The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 Arise, and warn. 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 And thy garments keep free from stain! 4 And stay away from idols. 5 And do not through giving seek thyself to gain, 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 Then when the horn shall be blown, 8 that very Day shall be a day of anguish, 9 For the infidels, not easy. 10 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!- 11 And give him vast riches, 12 and children living in his presence, 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 After all that he desires that I should give more; 15 Nay! For lo! he hath been stubborn to Our revelations. 16 I shall oblige him to (climb a slippery mountain in the Hell-fire called As-Sa'ud, or to) face a severe torment! 17 Verily, he thought and plotted; 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 Then looked he, 21 Then frowned and grimaced. 22 Then he turned back and was proud; 23 Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 24 Naught is this but the word of Man. 25 Soon I will cast him into hell. 26 What will let you know what the Scorching is like! 27 It spares not, neither leaves alone 28 It scorches people's skin 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