The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 Arise and warn! 2 And your Lord (Allah) magnify! 3 Purify your inner self, 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 Nor expect, in giving, any increase (for thyself)! 6 And for the sake of your Lord, patiently endure. 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 it will be a hard day 9 not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth! 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 And then granted him resources in abundance. 12 and children living in his presence, 13 And made (life) smooth for him. 14 After all that he desires that I should give more; 15 No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. 16 I will make a distressing punishment overtake him. 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 and then he looks [around for new arguments,] 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 then he retreated and waxed proud, 23 And said: "This is nothing but the magic of old, 24 It is nothing but the word of a mortal' 25 I will cast him into the fire of Hell. 26 Would that you really knew what hell is! 27 It neither spares, nor releases, 28 Burning the skins! 29 Over it are nineteen keepers. 30 We have appointed only angels to be wardens of the Fire. We have specified their number only as a trial for those who are bent on denying the truth, so that those who were given the Book might gain in certainty, and those who believe might increase in faith -- and so that neither those who have been given the Scripture nor the believers might have any doubts, and that those sick at heart and those who deny the truth might ask, "What does God mean by this parable?" In this way, God lets go astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. And none knows the forces of your Lord but He. This is but a Reminder for man. 31