The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O thou wrapped up (in the mantle)! 1 Arise and deliver thy warning! 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 And keep your clothes clean. 4 And pollution shun. 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 But for your Lord be patient. 7 For when the trumpet blows 8 that shall be a Harsh Day 9 for the unbelievers not easy. 10 Leave him to Me, the one whom I created single. 11 whom I have endowed with abundant riches, 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 And made several preparations for him. 14 Yet he desireth that I should give more. 15 Never. He is refractory of Our signs. 16 Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities! 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 And woe to him! How he plotted!- 19 Again, death seized him, how was his determining! 20 and then he looks [around for new arguments,] 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 And said: "This is nothing but the magic of old, 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 Soon I will cast him into hell. 26 What could make you conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It neither spares, nor releases, 28 making [all truth] visible to mortal man. 29 Over it are nineteen [powers]. 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