The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise, and warn. 2 Glorify your Lord, 3 And thy garments keep free from stain! 4 And uncleanliness avoid 5 And do not favour others in order to receive more. 6 be patient unto your Lord. 7 Then when the horn shall be blown, 8 That shall be - that Day - a day hard. 9 For the infidels, not easy. 10 Leave Me Alone (to deal) with whom I created Alone (without any means, i.e. Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah Al-Makhzumi)! 11 and appointed for him ample wealth 12 And sons to be by his side!- 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 Yet he desires that I should give more. 15 Never. He is refractory of Our signs. 16 I shall inflict on him hardship, 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 So accursed be he, how evilly did he decide! 19 Yea, Woe to him; How he plotted!- 20 May he be condemned again for his schemes! He looked around, 21 Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way; 22 then he retreated and grew proud 23 Then he said: naught is this but magic from of old; 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 I shall make him suffer the torment of hell. 26 And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 It strips away the hide of man. 29 there are nineteen [angels] in charge of it -- 30 We have made only angels as the keepers of the fire (for they are the strongest in carrying out Our commands). Our informing (people) of the numbers of these angels is a trial for the disbelievers. It gives more certainty to the people of the Book and strengthens the faith of the believers. The people of the Book and the believers have no doubt about it. We have fixed the number to make the disbelievers and those whose hearts are sick say, "What does God mean by such a parable?" Thus, God guides and causes to go astray whomever He wants. No one knows about the army of your Lord except He Himself. This parable is a reminder for mankind. 31