The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou shrouded in thy mantle, 1 Arise, and warn. 2 Proclaim the glory of your Lord; 3 thy robes purify 4 stay away from sins 5 Do not bestow favours in expectation of return, 6 And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e. perform your duty to Allah)! 7 For when the trumpet is sounded, 8 Truly, that Day will be a Hard Day. 9 Not of ease, for disbelievers. 10 LEAVE Me alone [to deal] with him whom I have created alone, 11 and to whom I have granted resources in abundance, 12 and sons ever present with him, 13 and to whose life I gave so wide a scope: 14 Yet he desireth that I should give more. 15 By no means! surely he offers opposition to Our communications. 16 [and so] I shall constrain him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 He planned and plotted. 18 And woe to him! How he plotted!- 19 Then may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated. 20 Then he considered [again]; 21 Then frowned and grimaced. 22 then he retreated, and waxed proud. 23 He said, 'This is naught but a trumped-up sorcery; 24 Nothing more than the speech of a man!" 25 I will cast him into Hell-fire 26 - Ah, what will convey unto thee what that burning is! - 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 It scorches people's skin 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