The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 Arise and warn! 2 And your Lord glorify 3 And thine raiment purify. 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 And do not confer favor to acquire more 6 And for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 When the Horn is blown, 8 that day will be a harsh day, 9 Not of ease, for disbelievers. 10 Leave Me with him whom I alone have created, 11 And then granted him resources in abundance. 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 And made life smooth and comfortable for him! 14 Yet he desireth that I should give more. 15 By no means! He has been stubbornly hostile to Our revelation: 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 Verily, he thought and plotted; 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 Then he looked around, 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 Then he turned back and was proud; 23 He said, 'This is naught but a trumped-up sorcery; 24 It is nothing but the word of a mortal' 25 Him shall I soon roast in Hell. 26 And what knoweth thou that which the Scorching Fire? 27 It leaveth naught; it spareth naught 28 It glows and burns the skin. 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