The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O you enveloped in your cloak! 1 Arise and warn 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 And pollution shun. 5 And bestow not favors that you may receive again with increase, 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 Then, when the Trumpet is sounded (i.e. its second blowing); 8 that Day will be a hard and distressing Day. 9 Not easy upon the disbelievers. 10 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!- 11 And then bestowed upon him ample means, 12 And children to be by his side! 13 And made several preparations for him. 14 and yet, he greedily desires that I give him even more! 15 By no means! Verily he hath been unto Our signs a foe. 16 Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities! 17 Verily he considered, and devised. 18 So accursed be he, how evilly did he decide! 19 Again accursed be he, how evilly did he decide! 20 Then he beheld, 21 frowned and scowled; 22 then he retreated and grew proud 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 This is naught else than speech of mortal man. 25 Soon I will cast him into hell. 26 What could make you conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 It shrivelleth the man. 29 Over it are nineteen. 30 For We have caused none but angelic powers to lord over the fire [of hell]; and We have not caused their number to be aught but a trial for those who are bent on denying the truth - to the end that they who have been granted revelation aforetime might be convinced [of the truth of this divine writ]; and that they who have attained to faith [in it] might grow yet more firm in their faith; and that [both] they who have been granted the earlier revelation and they who believe [in this one] might be freed of all doubt; and that they in whose hearts is disease and they who deny the truth outright might ask, "What does [your] God mean by this parable?" In this way God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray,] and guides aright him that wills [to be guided]. And none can comprehend thy Sustainers forces save Him alone: and all this is but a reminder to mortal man. 31