The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O you who are clothed! 1 Rise up and warn! 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 And thine raiment purify. 4 And uncleanliness avoid 5 and bestow not favour in order to seek from others a greater return, 6 and persevere for your Lord's sake. 7 When the Trumpet is sounded, 8 It will be a day of distress, 9 Far from easy for those without Faith. 10 Leave Me with him whom I alone have created, 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 And I adjusted affairs for him adjustably; 14 Yet 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 Indeed, he thought and deliberated. 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 yea, he destroys himself, the way he meditates! 20 Then he beheld, 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 said, "This (the Quran) is nothing but magic, inherited from ancient magicians. 24 "This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned], 28 It scorches people's skin 29 and it has nineteen angelic keepers. 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