Al-Qalam - Ummah.com

68: The Pen (سُورَةُ القَلَمِ)

Revealed in Makkah. Number of ayahs: 52

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Ayah Text in عربي, English (Yusuf Ali translation), عربي (بدون تشكيل) and transliteration
1

Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ن ۚ والقلم وما يسطرون
Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon
2

Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
ما أنت بنعمة ربك بمجنون
Maa anta bini’mati Rabbika bimajnoon
3

Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
وإن لك لأجرا غير ممنون
Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon
4

And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
وإنك لعلى خلق عظيم
Wa innaka la’alaa khuluqin ‘azeem
5

Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
فستبصر ويبصرون
Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon
6

Which of you is afflicted with madness.
بأييكم المفتون
Bi ayyikumul maftoon
7

Verily it is thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He knoweth best those who receive (true) Guidance.
إن ربك هو أعلم بمن ضل عن سبيله وهو أعلم بالمهتدين
Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a’lamu biman dalla ‘an sabeelihee wa Huwa a’lamu bilmuhtadeen
8

So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).
فلا تطع المكذبين
Falaa tuti’il mukazzibeen
9

Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.
ودوا لو تدهن فيدهنون
Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon
10

Heed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,
ولا تطع كل حلاف مهين
Wa laa tuti’ kulla hallaa fim maheen
11

A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
هماز مشاء بنميم
Hammaazim mash shaaa’im binameem
12

(Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
مناع للخير معتد أثيم
Mannaa’il lilkhairi mu’tadin aseem
13

Violent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,-
عتل بعد ذلك زنيم
‘Utullim ba’da zaalika zaneem
14

Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
أن كان ذا مال وبنين
An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen
15

When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, “Tales of the ancients”, he cries!
إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولين
Izaa tutlaa ‘alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen
16

Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!
سنسمه على الخرطوم
Sanasimuhoo ‘alal khurtoom
17

Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.
إنا بلوناهم كما بلونا أصحاب الجنة إذ أقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين
Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz ‘aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen
18

But made no reservation, (“If it be Allah’s Will”).
ولا يستثنون
Wa laa yastasnoon
19

Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.
فطاف عليها طائف من ربك وهم نائمون
Fataafa ‘alaihaa taaa’i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa’imoon
20

So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).
فأصبحت كالصريم
Fa asbahat kassareem
21

As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-
فتنادوا مصبحين
Fatanaadaw musbiheen
22

“Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits.”
أن اغدوا على حرثكم إن كنتم صارمين
Anighdoo ‘alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen
23

So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-
فانطلقوا وهم يتخافتون
Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon
24

“Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day.”
أن لا يدخلنها اليوم عليكم مسكين
Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma ‘alaikum miskeen
25

And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
وغدوا على حرد قادرين
Wa ghadaw ‘alaa hardin qaadireen
26

But when they saw the (garden), they said: “We have surely lost our way:
فلما رأوها قالوا إنا لضالون
Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon
27

“Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!”
بل نحن محرومون
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
28

Said one of them, more just (than the rest): “Did I not say to you, ‘Why not glorify (Allah)?'”
قال أوسطهم ألم أقل لكم لولا تسبحون
Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon
29

They said: “Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!”
قالوا سبحان ربنا إنا كنا ظالمين
Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen
30

Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.
فأقبل بعضهم على بعض يتلاومون
Fa aqbala ba’duhum ‘alaa ba’diny yatalaawamoon
31

They said: “Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
قالوا يا ويلنا إنا كنا طاغين
Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen
32

“It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!”
عسى ربنا أن يبدلنا خيرا منها إنا إلى ربنا راغبون
‘Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon
33

Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!
كذلك العذاب ۖ ولعذاب الآخرة أكبر ۚ لو كانوا يعلمون
Kazaalikal azaab, wa la’azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya’lamoon
34

Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.
إن للمتقين عند ربهم جنات النعيم
Inna lilmuttaqeena ‘inda rabbihim jannaatin na’eem
35

Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?
أفنجعل المسلمين كالمجرمين
Afanaj’alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen
36

What is the matter with you? How judge ye?
ما لكم كيف تحكمون
Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon
37

Or have ye a book through which ye learn-
أم لكم كتاب فيه تدرسون
Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon
38

That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?
إن لكم فيه لما تخيرون
Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon
39

Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?
أم لكم أيمان علينا بالغة إلى يوم القيامة ۙ إن لكم لما تحكمون
Am lakum aymaanun ‘alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon
40

Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!
سلهم أيهم بذلك زعيم
Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za’eem
41

Or have they some “Partners” (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their “partners”, if they are truthful!
أم لهم شركاء فليأتوا بشركائهم إن كانوا صادقين
Am lahum shurakaaa’u falyaatoo bishurakaaa ‘ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen
42

The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able,-
يوم يكشف عن ساق ويدعون إلى السجود فلا يستطيعون
Yawma yukshafu ‘am saaqinw wa yud’awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee’oon
43

Their eyes will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).
خاشعة أبصارهم ترهقهم ذلة ۖ وقد كانوا يدعون إلى السجود وهم سالمون
Khaashi’atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud’awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon
44

Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.
فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا الحديث ۖ سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون
Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya’lamoon
45

A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.
وأملي لهم ۚ إن كيدي متين
Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen
46

Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt?-
أم تسألهم أجرا فهم من مغرم مثقلون
Am tas’aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon
47

Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
أم عندهم الغيب فهم يكتبون
Am ‘indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon
48

So wait with patience for the Command of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish,- when he cried out in agony.
فاصبر لحكم ربك ولا تكن كصاحب الحوت إذ نادى وهو مكظوم
Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom
49

Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.
لولا أن تداركه نعمة من ربه لنبذ بالعراء وهو مذموم
Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni’matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil’araaa’i wa huwa mazmoom
50

Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.
فاجتباه ربه فجعله من الصالحين
Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja’alahoo minas saaliheen
51

And the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: “Surely he is possessed!”
وإن يكاد الذين كفروا ليزلقونك بأبصارهم لما سمعوا الذكر ويقولون إنه لمجنون
Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml’uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon
52

But it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.
وما هو إلا ذكر للعالمين
Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil’aalameen