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 Proclaim the glory of your Lord; 3 cleanse your clothes, 4 and flee from the statues! 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 But for your Lord be patient. 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 for the unbelievers not easy. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 And to whom I granted extensive wealth 12 and sons ever present with him, 13 And made several preparations for him. 14 Yet he desires that I should give more. 15 By no means! For to Our Signs he has been refractory! 16 I will constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 death seized him, how was his determining! 19 Let him be destroyed. How he calculated! 20 Then he looked around, 21 frowned and scowled; 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 And said: "This is nothing but the magic of old, 24 These are only words from a mere mortal". 25 Soon I will cast him into hell. 26 And what can make you know what is Saqar? 27 It does not allow anyone to live, and neither does it leave anyone to die; 28 it scorches (even) the skin. 29 Over it are nineteen (guards). 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