Al-Muddaththir

O you wrapped in your cloak, arise and warn; proclaim the greatness of your Lord, purify your clothes, keep away from idols, do not give in order to gain more, and be patient for your Lord. When the Trumpet is blown, that will be a hard Day, not easy for the disbelievers. Leave to Allah the one He created alone and gave vast wealth, sons by his side and an easy life, who still wants more. He was stubborn against Allah’s verses: he thought and plotted, then looked, frowned, turned away in pride and said, “This is nothing but magic from the past, nothing but the words of a man.” He will be thrown into Saqar, which spares nothing and scorches the skin; over it are nineteen. Only angels are its keepers, and their number is a test: the people of the Scripture become certain, believers grow in faith, and those with sick hearts ask, “What does Allah mean by this?” None knows the armies of your Lord except Him. By the moon, the night as it leaves and the morning as it brightens, Saqar is one of the greatest warnings, for whoever wants to go forward or stay behind. Every soul is held in pledge for what it earned, except the people of the right, who in Gardens ask the criminals, “What put you into Saqar?” They answer: “We did not pray, we did not feed the poor, we joined in idle talk, and we denied the Day of Judgement, until death came to us.” No intercession will help them. Why do they run from the reminder like frightened wild donkeys fleeing a lion? Each wants his own scripture; they do not fear the Hereafter. No! It is a reminder: whoever wills will remember it, but only if Allah wills. He is worthy to be feared, and the One who forgives.