The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
O thou wrapped up (in the mantle)! 1 arise and give warning! 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 And thy garments keep free from stain! 4 And all abomination shun! 5 and bestow not favour in order to seek from others a greater return, 6 and persevere for your Lord's sake. 7 When the Horn is blown, 8 That, at that time, shall be a difficult day, 9 For the unbelievers, anything but easy. 10 Leave Me with the one I created alone 11 and whom I have granted abundant wealth 12 and sons ever present with him, 13 To whom I made (life) smooth and comfortable! 14 and who still desires more. 15 By no means! Verily he hath been unto Our signs a foe. 16 I shall soon constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 Lo! He reflected, and determined -- 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 May be then be accursed, how he plotted! 20 Then he looked, 21 frowned and scowled, 22 then he retreated and waxed proud, 23 And said: This is naught else than magic from of old; 24 This is nothing but the word of mortal 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 Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone!- 28 It shrivelleth the man. 29 Over it are nineteen [powers]. 30 We have appointed none but angels as the keepers of the Fire, and We have not made their number but as a trial for the unbelievers so that those who have been endowed with the Book will be convinced and the believers' faith will increase, and neither those who have been endowed with the Book nor the believers will fall into any doubt. As for those in whose hearts there is a sickness as well as the unbelievers, they will say: “What did Allah aim at by this strange parable?” Thus does Allah let whomsoever He pleases to go astray, and directs whomsoever He pleases to the Right Way. And none knows the hosts of your Lord but He. (And Hell has only been mentioned here) that people may take heed. 31