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 And thy Lord do thou magnify! 3 and purify your robes, 4 And all abomination shun! 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 Surely that day will be a day of anguish, 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 whom I have granted abundant wealth 12 And gave him sons present before him. 13 And made life smooth and comfortable for him! 14 After all that he desires that I should give more; 15 Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself 16 On him I shall impose a fearful doom. 17 For lo! he did consider; then he planned - 18 Perish he! How maliciously he devised! 19 What an evil plan he has made! 20 Then he thought; 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 Then turned his back and waxed proud, 23 And said: "This is nothing but the magic of old, 24 This is naught but the word of a mortal. 25 I shall surely roast him in Sakar; 26 And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? 27 It spares not, neither leaves alone 28 Burning the skins! 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