The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 Arise and warn, 2 and exalt your Lord, 3 And keep your clothes clean. 4 And stay away from idols. 5 And do not favour others in order to receive more. 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 And when the trumpet is blown, 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me alone with he whom I created 11 And to whom I granted extensive wealth 12 and sons that stand in witness. 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);- 15 By no means; he is stubbornly opposed to Our Signs. 16 I shall inflict on him hardship, 17 Lo! He reflected, and determined -- 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 Then he beheld, 21 then frowned and scowled; 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 Then he said: "This is nothing but magic from that of old; 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 I will cast him into Hell-fire 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It neither spares, nor releases, 28 and it burns the flesh. 29 Over it are nineteen [angels]. 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