سورة المزمل

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him) said regarding the saying of Allah إِنَّ رَبَّکَ یَعْلَمُ أَنَّکَ تَقُومُ أَدْنی مِنْ ثُلُثَیِ اللَّیْلِ وَ نِصْفَهُ وَ ثُلُثَهُ وَ طائِفَةٌ مِنَ الَّذِینَ مَعَکَ [Surely your Lord knows that you pass in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night, and half of it, and a third of it, and (also) a party of those with you]: "It refers to Ali (peace be upon him) and Abu Dharr (may Allah have mercy on him)."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Abul-Jarud narrates from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) regarding this word of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: إِنَّ رَبَّکَ یَعْلَمُ أَنَّکَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَی مِن ثُلُثَیِ اللَّیْلِ وَ نِصْفَهُ وَ ثُلُثَهُ [Surely your Lord knows that you pass in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night, and half of it, and a third of it], that he said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) acted upon what Allah said and gave the people the good news of it, but this matter was difficult for them." And regarding this word of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوه [He knows that you are not able to do it], he narrates that he said: "A man would rise and would not know when midnight would come and when two-thirds of it would come, and out of fear that he would not perceive this time, he would remain awake until morning. So Allah sent down this verse: إِنَّ رَبَّکَ یَعْلَمُ أَنَّکَ تَقُومُ [Surely your Lord knows that you pass in prayer] up to عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوه [He knows that you are not able to do it]. What He means is that you do not know when it is the half and when it is the third of the night. This verse has been abrogated by فَاقْرَؤُوا مَا تَیَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ [therefore read what is easy of the Quran]. Know that no prophet came except that he devoted himself to the night prayer, and no prophet ever offered the night prayer at the beginning of the night."

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): Regarding the word of Allah إِنَّ رَبَّکَ یَعْلَمُ أَنَّکَ تَقُومُ أَدْنی مِنْ ثُلُثَیِ اللَّیْلِ وَ نِصْفَهُ وَ ثُلُثَهُ وَ طائِفَةٌ مِنَ الَّذِینَ مَعَکَ [Surely your Lord knows that you pass in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night, and half of it, and a third of it, and also a party of those with you], he said: "The first person who prayed with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) was Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)."

Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (peace be upon them): The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and his companions used to spend the entire night in prayer, to the point that their feet became swollen. So this matter became difficult for the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and his companions, and this surah was revealed as a relief and easing for them concerning this matter, and He said: وَ اللهُ یُقَدِّرُ اللَّیْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ [And Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are not able to do it], meaning that you will never have the strength and endurance for it.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Burayd al-Ijli said: I asked Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): "Which of these two is more excellent in prayer: reciting much of the Quran, or prolonging the ruku and sujud?" The Imam said: "Prolonging the pause in ruku and sujud is more excellent. Have you not heard the word of Allah the Exalted where He says: فَاقْرَؤُا ما تَیَسَّرَ مِنْهُ، وَ أَقِیمُوا الصَّلاةَ [therefore read as much of it as is easy, and keep up prayer] — so recite as much of the Quran as is easy, but establish the prayer fully. Surely what Allah means by وَ أَقِیمُوا الصَّلاةَ [and keep up prayer] is prolonging the pause in ruku and sujud and lengthening those two."

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): فَاقْرَؤُا ما تَیَسَّرَ مِنْهُ [therefore read as much of it as is easy] — in whatever of the Quran's recitation is possible for you, there is humility of the heart and purity of the inner self. And establish the prayer with all its conditions which Allah has made obligatory upon you.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): There are three who bring complaint to the court of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: a ruined mosque whose people do not pray in it, a scholar who is among the ignorant [and no benefit is taken from him], and a Quran that has been abandoned, on which dust has settled and which no one reads from.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Sama'a said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about this saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: وَ أَقْرِضُوا اللهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا [And lend to Allah a goodly loan]. He said: "It is wealth other than zakat."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Allah the Great has placed in the wealth of the affluent rights other than zakat, and has said: "And those in whose wealth there is a known right. For the one who asks." (al-Ma'arij/24-25) So the "known right" is something other than zakat, and it is an amount that a person imposes upon himself to pay, and it must be within the limits of his ability and his financial capacity; and he pays it however he wishes — daily, weekly, or monthly. Also, Allah the Great has said: أَقْرِضُوا اللهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً [And lend to Allah a goodly loan]. This too is other than zakat.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Mu'awiya ibn Ammar said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about this verse: مَنْ ذَا الَّذِی یُقْرِضُ اللهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا [Who is it that will lend to Allah a goodly loan?]. He said: "This relates to silat al-rahim (maintaining ties of kinship), and the kin are exclusively the kinsfolk of the family of Muhammad (peace be upon them)."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): By Allah, this pertains exclusively to attending to and maintaining ties with the Imam (peace be upon him).

Imam Kazim (peace be upon him): مَنْ ذَا الَّذِی یُقْرِضُ اللهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً [Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan]; what is meant by it is joining the Imam (peace be upon him) during the rule of the wicked.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Seek forgiveness abundantly, for it draws sustenance. Do as much good deeds as you can, for you will see their result on the Day of Resurrection.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): It is recommended that in the qunut of the witr prayer one recites what Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) used to say for seeking forgiveness: وَ ما تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِکُمْ مِنْ خَیْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ اللهِ هُوَ خَیْراً وَ أَعْظَمَ أَجْراً وَ اسْتَغْفِرُوا اللهَ إِنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِیمٌ [And whatever of good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; that is best and greatest in reward; and ask forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful], and I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.