68: Al-Qalam القلم

Text and Translation

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

BISMIL LAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

نٓ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ (1)

NOOON, WAL QALAME WA MAA YASTOROON.

Nun. By the Pen and what they write:

مَآ اَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ (2)

MAA ANTA BE-NE’MATE RABBEKA BE-MAJNOON.

by your Lord’s blessing, you are not, crazy,

وَاِنَّ لَكَ لَاَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ (3)

WA INNA LAKA LA-AJRAN GHAYRA MAMNOON.

and yours indeed will be an everlasting reward,

وَاِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ (4)

WA INNAKA LA-A’LAA KHOLOQIN A’ZEEM.

and indeed you possess a great character.

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ (5)

FASATUBSERO WA YUBSEROON.

You will see and they will see,

بِاَييِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ (6)

BE-AYYEKOMUL MAFTOON.

which one of you is crazy.

اِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ (7)

INNA RABBAKA HOWA A-A’LAMO BEMAN ZALLA A’N SABEELEHI WA HOWA A-A’LAMO BIL-MOHTADEEN.

Indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His way, and He knows best those who are guided.

فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ (8)

FALAA TOTE-I’L MOKAZZEBEEN.

So do not obey the deniers,

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ (9)

WADDOO LAW TUDHENO FA-YUDHENOON.

who are eager that you should be flexible, so that they [too] may be flexible [towards you].

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ (10)

WA LAA TOTE’ KULLA HALLAAFIM MAHEEN.

And do not obey any vile swearer,

هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ (11)

HAMMAAZIM MASH-SHAAA-IM BE-NAMEEM.

scandal-monger, talebearer,

مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ اَثِيمٍ (12)

MANNAA-I’L LIL-KHAYRE MO’TADIN ASEEM.

hinderer of all good, sinful transgressor,

عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ (13)

O’TULLIM BA’DA ZAALEKA ZANEEM.

callous and, on top of that, baseborn

اَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ (14)

AN KAANA ZAA MAALINW WA BANEEN.

—[who behaves in such a manner only] because he has wealth and children.

اِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايٰتُنَا قَالَ اَسٰطِيرُ الْاَوَّلِينَ (15)

EZAA TUTLAA A’LAYHE AAYAATONAA QAALA ASAATEERUL AWWALEEN.

When Our signs are recited to him, he says, ‘Myths of the ancients!’

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى الْخُرْطُومِ (16)

SANASEMOHU A’LAL KHURTOOM.

Soon We shall brand him on his snout.

اِنَّا بَلَوْنٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ اَصْحٰبَ الْجَنَّةِ اِذْ اَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ (17)

INNAA BALAWNAAHUM KAMAA BALAWNAA ASHAABAL JANNATE IZ AQSAMOO LAYASREMUNNAHAA MUSBEHEEN.

Indeed we have tested them just as We tested the People of the Garden when they vowed they would gather its fruit at dawn,

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ (18)

WA LAA YASTASNOON.

and they did not make any exception.

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ (19)

FA-TAAFA A’LAYHAA TAAA-EFUM MIR RABBEKA WA HUM NAAA-EMOON.

Then, a visitation from your Lord visited it while they were asleep.

فَاَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ (20)

FA-ASBAHAT KAS-SAREEM.

So, by dawn it was like a harvested field.

فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ (21)

FA-TANAADAW MUSBEHEEN.

At dawn they called out to one another,

اَنِ اغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ اِن كُنتُمْ صٰرِمِينَ (22)

ANIGH DOO A’LAA HARSEKUM IN KUNTUM SAAREMEEN.

‘Get off early to your field if you have to gather [the fruits].’

فَانطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخٰفَتُونَ (23)

FANTALAQOO WA HUM YATAKHAAFATOON.

So off they went, murmuring to one another:

اَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ (24)

AL LAA YADKHOLANNAHAL YAWMA A’LAYKUM MISKEEN.

‘Today no needy man shall come to you in it.’

وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قٰدِرِينَ (25)

WA GHADAW A’LAA HARDIN QAADEREEN.

And they set out at early morning, [considering themselves] able to deprive [the poor of its fruit].

فَلَمَّا رَاَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ اِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ (26)

FALAMMAA RA-AWHAA QAALOO INNAA LA-ZAALLOON.

But when they saw it, they said, ‘We have indeed lost our way!’

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ (27)

BAL NAHNO MAHROOMOON.

‘No, it is we who have been deprived!’

قَالَ اَوْسَطُهُمْ اَلَمْ اَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ (28)

QAALA AWSATOHUM ALAM AQUL LAKUM LAWLAA TOSABBEHOON.

The most upright among them said, ‘Did I not tell you, ‘‘Why do you not glorify [Allah]?’’ ’

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّنَآ اِنَّا كُنَّا ظٰلِمِينَ (29)

QAALOO SUBHAANA RABBENAA INNAA KUNNAA ZAALEMEEN.

They said, ‘Immaculate is our Lord! We have indeed been wrongdoers!’

فَاَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلٰوَمُونَ (30)

FA-AQBALA BA’ZOHUM A’LAA BA’ZIN-Y YATALAAWAMOON.

Then they turned to one another, blaming each other.

قَالُوا۟ يٰوَيْلَنَآ اِنَّا كُنَّا طٰغِينَ (31)

QAALOO YAA WAYLANAA INNAA KUNNAA TAAGHEEN.

They said, ‘Woe to us! Indeed, we have been rebellious.

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ اَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ اِنَّآ اِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رٰغِبُونَ (32)

A’SAA RABBONAA AN-Y YUBDELANAA KHAYRAM MINHAA INNAA ELAA RABBENAA RAAGHEBOON.

Maybe our Lord will give us a better one in its place. Indeed we earnestly beseech our Lord.’

كَذٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الْءَاخِرَةِ اَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ (33)

KAZAALEKAL A’ZAAB, WA LA-A’ZAABUL AAKHERATE AKBAR, LAW KAANOO YA’LAMOON.

Such was their punishment; and the punishment of the Hereafter is surely greater, had they known.

اِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِيمِ (34)

INNA LIL-MUTTAQEENA I’NDA RABBEHIM JANNAATIN NA-E’EM.

Indeed for the Godwary there will be gardens of bliss near their Lord.

اَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ (35)

AFA-NAJ-A’LUL MUSLEMEENA KAL-MUJREMEEN.

Shall We treat those who submit [to Us] as [We treat] the guilty?

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ (36)

MAA LAKUM KAYFA TAHKOMOON.

What is the matter with you? How do you judge!

اَمْ لَكُمْ كِتٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ (37)

AM LAKUM KETAABUN FEEHE TADROSOON.

Do you possess a scripture in which you read

اِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ (38)

INNA LAKUM FEEHE LAMAA TAKHAYYAROON.

that you shall have in it whatever you choose?

اَمْ لَكُمْ اَيْمٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بٰلِغَةٌ اِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ اِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ (39)

AM LAKUM AYMAANUN A’LAYNAA BAALEGHATUN ELAA YAWMIL QEYAAMATE, INNA LAKUM LAMAA TAHKOMOON.

Do you have a pledge binding on Us until the Day of Resurrection, that you shall indeed have whatever you decide?

سَلْهُمْ اَيُّهُم بِذٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ (40)

SALHUM AYYOHUM BEZAALEKA ZA-E’EM.

Ask them, which of them will aver [any of] that!

اَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَاْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ اِن كَانُوا۟ صٰدِقِينَ (41)

AM LAHUM SHORAKAAA-O FALYAATOO BE-SHORAKAAA-EHIM IN KAANOO SAADEQEEN.

Do they have any ‘partners’ [that they claim for Allah]? Then let them produce their partners, if they are truthful.

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ اِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ (42)

YAWMA YUKSHAFO A’N SAAQINW WA YUD-A’WNA ELAS SOJOODE FALAA YASTATEE-O’ON.

The day when the catastrophe occurs and they are summoned to prostrate themselves, they will not be able [to do it].

خٰشِعَةً اَبْصٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ اِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سٰلِمُونَ (43)

KHAASHE-A’TAN ABSAAROHUM TARHAQOHUM ZILLAH, WA QAD KAANOO YUD-A’WNA ELAS SOJOODE WA HUM SAALEMOON.

With a humbled look [in their eyes], they will be overcast by abasement. Certainly, they were summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet sound.

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (44)

FA-ZARNEE WA MAN-Y YOKAZZEBO BEHAAZAL HADEES, SANASTADREJOHUM MIN HAYSO LAA YA’LAMOON.

So leave Me with those who deny this discourse. We will draw them imperceptibly [into ruin], whence they do not know.

وَاُمْلِى لَهُمْ اِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ (45)

WA UMLEE LAHUM, INNA KAYDEE MATEEN.

I will grant them respite, for My devising is indeed sure.

اَمْ تَسَْٔلُهُمْ اَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ (46)

AM TAS-ALOHUM AJRAN FAHUM MIM MAGHRAMIM MUSQALOON.

Do you ask them for a reward, so that they are weighed down with debt?

اَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ (47)

AM I’NDAHOMUL GHAYBO FAHUM YAKTOBOON.

Do they possess [access to] the Unseen, so that they write it down?

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ اِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ (48)

FASBIR LE-HUKME RABBEKA WA LAA TAKUN KASAAHEBIL HOOTE IZ NAADAA WA HOWA MAKZOOM.

So submit patiently to the judgement of your Lord, and do not be like the Man of the Fish who called out as he choked with grief.

لَّوْلَآ اَن تَدٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ (49)

LAWLAA AN TADAARAKAHU NE’MATUM MIR RABBEHI LANOBEZA BIL-A’RAAA-E WA HOWA MAZMOOM.

Had it not been for a blessing that came to his rescue from his Lord, he would surely have been cast on the bare shore, being blameworthy.

فَاجْتَبٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِينَ (50)

FAJTABAAHO RABBOHU FA-JA-A’LAHU MENAS SAALEHEEN.

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

وَاِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِاَبْصٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ اِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ (51)

WA IN-Y YAKAADUL LAZEENA KAFAROO LAYUZLEQOONAKA BE-ABSAAREHIM LAMMAA SAME-U’Z ZIKRA WA YAQOOLOONA INNAHU LA-MAJNOON.

Indeed the faithless almost devour you with their eyes when they hear this Reminder, and they say, ‘He is indeed crazy.’

وَمَا هُوَ اِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعٰلَمِينَ (52)

WA MAA HOWA ILLAA ZIKRUL LIL-A’ALAMEEN.

Yet it is just a reminder for all the nations.