The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
O you (Prophet Muhamad), the cloaked, 1 Arise and warn, 2 Glorify your Lord, 3 Thy raiment purify, 4 shun uncleanness; 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 And for the good-will of thy Lord be thou patient. 7 For when the trumpet is sounded, 8 That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,- 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 give him vast riches, 12 And sons to be by his side!- 13 and to whose life I gave so wide a scope: 14 yet he is eager that I increase him. 15 Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself 16 and I shall constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 Behold, [when Our messages are conveyed to one who is bent on denying the truth,] he reflects and meditates [as to how to disprove them] 18 death seized him, how was his determining! 19 yea, he destroys himself, the way he meditates! 20 Then he looked, 21 Then frowned and grimaced. 22 then he retreated and grew proud 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 This is nothing but the word of mortal man!" 25 I shall make him suffer the torment of hell. 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone!- 28 It scorches the mortal. 29 Over it are nineteen. 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