The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you enveloped in your cloak! 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 And thy Lord do thou magnify! 3 And your clothing purify 4 And all abomination shun! 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 persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 Finally, when the Trumpet is sounded, 8 That shall be - that Day - a day hard. 9 not of ease, for all who [now] deny the truth! 10 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!- 11 And gave him vast wealth. 12 and sons that stand in witness. 13 and for whom I have smoothed the way (to power and riches), 14 Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);- 15 Never. He is refractory of Our signs. 16 Anon I shall afflict him with a fearful woe. 17 For he had thought and calculated. 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 He looked (at others); 21 frowned and scowled; 22 and in the end he turns his back [on Our message,] and glories in his arrogance, 23 Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 24 This is naught else than speech of mortal man. 25 Him shall I fling unto the burning. 26 - Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! - 27 It shall not spare, nor leave. 28 Burning the skins! 29 Over it are nineteen (angels guarding). 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