Al Qalam

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

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 By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 You will see, and they will see,

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

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

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 So do not yield to 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 They wish that you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.

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

10 And yield not to any mean swearer

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 Defamer, going about with slander

11 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

12 Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,

12 Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,

13 Ignoble, besides all that, base - born;

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

14 Because he possesses wealth and sons.

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

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

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

16 We will brand him on the nose.

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

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 swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden) in the morning,

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

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

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

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

20 So it became as black, barren land.

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

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

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

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

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

23 So they went, while they consulted together secretly,

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

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

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

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

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: Most surely we have gone astray

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

27 Nay! we are made to suffer privation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

30 Then they turned one against another, blaming.

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

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

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

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 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 truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.

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

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

35 What! shall We then make (that is, treat) those who submit as 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 has happened to you? How do you judge?

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

37 Or have you a book wherein you read,

37 Or have you a Book wherein you learn,

38 That you have surely therein what you choose?

38 That you shall therein have all that you choose?

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

40 Ask them which of them will vouch for that,

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

41 Or have they associates if they are truthful.

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

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 (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 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 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 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 belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 And it is naught but a reminder to the nations.

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