The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O you enveloped in your cloak! 1 Arise and warn, 2 proclaim the greatness of your Lord, 3 and purify your robes, 4 And pollution shun. 5 And show not favour, seeking wordly gain! 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 that day will be a harsh day, 9 Far from easy for the disbelievers. 10 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!- 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 And gave him sons present before him. 13 And made several preparations for him. 14 and yet, he greedily desires that I give him even more! 15 Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself 16 I will constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 Lo! He reflected, and determined -- 18 Perish he! How maliciously he devised! 19 Again, death seized him, how was his determining! 20 Then he looked round; 21 then frowned and scowled; 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]! 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 What do you think Hell-fire is? 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 Blackening the skins. 29 Over it are nineteen (angels as guardians and keepers of Hell). 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