The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 Arise and deliver thy warning! 2 And your Lord glorify 3 And your clothing purify 4 and defilement flee! 5 And do not confer favor to acquire more 6 But, for thy Lord's (Cause), be patient and constant! 7 And when the trumpet is blown, 8 that shall be a Harsh Day 9 Not of ease, for disbelievers. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 and appointed for him ample wealth 12 and sons standing before him, 13 And made life smooth and comfortable for him! 14 Yet he desires that I should give more. 15 Never. He is refractory of Our signs. 16 On him I shall impose a fearful doom. 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 Then he considered [again]; 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 and he turned his back and behaved arrogantly 23 Then he said: This is naught but enchantment, narrated (from others); 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 Him shall I soon roast in Hell. 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It spares not, neither leaves alone 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