The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped! 1 arise, and warn! 2 And your Lord glorify 3 and purify your robes, 4 Pollution shun! 5 And do not confer favor to acquire more 6 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,- 9 for the unbelievers not easy. 10 Leave Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 and whom I have granted abundant wealth 12 And sons always present by his side, 13 And I adjusted affairs for him adjustably; 14 And who yet coveteth that shall increase. 15 Never. He is refractory of Our signs. 16 [and so] I shall constrain him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 For he thought and he plotted;- 18 death seize him, how he determined! 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 He then dared to lift his gaze. 21 Then frowned he and showed displeasure. 22 and in the end he turns his back [on Our message,] and glories in his arrogance, 23 Then he said: naught is this but magic from of old; 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 I will surely roast him in the Scorching. 26 What could make you conceive what hell-fire 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