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 your Lord glorify 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 and flee from the statues! 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 When the Horn is blown, 8 Surely that day will be a day of anguish, 9 not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth! 10 Leave him to Me whom I created alone, 11 And gave him vast wealth. 12 And sons always present by his side, 13 And I adjusted affairs for him adjustably; 14 And yet he desires that I should add more! 15 By no means! surely he offers opposition to Our communications. 16 We shall make him suffer the torment of hell without relief. 17 Lo! He reflected, and determined -- 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 Then looked he, 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 Then he turned away, and was haughty. 23 Then he said: naught is this but magic from of old; 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 Would that you really knew what hell is! 27 It leaves nothing, nor does it spare; 28 It scorches the mortal. 29 Over it are nineteen (angels guarding). 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