Wrap me up, wrap me up! So they wrapped me up, and the Blessed and Most Exalted Allah sent down:" You who are shrouded, arise and deliver warning, your Lord magnify, your clothes cleanse, and defilement shun," and" defilement" means idols; and then the revelation was followed continuously.
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 161 a
This narration from Sahih Muslim describes the initial revelation experience where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was wrapped in garments during his first encounter with divine revelation. The subsequent verses from Surah Al-Muddathir (74:1-5) marked the beginning of his public prophethood.
Classical Scholarly Commentary
The phrase "wrap me up" indicates the Prophet's state of awe and seeking comfort after the overwhelming first revelation. Scholars explain this as a natural human response to divine encounter.
"Arise and deliver warning" signifies the transition from private spiritual experience to public mission. Classical commentators note this establishes the fundamental duty of prophethood: warning humanity against disbelief.
"Your Lord magnify" refers to establishing Tawhid (divine unity) and perfecting one's understanding of Allah's greatness before calling others.
"Your clothes cleanse" has been interpreted both literally as maintaining physical purity and metaphorically as purifying one's character and intentions.
"Defilement shun" explicitly identifies idols as spiritual pollution that must be completely abandoned, establishing the Islamic position against shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Historical Context & Significance
This revelation marked the beginning of the public phase of prophethood after the initial private revelations. Classical scholars emphasize this moment as the formal commissioning of the Final Prophet.
The "continuous revelation" mentioned indicates the establishment of regular divine communication that would continue for 23 years, gradually revealing the complete Islamic guidance.