Chapter 68, 52 verses
Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith),
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).
By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.
مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.
You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), by the Grace of your Lord, are not mad.
And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ
And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.
And Verily, for you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will be an endless reward.
And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.
And Verily, you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are on an exalted (standard of) character.
So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
And thou wilt see and they will see
You will see, and they will see,
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
بِأَييِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ
Which of you is the demented.
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right course.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.
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.
So do not yield to the rejecters.
فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Therefor obey not thou the rejecters
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]
They wish that you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.
وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.
They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them: so they (too) would compromise with you.
And yield not to any mean swearer
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ
Neither obey thou each feeble oath - monger,
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]
Defamer, going about with slander
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ
Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,
Ignoble, besides all that, base - born;
عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
Greedy therewithal, intrusive.
Cruel, and moreover base-born (of illegitimate birth).
Because he possesses wealth and sons.
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ
It is because he is possessed of wealth and children
(He was so) because he had wealth and children.
When Our communications are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore.
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.
When Our Verses (of the Qur'an) are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the men of old!"
We will brand him on the nose.
سَنَسِمُهُ عَلَى الْخُرْطُومِ
We shall brand him on the nose.
We shall brand him on the snout (nose)!
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,
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning,
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,
And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);
Without saying: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills).
Then there encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ
Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept
Then there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep.
So it became as black, barren land.
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ
And in the morning it was as if plucked.
So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins).
And they called out to each other in the morning,
فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ
And they cried out one unto another in the morning,
Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke.
Saying: Go early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).
أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ
Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).
Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits."
So they went, while they consulted together secretly,
فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ
So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying):
Saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you.
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
No needy man shall enter it to - day against you.
"No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today."
And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.
وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ
They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.
And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom).
But when they saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ
But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!
But when they saw the (garden), they said: "Verily, we have gone astray."
Nay! we are made to suffer privation.
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Nay, but we are desolate!
(Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!"
The best of them said: Did I not say to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah) ?
The best among them said: "Did I not tell you: why say you not: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills)."
They said: Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ
They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong - doers.
They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zalimun (wrong-doers)."
Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ
Then some of them drew near unto others, self - reproaching.
Then they turned one against another, blaming.
Said they: O woe to us! surely we were inordinate:
قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ
They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.
They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient)
Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our humble petition.
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَا أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ
It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.
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).
Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did they but know!
كَذَٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.
Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.
Surely those who guard (against evil) shall have with their Lord gardens of bliss.
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.
Verily, for the Muttaqun (the pious - See V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.
What! shall We then make (that is, treat) those who submit as the guilty?
أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ
Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty ?
Shall We then treat the Muslims (believers of Islamic Monotheism, doers of righteous deeds) like the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?
What has happened to you? How do you judge?
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
What aileth you ? How foolishly ye judge!
What is the matter with you? How judge you?
Or have you a book wherein you read,
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn
Or have you a Book wherein you learn,
That you have surely therein what you choose?
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose ?
That you shall therein have all that you choose?
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?
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain ?
Or have you oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection, that yours will be what you judge?
Ask them which of them will vouch for that,
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!
Ask them, which of them will stand surety for that!
Or have they associates if they are truthful.
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ
Or have they other gods ? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful
Or have they "partners"? Then let them bring their "partners" if they are truthful!
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,
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,
(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.
Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them; and they were called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.
خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ
With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.
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).
So leave Me and him who rejects this announcement; We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not:
فَذَرْنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
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.
Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.
And I do bear with them, surely My plan is firm.
وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ
Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.
And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong.
Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?
أَمْ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed ?
Or is it that you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) ask them a wage, so that they are heavily burdened with debt?
Or have they (the knowledge of) the unseen, so that they write (it) down?
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof) ?
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?
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.
فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.
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).
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.
لَّوْلَا أَن تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ
Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.
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.
Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the good.
فَاجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.
Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: Most surely he is mad.
وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ
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;
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!"
And it is naught but a reminder to the nations.
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.
But it is nothing else than a Reminder to all the 'Alamin (mankind, and jinn).