«فصيلة» The nearest grandfather to whom a person is attributed. «شوى‏» Both hands and feet, the extremities of the body, the skin of the head, this is called «شواة» , and the limb whose cutting does not cause a person to die is «شوى‏» . «عزون» The singular of groups is «عزة‏.‏» .

«أطوارا‏» Sometimes one thing, sometimes another, for example semen, then a clot of flesh. The Arabs say «عدا طوره‏.‏» increased in their own way. «كبار» (with a shaddah on the baa) is more emphatic than «كبار» , meaning very great, like jameel (beautiful), jamaal (very beautiful). In short, the meaning of «كبار» is great. Sometimes it is also read as «كبار» with a light baa. The Arabs say «حسان» and «جمال» (with shaddah), and «حسان» and «جمال» (with lightness). «ديارا‏» is derived from «دور» . Its pattern is «فيعال» (originally it was "daywar"), as Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) read «الحى القيوم‏.‏» as «الحى القيام‏.‏» . This is derived from «قمت‏» (so originally it was «قيوام» ). Others have said the meaning of «ديارا‏» is anyone; «تبارا‏» destruction. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said «مدرارا‏» means one after another, i.e., continuous rain. «وقارا‏» means greatness, grandeur.

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: All the idols which were worshipped by the people of Noah were worshipped by the Arabs later on. As for the idol Wadd, it was worshipped by the tribe of Kalb at Daumat-al-Jandal; Suwa' was the idol of (the tribe of) Hudhail; Yaghuth was the idol of (the tribe of) Murad and then by Ban, Ghutaif at Al-Jurf near Saba; Yauq was the idol of Hamdan, and Nasr was the idol of Himyr, the branch of Dhi-al-Kala.' The names (of the idols) formerly belonged to some pious men of the people of Noah, and when they died Satan inspired their people to (prepare and place idols at the places where they used to sit, and to call those idols by their names. The people did so, but the idols were not worshipped till those people (who initiated them) had died and the origin of the idols had become obscure, whereupon people began worshipping them.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The meaning of «لبدا» is "helper."

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Allah's Messenger went out along with a group of his companions towards `Ukaz Market. At that time something intervened between the devils and the news of the Heaven, and flames were sent down upon them, so the devils returned. Their fellow-devils said, "What is wrong with you? " They said, "Something has intervened between us and the news of the Heaven, and fires (flames) have been shot at us." Their fellow-devils said, "Nothing has intervened between you and the news of the Heaven, but an important event has happened. Therefore, travel all over the world, east and west, and try to find out what has happened." And so they set out and travelled all over the world, east and west, looking for that thing which intervened between them and the news of the Heaven. Those of the devils who had set out towards Tihama, went to Allah's Messenger at Nakhla (a place between Mecca and Taif) while he was on his way to `Ukaz Market. (They met him) while he was offering the Fajr prayer with his companions. When they heard the Holy Qur'an being recited (by Allah's Messenger), they listened to it and said (to each other). This is the thing which has intervened between you and the news of the Heavens." Then they returned to their people and said, "O our people! We have really heard a wonderful recital (Qur'an). It gives guidance to the right, and we have believed therein. We shall not join in worship, anybody with our Lord." (See 72.1-2) Then Allah revealed to His Prophet (Surat al- Jinn): 'Say: It has been revealed to me that a group (3 to 9) of Jinns listened (to the Qur'an).' (72.1) The statement of the Jinns was revealed to him .

Mujahid said that the meaning of «تبتل‏» is "become purely His." And Imam Hasan al-Basri said the meaning of «أنكالا‏» is "shackles." «منفطر به‏» will become heavy because of it, it will become heavy and burst. Ibn Abbas said «كثيبا مهيلا‏» is "slippery flowing sand." The meaning of «وبيلا‏» is "hard."

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said the meaning of «عسير‏» is "severe." The meaning of «قسورة‏» is "the noise and commotion of people." Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) said «قسورة‏» refers to a lion, and every severe and powerful thing is called «قسورة‏» . «مستنفرة‏» means "startled, fleeing in fright."

Narrated Yahya bin Abi Kathir: I asked Aba Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman about the first Sura revealed of the Qur'an. He replied "O you, wrapped-up (i.e. Al Muddaththir)." I said, "They say it was, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord Who created,' (i.e. Surat Al-`Alaq (the Clot)." On that, Abu Salama said, "I asked Jabir bin `Abdullah about that, saying the same as you have said, whereupon he said, 'I will not tell you except what Allah's Messenger had told us. Allah's Messenger said, "I was in seclusion in the cave of Hiram', and after I completed the limited period of my seclusion. I came down (from the cave) and heard a voice calling me. I looked to my right, but saw nothing. Then I looked up and saw something. So I went to Khadija (the Prophet's wife) and told her to wrap me up and pour cold water on me. So they wrapped me up and poured cold water on me." Then, 'O you, (Muhammad) wrapped up! Arise and warn,' (Surat Al Muddaththir) was revealed." (74.1)

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: The Prophet said, "I was in a seclusion in the cave of Hira........."(similar to the narration related by `Ali bin Al-Mubarak, 444 above).

Narrated Yahya: I asked Aba Salama, "Which Sura of the Qur'an was revealed first?" He replied, "O you, wrapped-up' (Al-Muddaththir)." I said, "I have been informed that it was, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord who created' (i.e. Surat Al-Alaq)." On that, Abu Salama said, "I asked Jabir bin `Abdullah, 'Which Sura of the Qur'an was revealed first?' He replied, 'O you, wrapped-up.' I said, 'I have been informed that it was, Read, in the Name of your Lord who created.' He said, 'I will not tell you except what Allah's Messenger said. Allah's Messenger said, "I was in seclusion in the cave of Hira', and after I completed my seclusion, I came down and went into the middle of the valley. Then I was called, so I looked in front of me and behind me, and to my right and to my left, and behold, he (the angel) was sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. So I went to Khadija and said, 'Wrap me up and pour cold water on me.' And then was revealed to me: 'O you (Muhammad) wrapped-up! Arise and warn, and magnify your Lord.'" (74.1-3)