The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Cloaked one, 1 Rise up and warn! 2 Thy Lord magnify, 3 thy robes purify 4 shun uncleanness; 5 Give not, thinking to gain greater 6 And for the sake of your Lord, patiently endure. 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 It will be a day of distress, 9 For the infidels, not easy. 10 LEAVE Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 and appointed for him ample wealth 12 and children as [love's] witnesses, 13 and for whom I have smoothed the way (to power and riches), 14 And who yet coveteth that shall increase. 15 By no means! Verily he hath been unto Our signs a foe. 16 I shall force him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 and thus he destroys himself, the way he meditates: 19 Let him be destroyed. How he calculated! 20 Then he looked, 21 Then he frowned and he scowled; 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 said, "This (the Quran) is nothing but magic, inherited from ancient magicians. 24 This is naught else than speech of mortal man. 25 I will cast him into the fire of Hell. 26 Would that you really knew what hell is! 27 It does not allow anyone to live, and neither does it leave anyone to die; 28 and it burns the flesh. 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