The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O, you, wrapped in your cloak, 1 Arise, and warn, 2 And thy Sustainer's greatness glorify! 3 And your garments do purify, 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 And do not through giving seek thyself to gain, 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 For when the trumpet shall sound, 8 Surely that day will be a day of anguish, 9 Far from easy for the disbelievers. 10 Leave him to Me whom I created alone, 11 And give him vast riches, 12 and sons that stand in witness. 13 And made several preparations for him. 14 yet he is eager that I increase him. 15 Not at all! Surely, he has been disobedient to Our verses. 16 On him I shall impose a fearful doom. 17 For lo! he did consider; then he planned - 18 Ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 19 Let him be destroyed. How he calculated! 20 Then he beheld, 21 And frowned and puckered his brow, 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 said, "This (the Quran) is nothing but magic, inherited from ancient magicians. 24 Naught is this but the word of Man. 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 Would that you really knew what hell is! 27 It shall not spare, nor leave. 28 Darkening and changing the colour of man! 29 Over it are nineteen [angels]. 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