The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 1 Rise up and warn! 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 Purify your inner self, 4 And all defilement shun! 5 And bestow not favour that thou mayest receive more. 6 and for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 Far from easy for those without Faith. 10 Leave him to Me, the one whom I created single. 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 And gave him sons present before him. 13 And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life]. 14 And who yet coveteth that shall increase. 15 Nay! For lo! he hath been stubborn to Our revelations. 16 Soon I shall mount him on Saood, the hill of fire. 17 Indeed, he thought and deliberated. 18 So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 and then he looks [around for new arguments,] 21 then he frowned, and scowled, 22 then he retreated and waxed proud, 23 Then he said: This is naught but enchantment, narrated (from others); 24 Naught is this but the word of Man. 25 I will soon fling him into hell. 26 And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? 27 It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned], 28 Scorching the skin. 29 Over it are nineteen [powers]. 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