Satu riwayat berkaitan dengan penurunan surah ini menyebutkan bahawa para pembesar Quraisy mengadakan satu pertemuan di Dar an-Nadwah, tempat mereka biasa berkumpul untuk membincangkan apa-apa peristiwa penting. Kali ini mereka membincangkan strategi mereka berkenaan Nabi ﷺ dan risalah yang beliau ﷺ seru. Apabila Nabi ﷺ mendengar tentang pertemuan itu, baginda ﷺ berasa sedih. Baginda ﷺ menyelubungkan diri dengan pakaiannya, menutup dirinya lalu tidur. Kemudian Malaikat Gabriel membawa kepada baginda ﷺ permulaan surah ini, yang terdiri daripada 19 ayat, dengan perintah supaya baginda ﷺ berjaga untuk beribadah pada waktu malam. Bahagian akhirnya, iaitu Ayat 20, ditangguhkan selama setahun penuh, dan dalam tempoh itu Nabi ﷺ dan sebahagian daripada para sahabat baginda terus mengerjakan ibadah malam mereka sehingga kaki mereka bengkak akibat kepenatan. Barulah kemudian bahagian kedua surah ini diturunkan, sekali gus meringankan beban mereka.

A report in connection with the revelation of this surah suggests that the Quraysh elders held a meeting in Dar akNadwah, a place where they normally gathered, in order to discuss any momentous event. This time they were discussing their strategy as regards the Prophet and the message he advocated. When the Prophet heard of this meeting, he was distressed. He wrapped himself in his clothes, covered himself and went to sleep. The Angel Gabriel then brought him the first passage of this surah, comprising 19 verses, with the command to stay up in worship at night. Its final part, consisting of Verse 20, was delayed for a full year, during which the Prophet and some of his Companions attended to their night worship until their legs were swollen from the effort. Only then was the surahs second part revealed reducing their burden.