The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped! 1 Arise and warn 2 And your Lord glorify 3 Purify your inner self, 4 And all defilement shun! 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 and be patient unto thy Lord. 7 And when the trumpet is blown, 8 That shall be - that Day - a day hard. 9 Dolorous for the unbelievers. 10 Leave him to Me, the one whom I created single. 11 And gave him vast wealth. 12 and sons ever present with him, 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 Yet he wants that I should give him more. 15 Never will he receive more. He has been hostile to Our revelations. 16 I shall force him to endure a painful uphill climb! 17 For he thought and he plotted -- 18 Ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? 19 Again accursed be he, how evilly did he decide! 20 Then he beheld, 21 then he frowned and scowled, 22 Then turned he back, and grew stiff-necked. 23 and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]! 24 It is nothing but the word of a mortal' 25 I will drive him into Saqar. 26 And what do you know what Hell is? 27 It leaveth naught; it spareth naught 28 it scorches (even) the skin. 29 and it has nineteen angelic 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