Surah Al-Qalam

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1. نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ١

   68:1

   noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūna

   Nūn. By the pen and what they inscribe,

2. مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٖ٢

   68:2

   mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūnin

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

3. وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٖ٣

   68:3

   wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūnin

   And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.

4. وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ٤

   68:4

   wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmin

   And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

5. فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ٥

   68:5

   fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūna

   So you will see and they will see.

6. بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ٦

   68:6

   bi-ayyikumu l-maftūnu

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

7. إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ٧

   68:7

   inna rabbaka huwa aʿlamu biman ḍalla ʿan sabīlihi wahuwa aʿlamu bil-muh'tadīna

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

8. فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ٨

   68:8

   falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīna

   Then do not obey the deniers.

9. وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ٩

   68:9

   waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūna

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

10. وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافٖ مَّهِينٍ١٠

    68:10

    walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīnin

    And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

11. هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمٖ١١

    68:11

    hammāzin mashāin binamīmin

    [And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -

12. مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ١٢

    68:12

    mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmin

    A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

13. عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ١٣

    68:13

    ʿutullin baʿda dhālika zanīmin

    Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.

14. أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٖ وَبَنِينَ١٤

    68:14

    an kāna dhā mālin wabanīna

    Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

15. إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ١٥

    68:15

    idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīna

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

16. سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ١٦

    68:16

    sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūmi

    We will brand him upon the snout.

17. إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ١٧

    68:17

    innā balawnāhum kamā balawnā aṣḥāba l-janati idh aqsamū layaṣrimunnahā muṣ'biḥīna

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

18. وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ١٨

    68:18

    walā yastathnūna

    Without making exception.

19. فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ١٩

    68:19

    faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūna

    So there came upon it [i.e., the garden] an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

20. فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ٢٠

    68:20

    fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīmi

    And it became as though reaped.

21. فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ٢١

    68:21

    fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīna

    And they called one another at morning,

22. أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ٢٢

    68:22

    ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīna

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

23. فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ٢٣

    68:23

    fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūna

    So they set out, while lowering their voices,

24. أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ٢٤

    68:24

    an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnun

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

25. وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ٢٥

    68:25

    waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīna

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

26. فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ٢٦

    68:26

    falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūna

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

27. بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ٢٧

    68:27

    bal naḥnu maḥrūmūna

    Rather, we have been deprived."

28. قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ٢٨

    68:28

    qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūna

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

29. قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ٢٩

    68:29

    qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīna

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

30. فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ٣٠

    68:30

    fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūna

    Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

31. قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ٣١

    68:31

    qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīna

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

32. عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ٣٢

    68:32

    ʿasā rabbunā an yub'dilanā khayran min'hā innā ilā rabbinā rāghibūna

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

33. كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ٣٣

    68:33

    kadhālika l-ʿadhābu walaʿadhābu l-ākhirati akbaru law kānū yaʿlamūna

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

34. إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ٣٤

    68:34

    inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīmi

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

35. أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ٣٥

    68:35

    afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīna

    Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

36. مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ٣٦

    68:36

    mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūna

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

37. أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبٞ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ٣٧

    68:37

    am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūna

    Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

38. إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ٣٨

    68:38

    inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūna

    That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

39. أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ٣٩

    68:39

    am lakum aymānun ʿalaynā bālighatun ilā yawmi l-qiyāmati inna lakum lamā taḥkumūna

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

40. سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ٤٠

    68:40

    salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmun

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

41. أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ٤١

    68:41

    am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīna

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

42. يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ٤٢

    68:42

    yawma yuk'shafu ʿan sāqin wayud'ʿawna ilā l-sujūdi falā yastaṭīʿūna

    The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but they [i.e., the disbelievers] will not be able,

43. خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةٞۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ٤٣

    68:43

    khāshiʿatan abṣāruhum tarhaquhum dhillatun waqad kānū yud'ʿawna ilā l-sujūdi wahum sālimūna

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

44. فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ٤٤

    68:44

    fadharnī waman yukadhibu bihādhā l-ḥadīthi sanastadrijuhum min ḥaythu lā yaʿlamūna

    So leave Me, [O Muḥammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies this statement [i.e., the Qur’ān]. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.

45. وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ٤٥

    68:45

    wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnun

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

46. أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ٤٦

    68:46

    am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūna

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

47. أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ٤٧

    68:47

    am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūna

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

48. فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومٞ٤٨

    68:48

    fa-iṣ'bir liḥuk'mi rabbika walā takun kaṣāḥibi l-ḥūti idh nādā wahuwa makẓūmun

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

49. لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومٞ٤٩

    68:49

    lawlā an tadārakahu niʿ'matun min rabbihi lanubidha bil-ʿarāi wahuwa madhmūmun

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

50. فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ٥٠

    68:50

    fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīna

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

51. وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونٞ٥١

    68:51

    wa-in yakādu alladhīna kafarū layuz'liqūnaka bi-abṣārihim lammā samiʿū l-dhik'ra wayaqūlūna innahu lamajnūnun

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

52. وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ٥٢

    68:52

    wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīna

    But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.