The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you who covers himself [with a garment], 1 Arise, and warn, 2 And your Lord do magnify, 3 And your garments purify! 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 And give not a thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of Allah's obedience as a favour to Allah). 6 and for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 When the Trumpet is sounded, 8 That, at that time, shall be a difficult day, 9 For the disbelievers - not easy. 10 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!- 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 and sons ever present with him, 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 and yet, he greedily desires that I give him even more! 15 No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. 16 I will cover him with arduous torment. 17 Indeed, he thought and deliberated. 18 Perish he! How maliciously he devised! 19 Again, death seize him, how he determined! 20 Then he looked round; 21 Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way; 22 then he retreated and waxed proud, 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 This is naught else than speech of mortal man. 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 And what do you know what Hell is? 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 Blackening the skins. 29 Over it are nineteen (angels as guardians and keepers of Hell). 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