This Sura dates from about the same time as the last one. Its subject matter is also similar: Prayer and Praise, and the need of patience in a period of great spiritual stress: The unjust who cause sorrow and suffering now will themselves experience agony in the Hereafter.
C.254-(Verses 1 to 56)-The Seer, by devotion and contemplation, prepares himself for the duties of Guide and Leader to mankind: But when there comes the clear Call, he must stand forth and proclaim the Message, -- in purity, unselfish devotion, and patience long-suffering; -- to save men from the Distress of the Final Day. For many there be who glory in a life of ease and plenty, arrogant splendor, and the applause of men, who scorn Allah's Truth and reject the divine. How will they fare when the Judgment comes, and the Penalty? Every Fact in Life's grand Pageant is but a Portent for the Future. Every soul is in pledge and must redeem itself by Faith and Prayer, by Charity and earnest care for the Realities of Life. Bring but the will, and Allah will guide, -- the Lord of Righteousness, the Lord of Mercy and Forgiveness!
74:1 SURA 74. Muddaththir, or One Wrapped Up. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. O thou wrapped up (in a mantle)!
74:2 Arise and deliver thy warning!
74:3 And thy Lord do thou magnify!
74:4 And thy garments keep free from stain!
74:5 And all abomination shun!
74:6 Nor expect, in giving, any increase (for thyself)!
74:7 But, for thy Lord's (Cause), be patient and constant!
74:8 Finally, when the trumpet is sounded,
74:9 That will be -- that Day -- a Day of Distress, --
74:10 Far from easy for those without Faith.
74:11 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone! --
74:12 To whom I granted resources in abundance,
74:13 And sons to be by his side! --
74:14 To whom I made (life) smooth and comfortable!
74:15 Yet is he greedy -- that I should add (yet more); --
74:16 By no means! For to Our Signs he has been refractory!
74:17 Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities!
74:18 For he thought and he plotted! --
74:19 And woe to him! How he plotted! --
74:20 Yea, woe to him: How he plotted! --
74:21 Then he looked round;
74:22 Then he frowned and he scowled;
74:23 Then he turned back and was haughty;
74:24 Then said
he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old;
74:25 "This is nothing but the word of a mortal!"
74:26 Soon will I cast him into Hellfire!
74:27 And what will explain to thee what Hellfire is?
74:28 Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone! --
74:29 Darkening and changing the color of man!
74:30 Over it are Nineteen.
74:31 And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire; and We have fixed their number only as a trial for Unbelievers, -- in order that the People of the Book may arrive at certainty, and the Believers may increase in Faith, -- and that no doubts may be left for the People of the Book and the Believers, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the Unbelievers may say, "What symbol doth Allah intend by this?" Thus doth Allah leave to stray whom He pleaseth, and guide whom He pleaseth: And none can know the forces of thy Lord, except He. And this is no other than a warning to mankind.
74:32 Section 2. Nay, verily: By the Moon,
74:33 And by the Night as it retreateth,
74:34 And by the Dawn as it shineth forth, --
74:35 This is but one of the mighty (portents),
74:36 A warning to mankind, --
74:37 To any of you that chooses to press forward, or to follow behind; --
74:38 Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds.
74:39 Except the Companions of the Right Hand,
74:40 (They will be) in Gardens (of Delight): They will question each other,
74:41 And (ask) of the Sinners:
74:42 "What led you into Hellfire?"
74:43 They will say: "We were not of those who prayed;
74:44 "Nor were we of those who fed the indigent;
74:45 "But we used to talk vanities with vain talkers;
74:46 "And we used to deny the Day of Judgment,
74:47 "Until there came to us (the Hour) that is certain. "
74:48 Then will no intercession of (any) intercessors profit them.
74:49 Then what is the matter with them that they turn away from admonition? --
74:50 As if they were affrighted asses,
74:51 Fleeing from a lion!
74:52 Forsooth, each one of them wants to be given scrolls (of revelation) spread out!
74:53 By no means! But they fear not the Hereafter.
74:54 Nay, this surly is an admonition:
74:55 Let any who will, keep it in remembrance!
74:56 But none will keep it in remembrance except as Allah wills: He is the Lord of Righteousness, and the Lord of Forgiveness.
