Al Qalam

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith),

1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Nun. [These letters (Nun, etc.) are one of the miracles of the Qur'an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. By the pen and by what they (the angels) write (in the Records of men).

2 Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.

2 You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), by the Grace of your Lord, are not mad.

3 And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.

3 And Verily, for you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will be an endless reward.

4 And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.

4 And Verily, you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are on an exalted (standard of) character.

5 And thou wilt see and they will see

5 You will see, and they will see,

6 Which of you is the demented.

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

7 Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.

7 Verily, your Lord is the Best Knower of him who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Knower of those who are guided.

8 Therefor obey not thou the rejecters

8 So (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) obey you not the deniers [(of Islamic Monotheism - those who belie the Verses of Allah), the Oneness of Allah, and the Messengership of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم]

9 Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.

9 They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them: so they (too) would compromise with you.

10 Neither obey thou each feeble oath - monger,

10 And (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) obey you not everyone Hallaf Mahin (the one who swears much and is a liar or is worthless). [Tafsir At-Tabari]

11 Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,

11 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

12 Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor

12 Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,

13 Greedy therewithal, intrusive.

13 Cruel, and moreover base-born (of illegitimate birth).

14 It is because he is possessed of wealth and children

14 (He was so) because he had wealth and children.

15 That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.

15 When Our Verses (of the Qur'an) are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the men of old!"

16 We shall brand him on the nose.

16 We shall brand him on the snout (nose)!

17 Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning,

17 Verily, We have tried them as We tried the people of the garden, when they swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden) in the morning,

18 And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);

18 Without saying: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills).

19 Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept

19 Then there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep.

20 And in the morning it was as if plucked.

20 So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins).

21 And they cried out one unto another in the morning,

21 Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke.

22 Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).

22 Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits."

23 So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:

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

24 No needy man shall enter it to - day against you.

24 "No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today."

25 They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.

25 And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom).

26 But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!

26 But when they saw the (garden), they said: "Verily, we have gone astray."

27 Nay, but we are desolate!

27 (Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!"

28 The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah) ?

28 The best among them said: "Did I not tell you: why say you not: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills)."

29 They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong - doers.

29 They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zalimun (wrong-doers)."

30 Then some of them drew near unto others, self - reproaching.

30 Then they turned one against another, blaming.

31 They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.

31 They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient)

32 It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.

32 We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord (wishing for good that He may forgive our sins and reward us in the Hereafter).

33 Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.

33 Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.

34 Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.

34 Verily, for the Muttaqun (the pious - See V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.

35 Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty ?

35 Shall We then treat the Muslims (believers of Islamic Monotheism, doers of righteous deeds) like the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?

36 What aileth you ? How foolishly ye judge!

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

37 Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn

37 Or have you a Book wherein you learn,

38 That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose ?

38 That you shall therein have all that you choose?

39 Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain ?

39 Or have you oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection, that yours will be what you judge?

40 Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!

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

41 Or have they other gods ? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful

41 Or have they "partners"? Then let them bring their "partners" if they are truthful!

42 On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,

42 (Remember) the Day when the Shin shall be laid bare (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) and they shall be called to prostrate themselves (to Allah), but they (hypocrites) shall not be able to do so.

43 With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.

43 Their eyes will be cast down and ignominy will cover them; they used to be called to prostrate themselves (offer prayers), while they were healthy and good (in the life of the world, but they did not).

44 Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.

44 Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.

45 Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.

45 And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong.

46 Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed ?

46 Or is it that you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) ask them a wage, so that they are heavily burdened with debt?

47 Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof) ?

47 Or that the Ghaib (the Unseen - here in this Verse it means Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz) is in their hands, so that they can write it down?

48 But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.

48 So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish - when he cried out (to Us) while he was in deep sorrow. (See the Qur'an, Verse 21:87).

49 Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.

49 Had not a Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been (left in the stomach of the fish, but We forgave him): so he was cast off on the naked shore, while he was to be blamed.

50 But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.

50 Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.

51 And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;

51 And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes (through hatred) when they hear the Reminder (the Qur'an), and they say: "Verily, he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is a madman!"

52 When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.

52 But it is nothing else than a Reminder to all the 'Alamin (mankind, and jinn).