The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O you who are clothed! 1 Arise and warn, 2 Thy Lord magnify 3 And your garments do purify, 4 And uncleanliness avoid 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 But, for thy Lord's (Cause), be patient and constant! 7 Then when the horn shall be blown, 8 That, at that time, shall be a difficult day, 9 and for the disbelievers, in particular, it will not be at all easy. 10 Leave him to Me whom I created alone, 11 and to whom I have granted resources in abundance, 12 and sons that stand in witness. 13 and to whose life I gave so wide a scope: 14 and yet, he greedily desires that I give him even more! 15 By no means; he is stubbornly opposed to Our Signs. 16 Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities! 17 Verily he considered, and devised. 18 May he be condemned! 19 May be then be accursed, how he plotted! 20 Then he looked round; 21 frowned and scowled; 22 then he retreated and waxed proud, 23 and said: “This (Qur'an) is merely a sorcery of yore; 24 This is nothing but the word of mortal man!" 25 Soon I will cast him into hell. 26 What could make you conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It does not allow anyone to live, and neither does it leave anyone to die; 28 It shrivelleth the man. 29 Over it are nineteen 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