الـقـلـم

1 Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,

1 Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write, -

1 Noon waalqalami wama yasturoona

2 By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.

2 Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.

2 Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoonin

3 And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.

3 Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:

3 Wainna laka laajran ghayra mamnoonin

4 And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.

4 And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.

4 Wainnaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheemin

5 So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,

5 Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,

5 Fasatubsiru wayubsiroona

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

6 Biayyikumu almaftoonu

7 Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right course.

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.

7 Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dalla AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bialmuhtadeena

8 So do not yield to the rejecters.

8 So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).

8 Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeena

9 They wish that you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.

9 Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.

9 Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoona

10 And yield not to any mean swearer

10 Heed not the type of despicable men, - ready with oaths,

10 Wala tutiAA kulla hallafin maheenin

11 Defamer, going about with slander

11 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

11 Hammazin mashshain binameemin

12 Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,

12 (Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,

12 MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheemin

13 Ignoble, besides all that, base - born;

13 Violent (and cruel), - with all that, base - born, -

13 AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneemin

14 Because he possesses wealth and sons.

14 Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.

14 An kana tha malin wabaneena

15 When Our communications are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore.

15 When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!

15 Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna qala asateeru alawwaleena

16 We will brand him on the nose.

16 Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!

16 Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoomi

17 Surely We will try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore that they would certainly cut off the produce in the morning,

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.

17 Inna balawnahum kama balawna ashaba aljannati ith aqsamoo layasrimunnaha musbiheena

18 And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).

18 But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").

18 Wala yastathnoona

19 Then there encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.

19 Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.

19 Fatafa AAalayha taifun min rabbika wahum naimoona

20 So it became as black, barren land.

20 So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).

20 Faasbahat kaalssareemi

21 And they called out to each other in the morning,

21 As the morning broke, they called out, one to another, -

21 Fatanadaw musbiheena

22 Saying: Go early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).

22 "Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."

22 Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum in kuntum sarimeena

23 So they went, while they consulted together secretly,

23 So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying) -

23 Faintalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoona

24 Saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you.

24 "Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."

24 An la yadkhulannaha alyawma AAalaykum miskeenun

25 And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.

25 And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.

25 Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireena

26 But when they saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray

26 But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:

26 Falamma raawha qaloo inna ladalloona

27 Nay! we are made to suffer privation.

27 "Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"

27 Bal nahnu mahroomoona

28 The best of them said: Did I not say to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?

28 Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify (Allah)?'"

28 Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawla tusabbihoona

29 They said: Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.

29 They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"

29 Qaloo subhana rabbina inna kunna thalimeena

30 Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.

30 Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.

30 Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatalawamoona

31 Said they: O woe to us! surely we were inordinate:

31 They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!

31 Qaloo ya waylana inna kunna tagheena

32 Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our humble petition.

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)!"

32 AAasa rabbuna an yubdilana khayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboona

33 Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did they but know!

33 Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter, - if only they knew!

33 Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu alakhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

34 Surely those who guard (against evil) shall have with their Lord gardens of bliss.

34 Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.

34 Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannati alnnaAAeemi

35 What! shall We then make (that is, treat) those who submit as the guilty?

35 Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?

35 AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kaalmujrimeena

36 What has happened to you? How do you judge?

36 What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

36 Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoona

37 Or have you a book wherein you read,

37 Or have ye a book through which ye learn -

37 Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoona

38 That you have surely therein what you choose?

38 That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

38 Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroona

39 Or have you received from Us an agreement confirmed by an oath extending to the day of resurrection that you shall surely have what you demand?

39 Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?

39 Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatun ila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoona

40 Ask them which of them will vouch for that,

40 Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!

40 Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeemun

41 Or have they associates if they are truthful.

41 Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!

41 Am lahum shurakao falyatoo bishurakaihim in kanoo sadiqeena

42 On the day when there shall be a severe affliction, and they shall be called upon to make obeisance, but they shall not be able,

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, -

42 Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawna ila alssujoodi fala yastateeAAoona

43 Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them; and they were called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.

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).

43 KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ila alssujoodi wahum salimoona

44 So leave Me and him who rejects this announcement; We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not:

44 Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.

44 Fatharnee waman yukaththibu bihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythu la yaAAlamoona

45 And I do bear with them, surely My plan is firm.

45 A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.

45 Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateenun

46 Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?

46 Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt? -

46 Am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqaloona

47 Or have they (the knowledge of) the unseen, so that they write (it) down?

47 Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?

47 Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboona

48 So wait patiently for the judgment of your Lord, and be not like the companion of the fish, when he cried while he was in distress.

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.

48 Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nada wahuwa makthoomun

49 Were it not that favor from his Lord had overtaken him, he would certainly have been cast down upon the naked Found while he was blamed.

49 Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.

49 Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatun min rabbihi lanubitha bialAAarai wahuwa mathmoomun

50 Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the good.

50 Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.

50 Faijtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahu mina alssaliheena

51 And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: Most surely he is mad.

51 And the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"

51 Wain yakadu allatheena kafaroo layuzliqoonaka biabsarihim lamma samiAAoo alththikra wayaqooloona innahu lamajnoonun

52 And it is naught but a reminder to the nations.

52 But it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.

52 Wama huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena