The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you enveloped in your cloak! 1 arise and give warning! 2 And proclaim the Purity of your Lord. 3 And thy garments keep free from stain! 4 And banish all trepidation. 5 And do not favour others in order to receive more. 6 Exercise patience to please your Lord. 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 that very Day shall be a day of anguish, 9 Not easy upon the disbelievers. 10 Leave him to Me whom I created alone, 11 whom I have endowed with abundant riches, 12 And sons dwelling in his presence, 13 and to whose life I gave so wide a scope: 14 and yet, he greedily desires that I give yet more! 15 By no means! surely he offers opposition to Our communications. 16 Soon I shall mount him on Saood, the hill of fire. 17 He reflected, and then determined 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 20 Then he beheld, 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 These are only words from a mere mortal". 25 [Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]! 26 And what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 and it burns the flesh. 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