The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 1 Arise and deliver thy warning! 2 And your Lord do magnify, 3 Purify your inner self, 4 stay away from sins 5 and do not think that by doing such deeds, you have done a great favor to God. 6 For the sake of thy Lord, be patient! 7 Finally, when the Trumpet is sounded, 8 Surely that day will be a day of anguish, 9 and it will not be easy for the unbelievers. 10 Leave Me alone, (to deal) with the (creature) whom I created (bare and) alone!- 11 whom I have endowed with abundant riches, 12 And children present [with him] 13 And I adjusted affairs for him adjustably; 14 and who still desires more. 15 Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly sets himself 16 I shall soon constrain him to a hard ascent. 17 He reflected and then hatched a scheme. 18 Perish he! How maliciously he devised! 19 And again perish he! How maliciously he devised! 20 He then dared to lift his gaze. 21 frowned and scowled; 22 Then turned he back, and grew stiff-necked. 23 Then said he: "This is nothing but magic, derived from of old; 24 This is naught but the word of a mortal. 25 I shall make him suffer the torment of hell. 26 What do you think Hell-fire is? 27 It spares not, neither leaves alone 28 it scorches (even) the skin. 29 Over it are Nineteen. 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