The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O you who are clothed! 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 And thy Sustainer's greatness glorify! 3 Thy raiment purify, 4 and flee from the statues! 5 And do not favour others in order to receive more. 6 be patient unto your Lord. 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 that day will be a harsh day, 9 Far from easy for those without Faith. 10 Leave Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 And to whom I granted extensive wealth 12 And sons to be by his side!- 13 And made several preparations for him. 14 Yet he desireth that I should give more. 15 Never will he receive more. He has been hostile to Our revelations. 16 I shall oblige him to (climb a slippery mountain in the Hell-fire called As-Sa'ud, or to) face a severe torment! 17 Verily, he thought and plotted; 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 Then he considered [again]; 21 then he frowned, and scowled, 22 Then he turned away, and was haughty. 23 and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]! 24 Nothing more than the speech of a man!" 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 What do you think Hell-fire is? 27 It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned], 28 Darkening and changing the colour of man! 29 Over it are nineteen (angels as guardians and keepers of Hell). 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