The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
Cloaked one, 1 Arise and warn, 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 Thy raiment purify, 4 stay away from sins 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 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 That, at that time, shall be a difficult day, 9 Dolorous for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me with the one I created alone 11 and whom I have granted abundant wealth 12 and sons standing before him, 13 and to whose life I gave so wide a scope: 14 And yet he desires that I should add more! 15 Not at all! Surely, he has been disobedient to Our verses. 16 I shall force him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 For he thought and he plotted;- 18 death seize him, how he determined! 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 Then he looked around, 21 Then he frowned and scowled; 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 and said: “This (Qur'an) is merely a sorcery of yore; 24 Nothing more than the speech of a man!" 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It does not allow to live, and neither leaves [to die,] 28 it scorches (even) the skin. 29 Over it are nineteen (guards). 30 For We have caused none but angelic powers to lord over the fire [of hell]; and We have not caused their number to be aught but a trial for those who are bent on denying the truth - to the end that they who have been granted revelation aforetime might be convinced [of the truth of this divine writ]; and that they who have attained to faith [in it] might grow yet more firm in their faith; and that [both] they who have been granted the earlier revelation and they who believe [in this one] might be freed of all doubt; and that they in whose hearts is disease and they who deny the truth outright might ask, "What does [your] God mean by this parable?" In this way God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray,] and guides aright him that wills [to be guided]. And none can comprehend thy Sustainers forces save Him alone: and all this is but a reminder to mortal man. 31