The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 arise and give warning! 2 And your Lord glorify 3 And keep your clothes clean. 4 And stay away from idols. 5 And bestow not favors that you may receive again with increase, 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 When the Trumpet is sounded, 8 Truly, that Day will be a Hard Day. 9 For the disbelievers - not easy. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 whom I have endowed with abundant riches, 12 and sons to be by his side, 13 And made (life) smooth for him. 14 Yet he wants that I should give him more. 15 By no means! Verily he hath been unto Our signs a foe. 16 I shall force him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 Indeed he thought, and inwardly decided. 18 So accursed be he, how evilly did he decide! 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 Then he beheld, 21 Then frowned and grimaced. 22 Then he turned back and was big with pride, 23 said, "This (the Quran) is nothing but magic, inherited from ancient magicians. 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 Him shall I soon roast in Hell. 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It neither spares, nor releases, 28 It shrivelleth the man. 29 Over it are nineteen 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