The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise and warn! 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 And keep your clothes clean. 4 stay away from sins 5 And show not favour, seeking wordly gain! 6 And for the sake of your Lord, patiently endure. 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 and for the disbelievers, in particular, it will not be at all easy. 10 Leave Me alone with he whom I created 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 To whom I made (life) smooth and comfortable! 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself 16 I shall force him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 Indeed, he thought and deliberated. 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 And once more let him be cursed, how he plotted! 20 Then he looked around, 21 then frowned and scowled; 22 Then he turned back and was proud; 23 Then he said: naught is this but magic from of old; 24 "This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 I shall make him suffer the torment of hell. 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 it scorches (even) the skin. 29 Over it are nineteen. 30 We have not appointed the guards of hell, except angels; and did not keep this number except to test the disbelievers – in order that the People given the Book(s) may be convinced, and to increase the faith of the believers – and so that the People given the Book(s) and the Muslims may not have any doubt – and so that those in whose hearts is a disease and the disbelievers, may say, “What does Allah mean by this amazing example?” This is how Allah sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills; and no one knows the armies of Allah except Him; and this is not but an advice to man. 31