The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise, and warn, 2 And thy Lord do thou magnify! 3 Purify your inner self, 4 and flee from the statues! 5 Give not, thinking to gain greater 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 For when the trumpet is sounded, 8 It will be a day of distress, 9 Dolorous for the unbelievers. 10 Leave him to Me whom I created alone, 11 and whom I have granted abundant wealth 12 and sons standing before him, 13 and made all things smooth for him; 14 Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);- 15 Nay! He is forward unto Our signs; 16 I shall oblige him to (climb a slippery mountain in the Hell-fire called As-Sa'ud, or to) face a severe torment! 17 Behold, [when Our messages are conveyed to one who is bent on denying the truth,] he reflects and meditates [as to how to disprove them] 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 What an evil plan he has made! 20 Then he looked round; 21 then frowned and scowled; 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 said, "This (the Quran) is nothing but magic, inherited from ancient magicians. 24 Naught is this but the word of Man. 25 I will cast him into Hell-fire 26 and what will teach thee what is Sakar? 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 scorching the flesh; 29 and it has nineteen angelic keepers. 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