The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise and warn, 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 And your garments purify! 4 And all abomination shun! 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 that Day will be a hard and distressing 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 whom I have granted abundant wealth 12 and sons ever present with him, 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 Yet he desireth that I should give more. 15 Nay! Verily, he has been stubborn and opposing Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). 16 We shall make him suffer the torment of hell without relief. 17 Lo! He reflected, and determined -- 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 What an evil plan he has made! 20 Then he looked, 21 Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way; 22 then he retreated and waxed proud, 23 and said, "This is nothing but sorcery from the ancients. 24 This is nothing but the word of mortal man!" 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what knoweth thou that which the Scorching Fire? 27 It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned], 28 Burning the skins! 29 Over it are nineteen [angels]. 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