The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Arise and warn! 2 And thine Lord magnify! 3 purify your garments; 4 And stay away from idols. 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 Exercise patience to please your Lord. 7 Then, when the Trumpet is sounded (i.e. its second blowing); 8 Surely that day will be a day of anguish, 9 For the unbelievers, anything but easy. 10 Leave Me with the one I created alone 11 and appointed for him ample wealth 12 and sons standing before him, 13 and whom I have provided with every resource, 14 then he is eager that I should do more. 15 Nay! For lo! he hath been stubborn to Our revelations. 16 Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities! 17 For he thought and he plotted -- 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 Again, death seized him, how was his determining! 20 Then he looked round; 21 and then he frowns and glares, 22 Then turned he back, and grew stiff-necked. 23 And said: This is naught else than magic from of old; 24 Nothing more than the speech of a man!" 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? 27 It leaves and spares no one and nothing. 28 It strips away the hide of man. 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