The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 Thy Lord magnify, 3 thy robes purify 4 and defilement flee! 5 And do not favour others in order to receive more. 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 Then, when the Trumpet is sounded (i.e. its second blowing); 8 that very Day shall be a day of anguish, 9 Not easy upon the disbelievers. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 To whom I granted resources in abundance, 12 and sons to be by his side, 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 And who yet coveteth that shall increase. 15 Never. He is refractory of 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 Verily, he thought and plotted; 18 But may he be cursed how he plotted; 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 Then he looked round; 21 Then he frowned and he looked in a bad tempered way; 22 and in the end he turns his back [on Our message,] and glories in his arrogance, 23 and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]! 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 I will surely roast him in the Scorching. 26 What will let you know what the Scorching is like! 27 It does not allow anyone to live, and neither does it leave anyone to die; 28 It strips away the hide of man. 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