The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 stand up, deliver your warning, 2 And thy Sustainer's greatness glorify! 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 And all defilement shun! 5 And show not favour, seeking wordly gain! 6 But, for thy Lord's (Cause), be patient and constant! 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 That will be- that Day - a Day of Distress,- 9 For the infidels, not easy. 10 Leave to Me the one, whom I have created all by Myself, 11 And then bestowed upon him ample means, 12 And sons abiding in his presence 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 And yet he desires that I should add more! 15 Not at all! Surely, he has been disobedient to Our verses. 16 I will make a distressing punishment overtake him. 17 Verily, he thought and plotted; 18 And woe to him! How he plotted!- 19 Again, death seize him, how he determined! 20 Then he considered [again]; 21 And frowned and puckered his brow, 22 Then turned his back and waxed proud, 23 Then he said: "This is nothing but magic from that of old; 24 This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 I will soon fling him into hell. 26 And what will make you realize what hell is? 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 it scorches the skin; 29 Over 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