The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O thou wrapped up (in the mantle)! 1 Arise and warn, 2 And thy Lord do thou magnify! 3 And your clothing purify 4 shun uncleanness; 5 and bestow not favour in order to seek from others a greater return, 6 And for the good-will of thy Lord be thou patient. 7 For when the trumpet blows 8 Truly, that Day will be a Hard Day. 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave him to Me, the one whom I created single. 11 And then bestowed upon him ample means, 12 and children living in his presence, 13 I made things smooth and easy for him, 14 yet he is eager that I increase him. 15 No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. 16 I shall soon constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 May he be accursed, how he planned! 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 Then he looked round; 21 frowned and scowled; 22 Then he turned back and was big with pride, 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 This is naught else than speech of mortal man. 25 Soon will I cast him into Hell-Fire! 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned], 28 it scorches the skin; 29 over it are nineteen. 30 And We have appointed none but the angels to be wardens of the Fire. And their number we have made only a trial for those who disbelieve, so that those who are vouchsafed the Book may be convinced, and that those who believe may increase in faith, and that those who are vouchsafed the Book and the believers may not doubt, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the infidels may say: what meaneth Allah by this description! In this wise Allah sendeth astray whomsoever He will, and guideth whomsoever He will. And none knoweth the hosts of thy Lord but He. And it is naught but an admonition unto man. 31