The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you who are clothed! 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 and exalt your Lord, 3 thy robes purify 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 Nor expect, in giving, any increase (for thyself)! 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 For when the Trump is sounded 8 Surely that day will be a day of anguish, 9 not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth! 10 Leave Me (to deal) with him whom I created lonely, 11 and to whom I have granted resources in abundance, 12 And sons abiding in his presence 13 whose life I have made run smoothly 14 and who still desires more. 15 Not at all! Surely, he has been disobedient to Our verses. 16 Anon I shall afflict him with a fearful woe. 17 Surely he reflected and guessed, 18 May he be accursed, how he planned! 19 Yea, Woe to him; How he plotted!- 20 Then he looked round; 21 Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way; 22 and he turned his back and behaved arrogantly 23 and said: 'This is no more than traced sorcery; 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 I will cast him into hell. 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 It scorches people's skin 29 there are nineteen [angels] in charge of it -- 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