The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 Arise and warn, 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 cleanse your clothes, 4 And all abomination shun! 5 And give not a thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of Allah's obedience as a favour to Allah). 6 Exercise patience to please your Lord. 7 For when the Trump is sounded 8 That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,- 9 for the unbelievers not easy. 10 LEAVE Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 whom I have endowed with abundant riches, 12 And sons abiding in his presence 13 And made (life) smooth for him. 14 Yet he wants that I should give him more. 15 Nay! He is forward unto Our signs; 16 I will cover him with arduous torment. 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 death seize him, how he determined! 19 And once more let him be cursed, how he plotted! 20 May he be condemned again for his schemes! He looked around, 21 frowned and scowled, 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 And said: "This is nothing but the magic of old, 24 Nothing more than the speech of a man!" 25 I will cast him into Hell-fire 26 and what will teach thee what is Sakar? 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 Burning the skins! 29 Over it are appointed 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