The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 1 Arise and warn! 2 And your Lord (Allah) magnify! 3 thy robes purify 4 And pollution shun. 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 So when the Trumpet will be blown. 8 that day will be a harsh day, 9 for the unbelievers not easy. 10 Leave to Me the one, whom I have created all by Myself, 11 And for whom I appointed wealth extended. 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 And made things easy for them. 14 Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);- 15 Never! For he is an enemy to Our signs! 16 Anon I shall afflict him with a fearful woe. 17 Indeed, he thought and deliberated. 18 May he be accursed, how he planned! 19 Again, death seized him, how was his determining! 20 and then he looks [around for new arguments,] 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 and in the end he turns his back [on Our message,] and glories in his arrogance, 23 and said: 'This is no more than traced sorcery; 24 This is naught but the word of a mortal. 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what do you know what Hell is? 27 It does not allow to live, and neither leaves [to die,] 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