Al-W¥^idÏ's Asb¥b al-Nuz‰l - The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies ...

Chapter 74: Surah al-Muddaththir
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(O thou enveloped in thy cloak…) [74:1-4].
Abu Ishaq Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Muqri’ informed us> ‘Abd al-Malik ibn al-Walid> his father> al-
Awza‘i> Yahya ibn Abi Kathir> Abu Salamah> Jabir who related that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless
him and give him peace, said to them: “I stayed in Hira’ for a month and when my stay came to an end,
I came down. As I was in the middle of the valley, I was called. I looked in front and behind me, to my
right and to my left, but could not see anyone. I was called once again. I raised my head, and I saw on
a throne in midair [i.e. Gabriel peace be upon him]. I said: ‘Wrap me up, wrap me up!’ And they threw
water over me. Allah, glorified and majestic is He, then revealed (O thou enveloped in thy cloak, Arise
and warn! Thy Lord magnify, Thy raiment purify)”. 1 Narrated by Muslim> Zuhayr ibn Harb> al-Walid ibn
Muslim> al-Awza‘i.
(Leave Me (to deal) with him whom I created lonely…) [74:11-24].
Abu’l-Qasim al-Hudhami informed us> Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Nu‘aym Muhammad ibn ‘Ali
al-Saghani> Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Dabari> ‘Abd al-Razzaq> Ma‘mar> Ayyub al-Sikhtiyyani> ‘Ikrimah>
Ibn ‘Abbas who related that al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah went to the Prophet, Allah bless him and give
him peace, who read the Qur’an to him and it seemed as if his heart softened to it. Abu Jahl heard of
this. He went to him and said: “O uncle, your clan want to collect money to give it to you, for you went
to Muhammad exposing yourself to his message”. He said: “The Quraysh know well that I am among
its wealthiest”. Abu Jahl said: “Then say something about him which will let your people know that you
condemn and dislike him”. He said: “But what shall I say By Allah, there is not a man among you who
is more knowledgeable about poetry and its composition than me. By Allah, what he says does not resemble
any poetry. By Allah, the speech which he utters is sweet and graceful, fruitful at the top, copious
at the bottom; it has the upper hand and nothing has the upper hand over it. But let me think about what
I shall say about it. Then he said [as reported by the Qur’an] (This is naught else than magic from of old)
[74:24], which he simply learnt from others”. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed (Leave Me (to deal) with
him whom I created lonely…), and the other verses which follows it. 2
Mujahid said: “Al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah was in the habit of visiting the Prophet, Allah bless him and
give him peace, and Abu Bakr so much so that the Quraysh thought he was going to embrace Islam. Abu
Jahl then said to him: ‘The Quraysh claim that you visit Muhammad and Ibn Abi Quhafah to share food
with them’. Al-Walid said to the Quraysh: ‘You are people of noble lineages and sound minds, but you
claim that Muhammad is mad. Have you ever seen him seized by a bout of madness’ They said: ‘No!’
He said: ‘And you claim that he is a soothsayer; have you ever seen him soothsaying’ They said: ‘No!’ He
said: ‘You claim that he is a poet; have you ever heard him utter poetry’ They said: ‘No!’ He said: ‘You
claim that he is a liar; have you ever caught him lying’ They said: ‘No!’ The Quraysh said to al-Walid:
‘What is he, then’ He thought for a while, looked and frowned and then said: ‘He is nothing but a sorcerer’,
hence Allah’s saying (For lo! he did consider; then he planned…) [74:12] up to His saying (This is
naught else than magic from of old)”.
1
Tabari, :143-144; Qurtubi, :59; Durr, :324-325.
2
Tabari, :152; Qurtubi, :72; Durr, :330.