The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you who covers himself [with a garment], 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 And thy Sustainer's greatness glorify! 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 and defilement flee! 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 be patient unto your Lord. 7 When the Horn is blown, 8 that very Day shall be a day of anguish, 9 Far from easy for the disbelievers. 10 Leave Me Alone (to deal) with whom I created Alone (without any means, i.e. Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah Al-Makhzumi)! 11 And then bestowed upon him ample means, 12 And sons always present by his side, 13 And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life]. 14 After all that he desires that I should give more; 15 Never will he receive more. He has been hostile to Our revelations. 16 Anon I shall afflict him with a fearful woe. 17 He planned and plotted. 18 So let him be cursed! How he plotted! 19 Let him be destroyed. How he calculated! 20 Then he beheld, 21 And frowned and puckered his brow, 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 and said, "This is nothing but sorcery from the ancients. 24 Nothing more than the speech of a man!" 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 What will let you know what the Scorching is like! 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 it scorches the skin; 29 Above it are nineteen guards. 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