State of the Created Being (al-Walīd):
   • Meaning: "I created him when he was alone and unique, having no wealth or children." This is similar to the verse: “And certainly have you come to Us individually, just as We created you the first time” (Al-An'ām: 94).

Second View: It is an accusative of condemnation/disparagement (dhamm).

This is because the verse was revealed concerning al-Walīd, who was nicknamed al-Waḥīd (The Unique One). He used to claim: "I am the Unique One, son of the Unique One; I have no equal among the Arabs, nor did my father."

• The meaning would be: "Leave Me with him whom I created, meaning al-Walīd the Unique One (as he claimed)."

Many later scholars criticized this view, arguing that God would not affirm his claim of being unparalleled in status. This objection was raised by al-Wāḥidī and the author of Al-Kashshāf. However, this criticism is weak for several reasons:

1. If al-Waḥīd is taken as a proper noun (ʿalam): The objection is removed, as a proper noun functions as a designation or signpost, not necessarily affirming the attribute it denotes.
2. It can refer to his perception: It can be interpreted as being unique in his own estimation and belief. A parallel is found in the verse: “Taste! Indeed, you are the mighty, the noble!” (Ad-Dukhān: 49), where the statement reflects his arrogance.
3. The term is not absolute: The word waḥīd does not necessarily imply uniqueness in high status or honor. Rather, al-Walīd claimed uniqueness in these matters for himself. Therefore, it can be interpreted as: "You are unique, but unique in disbelief, malice, and baseness."

Third View: Waḥīdan is the second object (maf'ūl bih thānī) of the verb khalaqtu (I created).

Abū Saʿīd al-Ḍarīr stated that al-Waḥīd means "one who has no father." This interpretation points to an insinuation regarding the legitimacy of his lineage, similar to the verse: “Harsh, and moreover, a bastard/illegitimate one” (Al-Qalam: 13).

Verse 12: