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 And thy Lord do thou magnify! 3 And thine inner self purify! 4 And uncleanness do shun, 5 And show not favour, seeking wordly gain! 6 be patient unto your Lord. 7 When the Horn is blown, 8 that very Day shall be a day of anguish, 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me with him whom I alone have created, 11 and designated for him ample wealth, 12 And sons to be by his side!- 13 And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life]. 14 Yet is he greedy-that I should add (yet more);- 15 No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate. 16 and I shall constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 (Self-)destroyed is he, how he planned! 19 Again, may he be cursed how he plotted; 20 Then looked he, 21 frowned and scowled, 22 Then he turned back and was haughty; 23 And said: "This is nothing but the magic of old, 24 "This is nothing but the word of a mortal!" 25 I shall make him suffer the torment of hell. 26 And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? 27 It leaves nothing, nor does it spare; 28 and it burns the flesh. 29 Over it are nineteen [powers]. 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