The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O the Cloaked One! (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 For when the Trump is sounded 8 So that is a tough day. 9 not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth! 10 Leave to Me the one, whom I have created all by Myself, 11 and appointed for him ample wealth 12 And sons always present by his side, 13 And made (life) smooth for him. 14 yet he is eager that I increase him. 15 Nay! For lo! he hath been stubborn to Our revelations. 16 On him I shall impose a fearful doom. 17 For he thought and he plotted;- 18 So accursed be he, how evilly did he decide! 19 And again perish he! How maliciously he devised! 20 Then looked he, 21 Then he frowned and scowled, 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 24 "This is nothing but the word of a human being!" 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 What could make you conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned], 28 It scorches the mortal. 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