The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
O thou enveloped! 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 Proclaim the glory of your Lord; 3 cleanse your clothes, 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 And do not favour others in order to receive more. 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 It will be a day of distress, 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 have granted resources vast, 12 And children to be by his side! 13 And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life]. 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 By no means; he is stubbornly opposed to Our Signs. 16 I will cover him with arduous torment. 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Let him be destroyed. How he calculated! 20 Then he looked round; 21 frowned and scowled; 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 He said, 'This is naught but a trumped-up sorcery; 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 Would that you really knew what hell is! 27 Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone!- 28 It shrivelleth the man. 29 Over it are nineteen. 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