The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you (Prophet Muhamad), the cloaked, 1 Arise and deliver thy warning! 2 Proclaim the glory of your Lord; 3 thy robes purify 4 And pollution shun. 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 but unto thy Sustainer turn in patience. 7 For when the trumpet blows 8 that Day will be a hard and distressing Day. 9 and for the disbelievers, in particular, it will not be at all easy. 10 Leave Me with him whom I alone have created, 11 and to whom I have granted resources in abundance, 12 And sons to be by his side!- 13 whose life I have made run smoothly 14 yet he is eager that I increase him. 15 No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. 16 We shall make him suffer the torment of hell without relief. 17 Indeed, he thought and deliberated. 18 death seized him, how was his determining! 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 Then he looked around, 21 and then he frowns and glares, 22 Then he turned away, and was haughty. 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 this is nothing but the word of a mere mortal!” 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It shall not spare, nor leave. 28 it scorches (even) the skin. 29 Over it are nineteen (angels guarding). 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