The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O the Cloaked One! (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) 1 arise, and warn! 2 Thy Lord magnify 3 cleanse your clothes, 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 And do not confer favor to acquire more 6 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 Far from easy for those without Faith. 10 Leave Me alone with he whom I created 11 And gave him vast wealth. 12 and sons standing before him, 13 and for whom I have smoothed the way (to power and riches), 14 yet he is eager that I increase him. 15 Not at all! Surely, he has been disobedient to Our verses. 16 On him I shall impose a fearful doom. 17 For he thought and he plotted -- 18 So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 19 May be then be accursed, how he plotted! 20 Then looked he, 21 frowned and scowled, 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 He said, 'This is naught but a trumped-up sorcery; 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 Him shall I fling unto the burning. 26 - Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! - 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 It strips away the hide of man. 29 Over it are appointed nineteen. 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