The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 And your Lord glorify 3 And your garments do purify, 4 And pollution shun. 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 It will be a day of distress, 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave him to Me, the one whom I created single. 11 And for whom I appointed wealth extended. 12 And sons always present by his side, 13 And I adjusted affairs for him adjustably; 14 and who still greedily desires that I should bestow upon him more. 15 Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself 16 We shall make him suffer the torment of hell without relief. 17 Verily, he thought and plotted; 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 Again, death seize him, how he determined! 20 Then he looked around, 21 frowned and scowled, 22 Then he turned back and was proud; 23 and said, "This is nothing but sorcery from the ancients. 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 and what will teach thee what is Sakar? 27 It spares not (any sinner), nor does it leave (anything unburnt)! 28 Darkening and changing the colour of man! 29 there are nineteen [angels] in charge of it -- 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