The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O you who covers himself [with a garment], 1 Arise and warn! 2 And your Lord (Allah) magnify! 3 And thy garments keep free from stain! 4 And stay away from idols. 5 Do not bestow favours in expectation of return, 6 And for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 That Day will be a difficult day 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!- 11 and to whom I have granted resources vast, 12 And gave him sons present before him. 13 And made life smooth and comfortable for him! 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 By no means! surely he offers opposition to Our communications. 16 [and so] I shall constrain him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 For he thought and he plotted -- 18 and thus he destroys himself, the way he meditates: 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 Then he thought; 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 Then turned he back, and grew stiff-necked. 23 He said, 'This is naught but a trumped-up sorcery; 24 “This is nothing but the speech of a man.” 25 Anon shall I roast him into the Scorching Fire. 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It neither spares, nor releases, 28 It scorches people's skin 29 Above it are nineteen guards. 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