The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 Arise and deliver thy warning! 2 And your Lord glorify 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 shun uncleanness; 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 but unto thy Sustainer turn in patience. 7 For when the trumpet is sounded, 8 That shall be - that Day - a day hard. 9 not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth! 10 Leave Me with him whom I created alone, 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 and children living in his presence, 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 Yet he wants that I should give him more. 15 No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. 16 I shall force him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 Verily he considered, and devised. 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 And again perish he! How maliciously he devised! 20 and then he looks [around for new arguments,] 21 then frowned and scowled; 22 Then turned his back and waxed proud, 23 and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]! 24 Nothing more than the speech of a man!" 25 Soon will I cast him into Hell-Fire! 26 What do you think Hell-fire is? 27 It leaves nothing, nor does it spare; 28 Darkening and changing the colour of man! 29 and it has nineteen angelic keepers. 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