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 deliver thy warning! 2 Thy Lord magnify, 3 purify your garments; 4 and defilement flee! 5 Do not give, thinking to gain greater 6 And for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 For when the Trump is sounded 8 That, at that time, shall be a difficult day, 9 for the unbelievers not easy. 10 Leave him to Me, the one whom I created single. 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 And made life smooth and comfortable for him! 14 Yet he wants that I should give him more. 15 Never will he receive more. He has been hostile to Our revelations. 16 I shall soon constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 Lo! He reflected, and determined -- 18 So accursed be he, how evilly did he decide! 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 Then he looked around, 21 Then frowned and grimaced. 22 then he retreated and waxed proud, 23 and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]! 24 This is naught but the word of a mortal. 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It leaves naught nor does it spare aught. 28 It strips away the hide of man. 29 Over it are nineteen (angels as guardians and keepers of Hell). 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