Surah Qalam — The Pen

نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ 68:1

Noon walqalami wama yasturoon

Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith),

مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ 68:2

Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoon

Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ 68:3

Wa-inna laka laajran ghayra mamnoon

And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ 68:4

Wa-innaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheem

And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ 68:5

Fasatubsiru wayubsiroon

And thou wilt see and they will see

بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ 68:6

Bi-ayyikumu almaftoon

Which of you is the demented.

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ 68:7

Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dallaAAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bilmuhtadeen

Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ 68:8

Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeen

Therefor obey not thou the rejecters

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ 68:9

Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoon

Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ 68:10

Wala tutiAA kulla hallafinmaheen

Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger,

هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ 68:11

Hammazin mashsha-in binameem

Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,

مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ 68:12

MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheem

Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor

عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ 68:13

AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneem

Greedy therewithal, intrusive.

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ 68:14

An kana tha malinwabaneen

It is because he is possessed of wealth and children

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 68:15

Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatunaqala asateeru al-awwaleen

That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ 68:16

Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoom

We shall brand him on the nose.

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ 68:17

Inna balawnahum kamabalawna as-haba aljannati ith aqsamoolayasrimunnaha musbiheen

Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning,

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ 68:18

Wala yastathnoon

And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ 68:19

Fatafa AAalayha ta-ifunmin rabbika wahum na-imoon

Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ 68:20

Faasbahat kassareem

And in the morning it was as if plucked.

فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ 68:21

Fatanadaw musbiheen

And they cried out one unto another in the morning,

أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰرِمِينَ 68:22

Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum inkuntum sarimeen

Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ 68:23

Fantalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoon

So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ 68:24

An la yadkhulannaha alyawmaAAalaykum miskeen

No needy man shall enter it to-day against you.

وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَـٰدِرِينَ 68:25

Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireen

They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ 68:26

Falamma raawha qalooinna ladalloon

But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ 68:27

Bal nahnu mahroomoon

Nay, but we are desolate!

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ 68:28

Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakumlawla tusabbihoon

The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah)?

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ 68:29

Qaloo subhana rabbinainna kunna thalimeen

They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong-doers.

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ 68:30

Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdinyatalawamoon

Then some of them drew near unto others, self-reproaching.

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِينَ 68:31

Qaloo ya waylana innakunna tagheen

They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ 68:32

AAasa rabbuna an yubdilanakhayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboon

It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ 68:33

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabual-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoon

Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ 68:34

Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannatiannaAAeem

Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.

أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ 68:35

AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kalmujrimeen

Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty?

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ 68:36

Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoon

What aileth you? How foolishly ye judge!

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ 68:37

Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoon

Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ 68:38

Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroon

That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose?

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَـٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَـٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ 68:39

Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatunila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoon

Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain?

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ 68:40

Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeem

Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِينَ 68:41

Am lahum shurakao falya/too bishuraka-ihimin kanoo sadiqeen

Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ 68:42

Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawnaila assujoodi fala yastateeAAoon

On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,

خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَـٰلِمُونَ 68:43

KhashiAAatan absaruhumtarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ilaassujoodi wahum salimoon

With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 68:44

Fatharnee waman yukaththibubihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythula yaAAlamoon

Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.

وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ 68:45

Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateen

Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.

أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ 68:46

Am tas-aluhum ajran fahum min maghraminmuthqaloon

Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed?

أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ 68:47

Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboon

Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof)?

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ 68:48

Fasbir lihukmi rabbikawala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nadawahuwa makthoom

But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.

لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ 68:49

Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatunmin rabbihi lanubitha bilAAara-i wahuwa mathmoom

Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.

فَٱجْتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ 68:50

Fajtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahumina assaliheen

But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ 68:51

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

And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 68:52

Wama huwa illa thikrunlilAAalameen

When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.