The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O you who are clothed! 1 Arise and warn 2 Glorify your Lord, 3 cleanse your clothes, 4 And pollution shun. 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 But for your Lord be patient. 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 it will be a hard day 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 And gave him vast wealth. 12 and children living in his presence, 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 Never. He is refractory of Our signs. 16 I shall inflict on him hardship, 17 For he had thought and calculated. 18 So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 19 What an evil plan he has made! 20 Then looked he, 21 Then he frowned and he scowled; 22 and he turned his back and behaved arrogantly 23 Then he said: "This is nothing but magic from that of old; 24 Naught is this but the word of Man. 25 Him shall I fling unto the burning. 26 and what will teach thee what is Sakar? 27 It does not allow anyone to live, and neither does it leave anyone to die; 28 It strips away the hide of man. 29 Over it are nineteen 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