The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 arise, and warn! 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 And thy garments keep free from stain! 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 and bestow not favour in order to seek from others a greater return, 6 And for the good-will of thy Lord be thou patient. 7 Then when the horn shall be blown, 8 That Day will be a difficult day 9 For the unbelievers, anything but easy. 10 Leave Me with him whom I created alone, 11 And then bestowed upon him ample means, 12 And sons to be by his side!- 13 And I adjusted affairs for him adjustably; 14 And yet he desires that I should add more! 15 Nay! Verily, he has been stubborn and opposing Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). 16 Soon I shall mount him on Saood, the hill of fire. 17 He planned and plotted. 18 May he be accursed, how he planned! 19 Again, death seized him, how was his determining! 20 Then he considered [again]; 21 Then he frowned and he scowled; 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 24 Naught is this but the word of Man. 25 Soon I will cast 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 Burning the skins! 29 Over it are appointed 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