The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you enveloped in your cloak! 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 and exalt your Lord, 3 And thine raiment purify. 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 and for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 When the trumpet is sounded,. 8 That shall be - that Day - a day hard. 9 Not of ease, for disbelievers. 10 Leave Me with him whom I alone have created, 11 And then granted him resources in abundance. 12 and children living in his presence, 13 And made things easy for them. 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 By no means! For to Our Signs he has been refractory! 16 I shall inflict on him hardship, 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 So let him be cursed! How he plotted! 19 And again perish he! How maliciously he devised! 20 Then he looked around, 21 Then he frowned and he scowled; 22 Then turned he back, and grew stiff-necked. 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 Naught is this but the word of Man. 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 - Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! - 27 It leaveth naught; it spareth naught 28 and it burns the flesh. 29 Above 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