Surah Al-Qalam, verse 1
نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَNũn. By the pen and what everyone writes!
Al-Qalam (Surah 68)
Al-Qalam (The Pen)
Makki SurahIntroduction
In this Meccan sûrah, the Prophet’s heart is reassured and his character is highly praised. He (ﷺ) is advised to be steadfast and not to yield to the pagans who reject his message and call him insane. The pagans are warned of an evil fate in this world and the Hereafter. To deter the pagans, the fate of some earlier disbelievers is cited in the next sûrah.
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Excellence of the Prophet
1. Nũn. By the pen and what everyone writes! 2. By the grace of your Lord, you (O Prophet) are not insane. 3. You will certainly have a never-ending reward. 4. And you are truly (a man) of outstanding character. 5. Soon you and the pagans will see, 6. which of you is mad 7. Surely your Lord (alone) knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is (rightly) guided.
نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
١
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ٢
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ٣
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ٤
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ٥
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ٦
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ٧
Surah 68 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - Verses 1-7
Warning the Prophet About the Deniers
8. So do not give in to the deniers. 9. They wish you would compromise so they would yield (to you). 10. And do not obey the despicable, vain oath-taker, 11. slanderer, gossip-monger, 12. withholder of good, transgressor, evildoer, 13. brute, and—on top of all that—an illegitimate child. 14. Now, (simply) because he has been blessed with (abundant) wealth and children, 15. whenever Our revelations are recited to him, he says, “Ancient fables!” 16. We will soon mark his snout.
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
٨
وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ٩
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ١٠
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ١١
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ١٢
عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ١٣
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ١٤
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ١٥
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ١٦
Surah 68 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - Verses 8-16
The Test of the Garden Owners
17. Indeed, We have tested those (Meccans) as We tested the owners of the garden—when they swore they would surely harvest (all) its fruit in the early morning, 18. leaving no thought for Allah’s Will. 19. Then it was struck by a torment from your Lord while they slept, 20. so it was reduced to ashes. 21. Then by daybreak they called out to each other, 22. (saying,) “Go early to your harvest, if you want to pick (all) the fruit.” 23. So they went off, whispering to one another, 24. “Do not let any poor person enter your garden today.” 25. And they proceeded early, totally fixated on their purpose. 26. But when they saw it (devastated), they cried, “We must have lost (our) way! 27. In fact, we have been deprived (of our livelihood).” 28. The most sensible of them said, “Did I not urge you to say, ‘Allah willing.’?” 29. They replied, “Glory be to our Lord! We have truly been wrongdoers.” 30. Then they turned on each other, throwing blame. 31. They said, “Woe to us! We have certainly been transgressors. 32. We trust our Lord will give us a better garden than this, (for) we are indeed turning to our Lord with hope.” 33. That is the (way of Our) punishment (in this world). But the punishment of the Hereafter is certainly far worse, if only they knew.
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
١٧
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ١٨
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ١٩
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ٢٠
فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ٢١
أَنِ ٱغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰرِمِينَ٢٢
فَٱنطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ٢٣
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ٢٤
وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَـٰدِرِينَ٢٥
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ٢٦
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ٢٧
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ٢٨
قَالُوا سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ٢٩
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ٣٠
قَالُوا يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِينَ٣١
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ٣٢
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ٣٣
Surah 68 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - Verses 17-33
Questions to the Pagans
34. Indeed, the righteous will have the Gardens of Bliss with their Lord. 35. Should We then treat those who have submitted like the wicked? 36. What is the matter with you? How do you judge? 37. Or do you have a scripture, in which you read 38. that you will have whatever you choose? 39. Or do you have oaths binding on Us until the Day of Judgment that you will have whatever you decide? 40. Ask them (O Prophet) which of them can guarantee all that. 41. Or do they have associate-gods (supporting this claim)? Then let them bring forth their associate-gods, if what they say is true.
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
٣٤
أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ٣٥
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ٣٦
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ٣٧
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ٣٨
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَـٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَـٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ٣٩
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ٤٠
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَـٰدِقِينَ٤١
Surah 68 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - Verses 34-41
Full text of Surah Al-Qalam with translation
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 2
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍBy the grace of your Lord, you (O Prophet) are not insane.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 3
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍYou will certainly have a never-ending reward.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 4
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍAnd you are truly (a man) of outstanding character.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 5
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَSoon you and the pagans will see,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 6
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُwhich of you is mad
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 7
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَSurely your Lord (alone) knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is (rightly) guided.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 8
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَSo do not give in to the deniers.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 9
وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَThey wish you would compromise so they would yield (to you).
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 10
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍAnd do not obey the despicable, vain oath-taker,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 11
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍslanderer, gossip-monger,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 12
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍwithholder of good, transgressor, evildoer,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 13
عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍbrute, and—on top of all that—an illegitimate child.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 14
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَNow, (simply) because he has been blessed with (abundant) wealth and children,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 15
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَwhenever Our revelations are recited to him, he says, “Ancient fables!”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 16
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِWe will soon mark his snout.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 17
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَIndeed, We have tested those (Meccans) as We tested the owners of the garden—when they swore they would surely harvest (all) its fruit in the early morning,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 18
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَleaving no thought for Allah’s Will.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 19
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَThen it was struck by a torment from your Lord while they slept,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 20
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِso it was reduced to ashes.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 21
فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَThen by daybreak they called out to each other,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 22
أَنِ ٱغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰرِمِينَ(saying,) “Go early to your harvest, if you want to pick (all) the fruit.”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 23
فَٱنطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَـٰفَتُونَSo they went off, whispering to one another,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 24
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ“Do not let any poor person enter your garden today.”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 25
وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَـٰدِرِينَAnd they proceeded early, totally fixated on their purpose.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 26
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَBut when they saw it (devastated), they cried, “We must have lost (our) way!
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 27
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَIn fact, we have been deprived (of our livelihood).”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 28
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَThe most sensible of them said, “Did I not urge you to say, ‘Allah willing.’?”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 29
قَالُوا سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَThey replied, “Glory be to our Lord! We have truly been wrongdoers.”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 30
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـٰوَمُونَThen they turned on each other, throwing blame.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 31
قَالُوا يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِينَThey said, “Woe to us! We have certainly been transgressors.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 32
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَWe trust our Lord will give us a better garden than this, (for) we are indeed turning to our Lord with hope.”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 33
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَThat is the (way of Our) punishment (in this world). But the punishment of the Hereafter is certainly far worse, if only they knew.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 34
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِIndeed, the righteous will have the Gardens of Bliss with their Lord.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 35
أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَShould We then treat those who have submitted like the wicked?
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 36
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَWhat is the matter with you? How do you judge?
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 37
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَOr do you have a scripture, in which you read
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 38
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَthat you will have whatever you choose?
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 39
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَـٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَـٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَOr do you have oaths binding on Us until the Day of Judgment that you will have whatever you decide?
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 40
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌAsk them (O Prophet) which of them can guarantee all that.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 41
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَـٰدِقِينَOr do they have associate-gods (supporting this claim)? Then let them bring forth their associate-gods, if what they say is true.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 42
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ(Beware of) the Day the Shin (of Allah) will be bared, and the wicked will be asked to prostrate, but they will not be able to do so,
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 43
خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَـٰلِمُونَwith eyes downcast, totally covered with disgrace. For they were (always) called to prostrate (in the world) when they were fully capable (but they chose not to).
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 44
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَSo leave to Me (O Prophet) those who reject this message. We will gradually draw them to destruction in ways they cannot comprehend.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 45
وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌI (only) delay their end for a while, but My planning is flawless.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 46
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَOr are you asking them for a reward (for the message) so that they are overburdened by debt?
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 47
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَOr do they have access to (the Record in) the unseen, so they copy it (for all to see)?
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 48
فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌSo be patient with your Lord’s decree, and do not be like (Jonah,) the Man of the Whale, who cried out (to Allah), in total distress.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 49
لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌHad he not been shown grace by his Lord, he would have certainly been cast onto the open (shore), still blameworthy.
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 50
فَٱجْتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَThen his Lord chose him, making him one of the righteous
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 51
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌThe disbelievers would almost cut you down with their eyes when they hear (you recite) the Reminder, and say, “He is certainly a madman.”
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 52
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَBut it is simply a reminder to the whole world.