The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O thou enveloped! 1 Arise and warn, 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 and purify your robes, 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 And bestow not favour that thou mayest receive more. 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 Then when the horn shall be blown, 8 that shall be a Harsh Day 9 Far from easy for the disbelievers. 10 LEAVE Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 whom I have endowed with abundant riches, 12 And sons to be by his side!- 13 I made things smooth and easy for him, 14 After all that he desires that I should give more; 15 Nay! Verily, he has been stubborn and opposing Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). 16 Soon I shall mount him on Saood, the hill of fire. 17 For he thought and he plotted -- 18 Perish he! How maliciously he devised! 19 Again, death seize him, how he determined! 20 Then he looked round; 21 And frowned and puckered his brow, 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 “This is nothing but the speech of a man.” 25 Him shall I fling unto the burning. 26 What do you think Hell-fire is? 27 It leaves naught nor does it spare aught. 28 Darkening and changing the colour of man! 29 Over 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