The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 1 arise and give warning! 2 And your Lord (Allah) magnify! 3 And thine raiment purify. 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 And show not favour, seeking wordly gain! 6 and persevere for your Lord's sake. 7 For when the trumpet blows 8 That Day will be a difficult day 9 and for the disbelievers, in particular, it will not be at all easy. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 And sons present by his side. 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 and who still greedily desires that I should bestow upon him more. 15 Nay! For lo! he hath been stubborn to Our revelations. 16 [and so] I shall constrain him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 19 Again (self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! - 20 Then he looked around, 21 and then he frowns and glares, 22 Then he turned back and was big with pride, 23 Then he said: "This is nothing but magic from that of old; 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 I will soon fling him into hell. 26 And what do you know what Hell is? 27 It does not allow to live, and neither leaves [to die,] 28 It shrivelleth the man. 29 and it has nineteen angelic keepers. 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