The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 1 Arise and warn! 2 Thy Lord magnify, 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 and shun uncleanness, 5 And bestow not favors that you may receive again with increase, 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 And when the trumpet is blown, 8 that shall be a Harsh Day 9 and for the disbelievers, in particular, it will not be at all easy. 10 Leave Me alone with he whom I created 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 and for whom I have smoothed the way (to power and riches), 14 Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);- 15 Never. He is refractory of Our signs. 16 Anon I shall afflict him with a fearful woe. 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 May he be accursed, how he planned! 19 What an evil plan he has made! 20 Then looked he, 21 then frowned and scowled; 22 Then he turned back and was arrogant 23 Then he said: "This is nothing but magic from that of old; 24 This is naught but the word of a mortal. 25 I shall surely roast him in Sakar; 26 And what knoweth thou that which the Scorching Fire? 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 Burning the skins! 29 Above it are nineteen guards. 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