Surah Al-Muddaththir Verse 31

³¹We have assigned only the angels called the guardians of Hell to oversee the affairs of Hell. We made the number of those angels on duty a means of testing, so that the character of those who persist in denial and cover up the truths that come from Allah, and of the disbelievers, would come to light. We confused the minds of the deniers, so that the Christians and Jews, who say, “We too were given a scripture before,” being familiar with the language of revelation, would wholeheartedly believe, when they heard these verses, that this Book comes from Allah. And so that those who believe would strengthen their faith even more, saying, “Our Lord does nothing without wisdom.” Thus both those who were given the scripture and those who believe, understanding the inner meaning of the matter, would not fall into the slightest doubt about the number of these angels. For the disbelievers belittled the nineteen angels and thought they could destroy them. But let those in whose hearts there is the disease of doubt and hypocrisy, and the disbelievers who cover up the truths that come from Allah, being unable to grasp the wisdom in these magnificent verses, busy themselves with the nineteen angels at the gate and say, “What did Allah mean by this example?” Let us see what they will say about the number nineteen. Will they call it a lie? Or will they make a religion out of nineteen? We explain Our verses so that those who were given the scripture may grasp that the Book is the truth, and so that the faith of the believers may increase. They will mock you, saying, “If there are only nineteen keepers in Hell, we can all band together and overpower them.” Or they will try to lead people astray by loading the number nineteen with meanings it does not have. Thus, just as Allah gives the hypocrites and the polytheists the freedom to fall into a bad state, He also gives rational and responsible beings the freedom to stray from the right path and choose misguidance. At times He also tests people to show who will react in what way. He deems astray the one who wants to go off the path and who, knowingly choosing evil, wants to remain in error, and He lets him stray. But the one who sincerely strives for good and wants to reach what is right, He brings to the right path. In the end, people think and weigh things up, and choose to believe or not to believe. The examples given in the verses separate those who truly believe from those who do not. The examples given increase the denial of some and the faith of others. Allah will not bring those who deny to the truth by force. He leaves them as they are in their denial. But to those who draw near to Allah and ask for help, He shows the right path. Let them not imagine that your Lord’s armies are limited to nineteen angels. No one but Him can know the number and strength of your Lord’s armies, that is, of the angels, the winds, and natural disasters. They only voice conjecture and guesses they make up in their own heads. So listen, O people! What We have told here is a counsel and a warning for people, to be reflected on and containing much wisdom. So take heed! With this truth plain to see, how can you defy My commands? The truths your Lord has made known are counsels He has sent so that people may take a lesson.