The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 1 arise, and warn! 2 And thy Sustainer's greatness glorify! 3 And thy garments keep free from stain! 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 And do not through giving seek thyself to gain, 6 and for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 it will be a hard day 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me (to deal) with him whom I created lonely, 11 and whom I have granted abundant wealth 12 And children to be by his side! 13 and to whose life I gave so wide a scope: 14 and who still greedily desires that I should bestow upon him more. 15 By no means! He has been stubbornly hostile to Our revelation: 16 I will constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 For he thought and he plotted;- 18 Perish he! How maliciously he devised! 19 May be then be accursed, how he plotted! 20 Then looked he, 21 frowned and scowled; 22 then he retreated and grew proud 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 I shall surely roast him in Sakar; 26 And what can make you know what is Saqar? 27 It neither spares, nor releases, 28 Scorching the skin. 29 Over it are nineteen (angels guarding). 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