Surah Al-Muzzammil (73:1–7)
Verse 1
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ
“O you (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) who covers himself [with a garment].”
Verse 2
قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
“Stand [in prayer] during the night, except for a little—”
Verse 3
نِّصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا
“Half of it—or subtract from it a little—”
Verse 4
أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا
“Or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation.”
Verse 5
إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا
“Indeed, We will cast upon you a weighty word.”
Verse 6
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
“Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.”
Verse 7
إِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا
“Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.”
Why Does Night Worship Seem So Difficult to Us?
When we read these verses, we wonder: How can a person devote half the night to worship with such deep concentration?
This seems difficult because, even today, we struggle to maintain proper focus during our prayers, which are completed in just five to seven minutes. Different thoughts keep coming into our minds, and we are unable to concentrate properly.
So, how can we improve our focus?
The answer lies in our life pattern, which has changed.
Throughout 99.9% of human history, people lived without the kind of artificial lighting that exists today. For approximately 300,000 years, humans lived without the lights we have today.
They did use fire for light, but it was not as simple as switching on a light and having the whole place illuminated.
There were approximately 10 hours of natural light during the day, while the remaining 14 hours were dark.
What Were the Results?
As evening arrived, people completed their necessary tasks and went to sleep in their homes. Around the middle of the night, they would wake up again and remain awake for one to three hours before going back to sleep.
These one to three hours were very important. During this time, people would reflect deeply, think, and peacefully focus on matters that were not possible to attend to during the day.
Why?
Because there was solitude and peace. There was no noise and nobody to disturb them. This time was ideal for worship, having children, and other activities.
An Example: Polly Wiessner’s 2014 Study
In a 2014 study published in PNAS, Polly Wiessner examined the social behavior of the Kalahari people.
- According to Polly Wiessner’s research, during the daytime, the Kalahari people talk about practical matters related to survival, hunting, and work under the intense sunlight.
- However, when they gather around a fire at night, their behaviour changes. Through storytelling, dancing, and singing, they strengthen their relationships with one another.
Have you noticed how everything changes when night arrives?
At night, a person gets the opportunity to rest and reflect on themselves. This is why the night gave birth to the arts, and Allah commanded this act of worship to be performed at night so that one could worship Him with a clear mind.
This is the same point Allah mentions in Verse 7 of Surah Al-Muzzammil: during the day, you have many other things to do.
This is why the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was instructed to worship during the night.
But Is This Possible in Modern Life Too?
Dr. Thomas Wehr’s 1992 Experiment
In 1992, Dr. Thomas Wehr conducted a sleep study involving seven participants over four weeks. They experienced 10 hours of light and 14 hours of darkness daily. Researchers observed that their sleep divided into two separate periods, with a waking interval of around one to three hours in between. The study suggested that humans can naturally follow a Two Sleeps pattern under extended darkness.
Source: Thomas A. Wehr, Journal of Sleep Research (1992).
This shows that this old pattern of sleep can potentially be restored. However, today's world is full of distractions. Mobile phones are now in our hands, something that was not the case in 1992. Our ability to focus has also diminished considerably, and many people stay awake throughout the night and sleep during the morning.
We have reversed the natural order of our lives. This is why these verses may seem unrealistic to us, even though all of this is possible.
The Industrial Revolution changed all of this.
Artificial light has certainly given us extra hours, but somewhere along the way, we have lost ourselves.
We need to restore ourselves, at least a little, if not completely.
Just as Thomas Wehr studied this pattern, try leaving your mobile phone aside when you wake up during the night. Try talking to Allah.
At least give it a little start.
The story will begin to unfold on its own.
If you want to understand Why Do We Repeat the Same Sins?
Read this article.
👉 WHY DO WE REPEAT THE SAME SINS? HOW TO BREAK THE CYCLE | ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY, NAFS & INĀBAH
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