The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise and warn, 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 And keep your clothes clean. 4 And keep away from Ar-Rujz (the idols)! 5 And bestow not favour that thou mayest receive more. 6 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 And when the trumpet is blown, 8 that very Day shall be a day of anguish, 9 not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth! 10 Leave Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 and sons that stand in witness. 13 and whom I have provided with every resource, 14 then he is eager that I should do more. 15 Never will he receive more. He has been hostile to Our revelations. 16 Soon I shall mount him on Saood, the hill of fire. 17 Indeed he thought, and inwardly decided. 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 yea, he destroys himself, the way he meditates! 20 Then he looked round; 21 Then frowned he and showed displeasure. 22 Then he turned back and was arrogant 23 Then he said: naught is this but magic from of old; 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what can make you know what is Saqar? 27 Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone!- 28 and it burns the flesh. 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