The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 arise and give warning! 2 Thy Lord magnify, 3 purify your garments; 4 And all defilement shun! 5 And do not through giving seek thyself to gain, 6 And for the sake of your Lord, patiently endure. 7 Then, when the Trumpet is sounded (i.e. its second blowing); 8 That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,- 9 For the unbelievers, anything but easy. 10 Leave him to Me whom I created alone, 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 and sons standing before him, 13 whose life I have made run smoothly 14 And yet he desires that I should add more! 15 Not at all! Surely, he has been disobedient to Our verses. 16 I shall oblige him to (climb a slippery mountain in the Hell-fire called As-Sa'ud, or to) face a severe torment! 17 For he thought and he plotted;- 18 And woe to him! How he plotted!- 19 yea, he destroys himself, the way he meditates! 20 Then he looked, 21 Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way; 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 Then he said: naught is this but magic from of old; 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 Him shall I soon roast in Hell. 26 - Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! - 27 It leaves nothing, nor does it spare; 28 It glows and burns the skin. 29 Over it are 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