The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped! 1 arise and give warning! 2 And your Lord (Allah) magnify! 3 And your clothing purify 4 And all defilement shun! 5 And do not confer favor to acquire more 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 For when the trumpet is sounded, 8 that shall be a Harsh Day 9 It will not be easy for those who deny the truth. 10 Leave Me and him whom I created alone, 11 And for whom I appointed wealth extended. 12 and sons standing before him, 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 and who still greedily desires that I should bestow upon him more. 15 By no means; he is stubbornly opposed to Our Signs. 16 I shall force him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 Then he thought; 21 then he frowned, and scowled, 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 And said, “This is nothing but magic learnt from earlier men.” 24 'this is nothing but mortal speech.' 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It shall not spare, nor leave. 28 Scorching the skin. 29 over it are nineteen. 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