The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O you (Muhammad SAW) enveloped (in garments)! 1 Arise and deliver thy warning! 2 Thy Lord magnify, 3 And your clothing purify 4 And stay away from idols. 5 And give not a thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of Allah's obedience as a favour to Allah). 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 For when the Trump is sounded 8 that shall be a Harsh Day 9 Far from easy for those without Faith. 10 Leave Me (to deal) with him whom I created lonely, 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 and to whose life I gave so wide a scope: 14 and who still desires more. 15 Nay! For lo! he hath been stubborn to Our revelations. 16 I will cover him with arduous torment. 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 and thus he destroys himself, the way he meditates: 19 And once more let him be cursed, how he plotted! 20 Then looked he, 21 then he frowned and scowled, 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]! 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what will make you realize what hell is? 27 It shall not spare, nor leave. 28 Darkening and changing the colour of man! 29 Over it are nineteen (angels as guardians and keepers of Hell). 30 We have appointed only angels to be wardens of the Fire. We have specified their number only as a trial for those who are bent on denying the truth, so that those who were given the Book might gain in certainty, and those who believe might increase in faith -- and so that neither those who have been given the Scripture nor the believers might have any doubts, and that those sick at heart and those who deny the truth might ask, "What does God mean by this parable?" In this way, God lets go astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. And none knows the forces of your Lord but He. This is but a Reminder for man. 31