68. Surah Al-Qalam The Pen

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّح۪يمِ

Bismi Allahi arrahmani arraheem

In the name of Allah, All-Merciful, Most Merciful

نٓ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَۙ

Noon walqalami wama yasturoon

Nun. By the Pen and what they write down!

مَٓا اَنْتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍۚ

Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoon

By the blessing of your Lord, you are not mad.

وَاِنَّ لَكَ لَاَجْراً غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍۚ

Wa-inna laka laajran ghayra mamnoon

You will have a wage which never-fails.

وَاِنَّكَ لَعَلٰى خُلُقٍ عَظ۪يمٍ

Wa-innaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheem

Indeed you are truly vast in character.

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَۙ

Fasatubsiru wayubsiroon

So you will see and they will see

بِاَيِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ

Bi-ayyikumu almaftoon

which of you is mad.

اِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَب۪يلِه۪ۖ وَهُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَد۪ينَ

Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dallaAAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bilmuhtadeen

Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His Way and He knows best those who are guided.

فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ

Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeen

So do not obey those who deny the truth.

وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ

Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoon

They wish that you would conciliate them, then they too would be conciliating.

وَلَا تُطِـعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَه۪ينٍۙ

Wala tutiAA kulla hallafinmaheen

But do not obey any vile swearer of oaths,

هَمَّازٍ مَشَّٓاءٍ بِنَم۪يمٍۙ

Hammazin mashsha-in binameem

any backbiter, slandermonger,

مَنَّاعٍ لِلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ اَث۪يمٍۙ

MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheem

impeder of good, evil aggressor,

عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذٰلِكَ زَن۪يمٍۙ

AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneem

gross, coarse and furthermore, despicable,

اَنْ كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَن۪ينَۜ

An kana tha malinwabaneen

simply because he possesses wealth and sons.

اِذَا تُتْلٰى عَلَيْهِ اٰيَاتُنَا قَالَ اَسَاط۪يرُ الْاَوَّل۪ينَ

Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatunaqala asateeru al-awwaleen

When Our Signs are recited to him, he says, ‘Just myths of previous peoples!’

سَنَسِمُهُ عَلَى الْخُرْطُومِ

Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoom

We will brand him on the snout!

اِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَٓا اَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِۚ اِذْ اَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِح۪ينَۙ

Inna balawnahum kamabalawna as-haba aljannati ith aqsamoolayasrimunnaha musbiheen

We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they swore that they would harvest in the morning

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

Wala yastathnoon

but did not say the redeeming words, ‘If Allah wills’.

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَٓائِفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَٓائِمُونَ

Fatafa AAalayha ta-ifunmin rabbika wahum na-imoon

So a visitation from your Lord came upon it while they slept

فَاَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّر۪يمِ

Faasbahat kassareem

and in the morning it was like burnt land stripped bare.

فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِح۪ينَۙ

Fatanadaw musbiheen

In the morning they called out to one another,

اَنِ اغْدُوا عَلٰى حَرْثِكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَارِم۪ينَ

Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum inkuntum sarimeen

‘Leave early for your land if you want to pick the fruit. ’

فَانْطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَۙ

Fantalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoon

So they set off, quietly saying to one another,

اَنْ لَا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِسْك۪ينٌ

An la yadkhulannaha alyawmaAAalaykum miskeen

‘Do not let any poor man into it today while you are there. ’

وَغَدَوْا عَلٰى حَرْدٍ قَادِر۪ينَ

Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireen

They left early, intent on carrying out their scheme.

فَلَمَّا رَاَوْهَا قَالُٓوا اِنَّا لَضَٓالُّونَۙ

Falamma raawha qalooinna ladalloon

But when they saw it, they said, ‘We must have lost our way.

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

Bal nahnu mahroomoon

No, the truth is we are destitute!’

قَالَ اَوْسَطُهُمْ اَلَمْ اَقُلْ لَـكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakumlawla tusabbihoon

The best of them said, ‘Did I not say to you, "Why do you not glorify Allah?"’

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَٓا اِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِم۪ينَ

Qaloo subhana rabbinainna kunna thalimeen

They said, ‘Glory be to our Lord! Truly we have been wrongdoers. ’

فَاَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ

Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdinyatalawamoon

They turned to face each other in mutual accusation.

قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَٓا اِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغ۪ينَ

Qaloo ya waylana innakunna tagheen

They said, ‘Woe to us! We were indeed inordinate.

عَسٰى رَبُّنَٓا اَنْ يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْراً مِنْهَٓا اِنَّٓا اِلٰى رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ

AAasa rabbuna an yubdilanakhayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboon

Maybe our Lord will give us something better than it in exchange. We entreat our Lord.’

كَذٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُۜ وَلَعَذَابُ الْاٰخِرَةِ اَكْبَرُۢ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ۟

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabual-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoon

Such is the punishment. And the punishment of the Next World is much greater if they only knew.

اِنَّ لِلْمُتَّق۪ينَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّع۪يمِ

Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannatiannaAAeem

The people who have taqwa will have Gardens of Delight with their Lord.

اَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِم۪ينَ كَالْمُجْرِم۪ينَۜ

AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kalmujrimeen

Would We make the Muslims the same as the evildoers?

مَا لَـكُمْ۠ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَۚ

Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoon

What is the matter with you? On what basis do you judge?

اَمْ لَـكُمْ كِتَابٌ ف۪يهِ تَدْرُسُونَۙ

Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoon

Or do you have a Book which you study,

اِنَّ لَـكُمْ ف۪يهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَۚ

Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroon

so that you may have anything in it you choose?

اَمْ لَـكُمْ اَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِۙ اِنَّ لَـكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَۚ

Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatunila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoon

Or do you have oaths which bind Us, extending to the Day of Rising, that you will have whatever you decide?

سَلْهُمْ اَيُّهُمْ بِذٰلِكَ زَع۪يمٌۚۛ

Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeem

Ask them which of them stands as guarantor for that!

اَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَٓاءُۚۛ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَٓائِهِمْ اِنْ كَانُوا صَادِق۪ينَ

Am lahum shurakao falya/too bishuraka-ihimin kanoo sadiqeen

Or do they have Divine partners? Then let them produce their partners if they are telling the truth!

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ اِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَط۪يعُونَۙ

Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawnaila assujoodi fala yastateeAAoon

On the Day when legs are bared and they are called on to prostrate, they will not be able to do so.

خَاشِعَةً اَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۜ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ اِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ

KhashiAAatan absaruhumtarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ilaassujoodi wahum salimoon

Their eyes will be downcast, darkened by debasement; for they were called on to prostrate when they were in full possession of their faculties.

فَذَرْن۪ي وَمَنْ يُكَذِّبُ بِهٰذَا الْحَد۪يثِۜ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَۙ

Fatharnee waman yukaththibubihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythula yaAAlamoon

So leave anyone who denies this discourse to Me! We will lead them, step by step, into destruction from where they do not know.

وَاُمْل۪ي لَهُمْۜ اِنَّ كَيْد۪ي مَت۪ينٌ

Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateen

I will allow them more time. My subterfuge is sure.

اَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ اَجْراً فَهُمْ مِنْ مَغْرَمٍ مُثْقَلُونَۚ

Am tas-aluhum ajran fahum min maghraminmuthqaloon

Or do you ask them for a wage so they are weighed down with debt?

اَمْ عِنْدَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboon

Or is the Unseen in their hands, so they can write out what is to happen?

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُنْ كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِۢ اِذْ نَادٰى وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌۜ

Fasbir lihukmi rabbikawala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nadawahuwa makthoom

So wait steadfastly for the judgement of your Lord. Do not be like the Companion of the Fish when he called out in absolute despair.

لَوْلَٓا اَنْ تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّه۪ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَٓاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatunmin rabbihi lanubitha bilAAara-i wahuwa mathmoom

Had a blessing from his Lord not overtaken him, he would have been thrown up on the naked shore, for he was at fault.

فَاجْتَبٰيهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِح۪ينَ

Fajtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahumina assaliheen

But his Lord chose him and made him one of the righteous.

وَاِنْ يَكَادُ الَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِاَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ اِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌۢ

Wa-in yakadu allatheenakafaroo layuzliqoonaka bi-absarihim lamma samiAAooaththikra wayaqooloona innahu lamajnoon

Those who are kafir all but strike you down with their evil looks when they hear the Reminder and say, ‘He is quite mad. ’

وَمَا هُوَ اِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَم۪ينَ

Wama huwa illa thikrunlilAAalameen

But it is nothing less than a Reminder to all the worlds.