The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O THOU [in thy solitude] enfolded! 1 Rise up and warn! 2 and magnify the glory of your Lord, 3 purify your garments; 4 And pollution shun. 5 do not bestow a favour in the expectation of receiving more in return; 6 And persevere in the way of your Lord. 7 When the Trumpet shall be sounded, 8 it will be a hard day 9 For the unbelievers, anything but easy. 10 Let Me alone with him whom I created lonely. 11 and to whom I have granted resources vast, 12 and children as [love's] witnesses, 13 And for whom I smoothed everything. 14 And yet he desires that I should add more! 15 By no means! Verily he hath been unto Our signs a foe. 16 Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities! 17 For he had thought and calculated. 18 May he be accursed, how he planned! 19 And once more let him be cursed, how he plotted! 20 Then looked he, 21 Then frowned he and scowled. 22 then turned back, and swelling-up with pride, 23 Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 24 It is nothing but the word of a mortal' 25 Him shall I soon roast in Hell. 26 And what could make thee conceive what hell-fire is? 27 It neither leaves, nor spares. 28 Scorching the skin. 29 Above it are nineteen guards. 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