The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 Arise and warn! 2 And your Lord (Allah) magnify! 3 And thine raiment purify. 4 And uncleanliness avoid 5 And bestow not favors that you may receive again with increase, 6 Exercise patience to please your Lord. 7 For when the Trump is sounded 8 That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,- 9 For the disbelievers - not easy. 10 LEAVE Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 And gave him abundant wealth 12 and sons standing before him, 13 To whom I made (life) smooth and comfortable! 14 Yet he wants that I should give him more. 15 Never will he receive more. He has been hostile to Our revelations. 16 I will cover him with arduous torment. 17 He planned and plotted. 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 And once more let him be cursed, how he plotted! 20 Then he looked, 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 Then he turned back and was big with pride, 23 and said: “This (Qur'an) is merely a sorcery of yore; 24 This is nothing but the word of mortal man!" 25 I shall make him suffer the torment of hell. 26 What could make you conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It leaves nothing, nor does it spare; 28 Darkening and changing the colour of man! 29 over it are nineteen. 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