The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise, and warn. 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 and purify your clothing, 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 Do not give, thinking to gain greater 6 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 for the unbelievers not easy. 10 Leave Me with the one I created alone 11 To whom I granted resources in abundance, 12 and sons that stand in witness. 13 And made life smooth and comfortable for him! 14 Yet he wants that I should give him more. 15 No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. 16 On him I shall impose a fearful doom. 17 Indeed he thought, and inwardly decided. 18 So let him be cursed! How he plotted! 19 May be then be accursed, how he plotted! 20 Then he looked, 21 frowned and scowled, 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It does not allow anyone to live, and neither does it leave anyone to die; 28 and it burns the flesh. 29 Over it are nineteen. 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