The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O you (Muhammad SAW) enveloped (in garments)! 1 arise and give warning! 2 And thy Lord do thou magnify! 3 and purify your robes, 4 And pollution shun. 5 And give not a thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of Allah's obedience as a favour to Allah). 6 Exercise patience to please your Lord. 7 And [warn all men that] when the trumpet-call [of resurrection] is sounded, 8 Truly, that Day will be a Hard Day. 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me (to deal) with him whom I created lonely, 11 And for whom I appointed wealth extended. 12 and sons standing before him, 13 and whom I have provided with every resource, 14 And yet he desires that I should add more! 15 By no means; he is stubbornly opposed to Our Signs. 16 I will constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 He planned and plotted. 18 and woe to him; how he plotted! 19 Again, death seized him, how was his determining! 20 Then he looked, 21 Then he frowned and scowled, 22 Then he turned back and was proud; 23 and said: 'This is no more than traced sorcery; 24 This is naught but the word of a mortal. 25 Him shall I fling unto the burning. 26 What could make you conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned], 28 It scorches the mortal. 29 Over it are nineteen (angels guarding). 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