The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you enveloped in your cloak! 1 Arise, and warn. 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 And your clothing purify 4 And pollution shun. 5 And give not a thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of Allah's obedience as a favour to Allah). 6 But for your Lord be patient. 7 For when the trumpet is sounded, 8 So that is a tough day. 9 For the infidels, not easy. 10 Leave him to Me, the one whom I created single. 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 And children present [with him] 13 whose life I have made run smoothly 14 And who yet coveteth that shall increase. 15 By no means! He has been stubbornly hostile to Our revelation: 16 Soon I shall mount him on Saood, the hill of fire. 17 For lo! he did consider; then he planned - 18 So let him be cursed! How he plotted! 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 Then he beheld, 21 frowned and scowled, 22 and in the end he turns his back [on Our message,] and glories in his arrogance, 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 I will soon fling him into hell. 26 And what could make thee conceive what hell-fire is? 27 Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone!- 28 scorching the flesh; 29 Above it are nineteen guards. 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