Salamah say: “Jabir ibn Abd Allah told me that he heard the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, speaking about the interval in revelation: ‘As I was walking, I heard a voice from the sky. I raised my gaze toward the sky, and there was the angel who had come to me at Hira, seated upon a chair between heaven and earth. I was so frightened that I fell to the ground. Then I came to my family and said, “Wrap me up! Wrap me up!” So they wrapped me up (1). Then Allah, exalted is He, revealed: “O you who are wrapped up, arise and warn,” up to His words, “and shun [idols].”’” Abu Salamah said: “The defilement refers to idols.” Thereafter, the revelation came intensely and in succession (2).

“Arise and warn (2), and magnify your Lord (3), and purify your garments (4).”

Regarding His words, exalted is He, “O you who are wrapped up, arise and warn”: that is, warn the disbelievers of Mecca. “And magnify your Lord”: exalt Him above what the worshippers of idols say. “And purify your garments”: Qatadah and Mujahid said, “Purify yourself from sin (3),” referring to the self figuratively as a garment. This was also the view of Ibrahim, al-Dahhak, al-Sha‘bi, and al-Zuhri.

Ikrimah said: Ibn Abbas was asked about His words, “And purify your garments,” and he replied: “Do not wear them in disobedience or treachery.” Then he said: “Have you not heard the words of Ghaylan ibn Salamah al-Thaqafi:

‘By Allah’s praise, I have never worn the garment of a sinner,
nor have I ever cloaked myself in treachery.’” (4)

The Arabs describe a man who is truthful and faithful by saying, “His garments are pure”; and they say of one who betrays, “His garments are soiled.” Ubayy ibn Kab said: “Do not wear them in treachery, wrongdoing, or sin. Wear them while you are righteous, generous (5), and pure.”

Abu Rawq related from al-Dahhak that its meaning is: “Reform your deeds.”

Al-Suddi said: When a man is righteous, it is said of him, “His garments are pure”; and when he is wicked, “His garments are foul.”