The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped! 1 Arise and warn! 2 and exalt your Lord, 3 And thine raiment purify. 4 And all abomination shun! 5 Do not bestow favours in expectation of return, 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 When the trumpet is sounded,. 8 that will surely be a hard day, 9 Far from easy for those without Faith. 10 Leave Me and him whom I created alone, 11 And to whom I granted extensive wealth 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 and whom I have provided with every resource, 14 And who yet coveteth that shall increase. 15 By no means! Verily he hath been unto Our signs a foe. 16 I will constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 For he thought and he plotted;- 18 and thus he destroys himself, the way he meditates: 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 He then dared to lift his gaze. 21 then he frowned, and scowled, 22 Then turned his back and waxed proud, 23 Then he said: "This is nothing but magic from that of old; 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what could make thee conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It does not allow anyone to live, and neither does it leave anyone to die; 28 It scorches people's skin 29 Over it are nineteen [powers]. 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