The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O YOU ENFOLDED in your mantle (of reform), 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 And your Lord glorify 3 And your garments purify! 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 And bestow not favour that thou mayest receive more. 6 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 For when the trumpet is sounded, 8 that Day will be a hard and distressing Day. 9 not an easy day for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me alone with he whom I created 11 And then bestowed upon him ample means, 12 And gave him sons present before him. 13 And made (life) smooth for him. 14 yet he is eager that I increase him. 15 Never! For he is an enemy to Our signs! 16 [and so] I shall constrain him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 Verily he considered, and devised. 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 and then he looks [around for new arguments,] 21 then he frowned, and scowled, 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 Then he said: "This is nothing but magic from that of old; 24 This is not but the word of a human being." 25 Soon I will cast him into hell. 26 And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? 27 It spares not, neither leaves alone 28 it scorches the skin; 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