The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 Arise and warn 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 stay away from sins 5 And bestow not favour that thou mayest receive more. 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 When the Trumpet is sounded, 8 It will be a day of distress, 9 Far from easy for those without Faith. 10 Leave to Me the one, whom I have created all by Myself, 11 And for whom I appointed wealth extended. 12 and sons ever present with him, 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 By no means! For to Our Signs he has been refractory! 16 I shall soon constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 For he had thought and calculated. 18 So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 19 What an evil plan he has made! 20 Then looked he, 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 Him shall I soon roast in Hell. 26 And what could make thee conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It leaves nothing, nor does it spare; 28 it scorches (even) the skin. 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