The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 Arise, and warn. 2 And proclaim the Purity of your Lord. 3 Thy raiment purify, 4 And uncleanliness avoid 5 and bestow not favour in order to seek from others a greater return, 6 And for the sake of your Lord, be patient. 7 Finally, when the Trumpet is sounded, 8 it will be a hard day 9 Not easy upon the disbelievers. 10 Leave him to Me whom I created alone, 11 And to whom I granted extensive wealth 12 and children as [love's] witnesses, 13 and for whom I have smoothed the way (to power and riches), 14 and yet, he greedily desires that I give him even more! 15 Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself 16 I will cover him with arduous torment. 17 Verily he considered, and devised. 18 death seized him, how was his determining! 19 What an evil plan he has made! 20 Then he looked round; 21 then frowned and scowled; 22 Then he turned back and was big with pride, 23 And said: This is naught else than magic from of old; 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what have you understood, what hell is! 27 It spares nothing; it leaves nothing intact; 28 Burning the skins! 29 there are nineteen [angels] in charge of it -- 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