The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you (Prophet Muhamad), the cloaked, 1 Arise and warn 2 Proclaim the glory of your Lord; 3 and purify your clothing, 4 And all abomination shun! 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 Finally, when the Trumpet is sounded, 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 and for the disbelievers, in particular, it will not be at all easy. 10 Leave Me with the one I created alone 11 And then granted him resources in abundance. 12 And sons always present by his side, 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 Then he desires that I should add more. 15 Nay! He is forward unto Our signs; 16 Soon I shall mount him on Saood, the hill of fire. 17 For he thought and he plotted;- 18 Perish he! How maliciously he devised! 19 yea, he destroys himself, the way he meditates! 20 Then looked he, 21 then he frowned and scowled, 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 This is naught else than speech of mortal man. 25 I shall make him suffer the torment of hell. 26 And what will make you realize what hell is? 27 It leaveth naught; it spareth naught 28 scorching the flesh; 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