The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise and warn! 2 Thy Lord magnify, 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 shun uncleanness; 5 Do not bestow favours in expectation of return, 6 but unto thy Sustainer turn in patience. 7 When the trumpet is sounded,. 8 that Day will be a hard and distressing Day. 9 Far from easy for the disbelievers. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 And to whom I granted extensive wealth 12 And sons always present by his side, 13 And I adjusted affairs for him adjustably; 14 Yet he desires that I should give more. 15 By no means! For to Our Signs he has been refractory! 16 On him I shall impose a fearful doom. 17 Verily he considered, and devised. 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 He then dared to lift his gaze. 21 and then he frowns and glares, 22 Then turned he back, and grew stiff-necked. 23 Then he said: naught is this but magic from of old; 24 It is nothing but the word of a mortal' 25 Soon will I cast him into Hell-Fire! 26 And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? 27 Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone!- 28 and it burns the flesh. 29 and it has nineteen angelic keepers. 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