Arise and Act- Surah Al-Muddatir: 1-7

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

يأَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ - قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ - وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ - وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ - وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ - وَلاَ تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ - وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ

1. O you enveloped in garments!
2. Arise and warn!
3. And magnify your Lord!
4. And purify your garments!
5. And keep away from Ar-Rujz (idols)!
6. And give not a thing in order to have more.
7. And be patient for the sake of your Lord!
[Surah Al-Muddathir: 1-7]

After the first Revelation, (Surah Al-Alaq: 1-5) in the cave of Hira through Jibreel Alaihissalam, Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu alihiwassalam fled in fear to his house and asked to be wrapped up. Khadeejah Radhiyallahu anha, his wife wraps him up, and consoles him and then later on, takes him to Waraqa Ibn Nawfel (her cousin), who was a Christian monk who was well-versed in The Gospels. Waraqa after hearing what had happened to Muhammed Sallallahu alihiwassalam said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Apostle asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.

Then, as narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Quran):
'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!' Arise and warn (the people against Allah's Punishment),... up to 'and desert the idols.' (Surah Al-Muddathir: 1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim]

Thus, with this Revelation, Prophet Sallallahu alihiwassalam attained Messenger-ship just as he had attained Prophethood with the first revealation. And this being the Revelation after the first, shows the importance of the command of Allah mentioned in these ayahs.

Lessons:

- Even Allah Azza Wajal commanded this to His Nabi, it is applied and implied to us also, as we are the followers of Muhammed Sallallahu alihiwassalam, and his Ummah(nation).

- We should arise from our comfort lounge where we laze around and think not beyond the life of this world- and warn! (doing da'wah to ourselves and to others)

- And magnify your Lord!- meaning remembrance of Allah, and Glorifying Him The Almighty. We should always remember that it is because of Allah, that we are in this Duniya, enjoying all the bounties that Allah has provided us with. And therefore, we cannot live according to our desires, unless our desire is to please Allah SWT, by obeying His commands and staying away from what He has prohibited for us.

- And purify your garments!- Ibn Abbas said: "This means, do not let your garments that you wear be from earnings that are unlawful.'' Ibn Zayd said, "The idolaters would not clean themselves, so Allah commanded him to clean himself and his garments.'' Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "This means purify your heart and your intentions.'' Hasan Al-Basri said: "And beautify your character.''

- We should not wish for more in return, when we give something, except the Pleasure of Allah SWT. تَمْنُن- in the language of the Arabs means to become weak. So if we wish for more in return, it is a sign of weakness.

-We should be patient for the Sake of Allah, if harmed by words or physically when we give da'wah.

And Allah knows best.