68. Al-Qalam

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ1

Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,

Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon

مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍۢ2

You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.

Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoon

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍۢ3

And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.

Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍۢ4

And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeem

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ5

So you will see and they will see

Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon

بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ6

Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].

Bi ayyikumul maftoon

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ7

Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ8

Then do not obey the deniers.

Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeen

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ9

They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].

Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍۢ مَّهِينٍ10

And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheen

هَمَّازٍۢ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍۢ11

[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -

Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameem

مَّنَّاعٍۢ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ12

A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem

عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ13

Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.

'Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneem

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍۢ وَبَنِينَ14

Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ15

When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."

Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ16

We will brand him upon the snout.

Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoom

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ17

Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ18

Without making exception.

Wa laa yastasnoon

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ19

So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoon

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ20

And it became as though reaped.

Fa asbahat kassareem

فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ21

And they called one another at morning,

Fatanaadaw musbiheen

أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ22

[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."

Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ23

So they set out, while lowering their voices,

Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌۭ24

[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."

Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen

وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍۢ قَٰدِرِينَ25

And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.

Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireen

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ26

But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;

Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ27

Rather, we have been deprived."

Bal nahnu mahroomoon

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ28

The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]?' "

Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ29

They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ30

Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoon

قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ31

They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.

Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ32

Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."

'Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ33

Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.

Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ34

Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.

Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eem

أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ35

Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ36

What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?

Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌۭ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ37

Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ38

That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ39

Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?

Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ40

Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.

Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eem

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ41

Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.

Am lahum shurakaaa'u falyaatoo bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍۢ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ42

The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,

Yawma yukshafu 'am saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oon

خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ43

Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.

Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ44

So leave Me, [O Muhammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies the Qur'an. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.

Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoon

وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ45

And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.

Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen

أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًۭا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍۢ مُّثْقَلُونَ46

Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?

Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon

أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ47

Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?

Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌۭ48

Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed.

Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom

لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌۭ49

If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.

Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoom

فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ50

And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.

Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheen

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌۭ51

And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad."

Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ52

But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.

Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen