The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise and deliver thy warning! 2 proclaim the greatness of your Lord, 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 and flee from the statues! 5 Do not give, thinking to gain greater 6 But for your Lord be patient. 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,- 9 Not of ease, for disbelievers. 10 Leave to Me the one, whom I have created all by Myself, 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 and children living in his presence, 13 And made (life) smooth for him. 14 and yet, he greedily desires that I give him even more! 15 Nay! Verily, he has been stubborn and opposing Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). 16 I will constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 For he thought and he plotted -- 18 And woe to him! How he plotted!- 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 and then he looks [around for new arguments,] 21 Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way; 22 Then he turned back and was proud; 23 And said: This is naught else than magic from of old; 24 It is nothing but the word of a mortal' 25 Soon I will cast him into hell. 26 - Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! - 27 It leaves naught nor does it spare aught. 28 it scorches the skin; 29 Over it are appointed nineteen. 30 We have not appointed any one but angels as keepers of Hell, and their number that We have fixed is to make it a means of contention for disbelievers, so that those who were given the Book may be certain, and the faith of the believers may have greater increase, and the people of the Book and believers may not be deceived, and the sceptics and infidels may say: "What does God mean by this parable?" That is how God leads whosoever He will astray, and guides whosoever He will. None knows the armies of your Lord save Him self. This is no more than reminder for mankind. 31