The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O you enveloped in your cloak! 1 Arise and warn, 2 and exalt your Lord, 3 And your garments do purify, 4 shun uncleanness; 5 Give not, thinking to gain greater 6 and persevere for your Lord's sake. 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 that very Day shall be a day of anguish, 9 not an easy day for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me with him whom I alone have created, 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 And sons abiding in his presence 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 By no means! surely he offers opposition to Our communications. 16 Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities! 17 Verily he considered, and devised. 18 And woe to him! How he plotted!- 19 And again perish he! How maliciously he devised! 20 Then he looked, 21 And frowned and puckered his brow, 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 and said: “This (Qur'an) is merely a sorcery of yore; 24 “This is nothing but the speech of a man.” 25 I will cast him into hell. 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It leaveth naught; it spareth naught 28 making [all truth] visible to mortal 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