World Blog by humble servant .Lesson from Sura 74.The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir

 Core Teaching: Sura 74 calls humanity to awaken from heedlessness, embrace divine guidance, and prepare for accountability. It instructs the "hidden secret" (the Prophet) to warn, purify, and glorify God, while cautioning against arrogance and disbelief through the example of a blessed yet ungrateful individual. The number 19 emerges as a miraculous sign, unsettling disbelievers and affirming believers, underscoring the Quran's divine origin. This chapter teaches that righteousness—through prayer, charity, and faith—leads to salvation, while denial and sin trap the soul, with ultimate guidance resting in God’s will. It is a reminder to reflect, repent, and heed the inevitable Day of Judgment.

Sura 74: The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir)

By The humble servant. January 09, 2018

[74:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

[74:1] O you hidden secret.*

Footnote

[74:2] Come out and warn.

[74:3] Extol your Lord.

[74:4] Purify your garment.*

Footnote

[74:5] Forsake what is wrong.

[74:6] Be content with your lot.

[74:7] Steadfastly commemorate your Lord.

[74:8] Then, when the horn is blown.

[74:9] That will be a difficult day.

[74:10] For the disbelievers, not easy.

[74:11] Let Me deal with one I created as an individual.

[74:12] I provided him with lots of money.

[74:13] And children to behold.

[74:14] I made everything easy for him.

[74:15] Yet, he is greedy for more.

[74:16] He stubbornly refused to accept these proofs.

[74:17] I will increasingly punish him.

[74:18] For he reflected, then decided.

[74:19] Miserable is what he decided.

[74:20] Miserable indeed is what he decided.

[74:21] He looked.

[74:22] He frowned and whined.

[74:23] Then he turned away arrogantly.

[74:24] He said, "This is but clever magic!

[74:25] "This is human made."

[74:26] I will commit him to retribution.

[74:27] What retribution!

[74:28] Thorough and comprehensive.

[74:29] Obvious to all the people.  

The Quran's Common Denominator

[74:30] Over it is nineteen.*

Footnote

[74:31] We appointed angels to be guardians of Hell, and we assigned their number (19) (1) to disturb the disbelievers, (2) to convince the Christians and Jews (that this is a divine scripture), (3) to strengthen the faith of the faithful, (4) to remove all traces of doubt from the hearts of Christians, Jews, as well as the believers, and (5) to expose those who harbor doubt in their hearts, and the disbelievers; they will say, "What did GOD mean by this allegory?" GOD thus sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is a reminder for the people.

[74:32] Absolutely, (I swear) by the moon.

[74:33] And the night as it passes.

[74:34] And the morning as it shines.  

One of the Great Miracles

[74:35] This is one of the great miracles.*

Footnote

[74:36] A warning to the human race.

[74:37] For those among you who wish to advance, or regress.

[74:38] Every soul is trapped by its sins.

[74:39] Except for those on the right.

[74:40] While in Paradise, they will ask.

[74:41] About the guilty.

[74:42] "What brought you to this retribution?"

[74:43] They will say, "We did not observe the contact prayers (Salat).

[74:44] "We did not feed the poor.

[74:45] "We blundered with the blunderers.

[74:46] "We disbelieved in the Day of Judgment.

[74:47] "Until certainty came to us now."

[74:48] The intercession of the intercessors will never help them.

[74:49] Why are they so averse to this reminder?

[74:50] Running like zebras.

[74:51] Who are fleeing from the lion!

[74:52] Does each one of them want to receive the scripture personally?

[74:53] Indeed, they do not fear the Hereafter.

[74:54] Indeed, this is a reminder.

[74:55] For those who wish to take heed.

[74:56] They cannot take heed against GOD's will. He is the source of righteousness; He is the source of forgiveness.  

Cumulative frequency of the word GOD for this Sura = 2672

Cumulative sum of verses where the word GOD occurs for this Sura = 117841

Summary of Sura 74

Sura 74, The Hidden Secret, opens with a divine command to the Prophet to emerge, warn humanity, and exalt God, emphasizing purity and perseverance. It narrates the story of a man blessed with wealth and ease who rejects divine truth, facing retribution for his arrogance. The sura introduces the number 19 as a profound sign, serving to challenge disbelievers, affirm believers across faiths, and expose doubt. Described as a "great miracle," it warns of the Day of Judgment, contrasting the fate of the righteous—those who pray and give—with the guilty, who confess their neglect too late. The chapter reinforces that every soul is accountable, and guidance hinges on God’s will, making it a universal reminder to heed divine wisdom.

T

he number 19 in the context of Sura 74, The Hidden Secret (Al-Muddath-thir), holds significant meaning within the Quranic narrative, particularly as highlighted in verse [74:30]: "Over it is nineteen." This reference has sparked extensive discussion among scholars, believers, and researchers due to its explicit mention and the subsequent explanation in [74:31]. Below, I’ll explain its significance based on the text provided and broader Quranic interpretation, while adhering to your requested format for future suras.

Lesson from the Number Nineteen in Sura 74

Core Teaching: The number 19 is presented as a divine sign and a test, reflecting God’s purposeful design in creation and revelation. It serves as both a challenge to disbelievers and a confirmation for the faithful, illustrating the Quran’s miraculous nature. This number teaches that God’s signs—whether in scripture or the universe—are deliberate, meant to provoke reflection, strengthen belief, and expose doubt, with ultimate understanding resting in His omniscience.

Explanation of the Number Nineteen in Sura 74

The relevant verses from Sura 74 regarding the number 19 are:

[74:30] Over it is nineteen.

Footnote

[74:31] We appointed angels to be guardians of Hell, and we assigned their number (19) (1) to disturb the disbelievers, (2) to convince the Christians and Jews (that this is a divine scripture), (3) to strengthen the faith of the faithful, (4) to remove all traces of doubt from the hearts of Christians, Jews, as well as the believers, and (5) to expose those who harbor doubt in their hearts, and the disbelievers; they will say, "What did GOD mean by this allegory?" GOD thus sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is a reminder for the people.*

Contextual Meaning

Literal Reference: The phrase "Over it is nineteen" refers to the number of angels appointed as guardians over Hell (Saqar, the retribution mentioned earlier in [74:26-29]). This establishes 19 as a specific, divinely ordained quantity tied to the administration of divine justice.

Fivefold Purpose (from [74:31]):

Disturb the Disbelievers: The number is a point of contention, prompting skeptics to question its meaning, thus revealing their rejection of divine signs.

Convince Christians and Jews: Its presence in the Quran is seen as evidence of continuity with earlier scriptures, appealing to those familiar with numerical significance in religious texts.

Strengthen the Faithful: For believers, it reinforces trust in the Quran’s divine origin.

Remove Doubt: It assures Jews, Christians, and Muslims that the scripture is authentic, dispelling uncertainty.

Expose Doubt and Disbelief: Those who mock or dismiss it ("What did GOD mean by this allegory?") expose their spiritual state, aligning with God’s will to guide or mislead.

A Great Miracle ([74:35]): The text links 19 to the broader claim of being "one of the great miracles," suggesting it transcends a mere count and points to a deeper significance, possibly in the Quran’s structure or message.

Broader Interpretation: The Miracle of 19

Beyond the text of Sura 74, the number 19 has been explored as a mathematical phenomenon in the Quran, notably by Dr. Rashad Khalifa, a controversial figure who proposed that 19 is a "common denominator" underlying the Quran’s composition. His theory, rooted in [74:30-35], posits that:

The number of letters, words, chapters (suras), and other elements in the Quran exhibit patterns divisible by 19.

For example, the Quran has 114 suras (19 × 6), and the first verse (Bismillah) consists of 19 Arabic letters.

This numerical consistency is argued to be a "code" proving the Quran’s divine authorship, impervious to human alteration.

While Khalifa’s findings gained attention (and are hinted at in the "Quran's Common Denominator" subtitle in your text), they remain debated. Traditional scholars often focus on the spiritual and textual roles of 19 rather than a strict numerical code, viewing it as a sign of God’s precision and a test of faith.

Symbolic Significance

Divine Order: Nineteen reflects God’s exactness in creation and judgment, as seen in the oath by natural phenomena ([74:32-34]: the moon, night, and morning), suggesting harmony between the cosmos and revelation.

Test of Faith: Its ambiguity challenges humanity to reflect rather than demand explicit answers, aligning with [74:31]’s assertion that "None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He."

Reminder: As a "reminder for the people," it underscores accountability and the need to heed divine warnings.

Summary of the Number Nineteen

In Sura 74, the number 19 is introduced as the count of angels guarding Hell, but its role expands into a multifaceted sign: a disturbance to disbelievers, a proof for People of the Book (Jews and Christians), and a faith-strengthening miracle for believers. Described as "one of the great miracles," it invites contemplation of the Quran’s divine origin, possibly through numerical patterns or its rhetorical impact. Ultimately, 19 exemplifies God’s sovereignty—guiding some to understanding and leaving others to question—serving as a reminder of His unmatched wisdom and authority.