Chapter 68, 52 verses
Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,
Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ن ۚ والقلم وما يسطرون
نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.
You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.
ما أنت بنعمة ربك بمجنون
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.
And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.
وإن لك لأجرا غير ممنون
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ
And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
وإنك لعلى خلق عظيم
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,
So you will see and they will see
فستبصر ويبصرون
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].
بأييكم المفتون
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ
Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right course.
Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
إن ربك هو أعلم بمن ضل عن سبيله وهو أعلم بالمهتدين
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
So do not yield to the rejecters.
Then do not obey the deniers.
فلا تطع المكذبين
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
They wish that you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.
They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].
ودوا لو تدهن فيدهنون
وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
And yield not to any mean swearer
And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer
ولا تطع كل حلاف مهين
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ
Defamer, going about with slander
[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -
هماز مشاء بنميم
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ
Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,
A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,
مناع للخير معتد أثيم
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Ignoble, besides all that, base - born;
Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.
عتل بعد ذلك زنيم
عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
Because he possesses wealth and sons.
Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,
أن كان ذا مال وبنين
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ
When Our communications are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore.
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."
إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولين
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
We will brand him on the nose.
We will brand him upon the snout.
سنسمه على الخرطوم
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ
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,
Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning
إنا بلوناهم كما بلونا أصحاب الجنة إذ أقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).
Without making exception.
ولا يستثنون
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
Then there encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.
So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.
فطاف عليها طائف من ربك وهم نائمون
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ
So it became as black, barren land.
And it became as though reaped.
فأصبحت كالصريم
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
And they called out to each other in the morning,
And they called one another at morning,
فتنادوا مصبحين
فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ
Saying: Go early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."
أن اغدوا على حرثكم إن كنتم صارمين
أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ
So they went, while they consulted together secretly,
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
فانطلقوا وهم يتخافتون
فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
Saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you.
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."
أن لا يدخلنها اليوم عليكم مسكين
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.
وغدوا على حرد قادرين
وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَٰدِرِينَ
But when they saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;
فلما رأوها قالوا إنا لضالون
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
Nay! we are made to suffer privation.
Rather, we have been deprived."
بل نحن محرومون
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
The best of them said: Did I not say to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]?' "
قال أوسطهم ألم أقل لكم لولا تسبحون
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
They said: Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
قالوا سبحان ربنا إنا كنا ظالمين
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
فأقبل بعضهم على بعض يتلاومون
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
Said they: O woe to us! surely we were inordinate:
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.
قالوا يا ويلنا إنا كنا طاغين
قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our humble petition.
Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."
عسى ربنا أن يبدلنا خيرا منها إنا إلى ربنا راغبون
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did they but know!
Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
كذلك العذاب ۖ ولعذاب الآخرة أكبر ۚ لو كانوا يعلمون
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
Surely those who guard (against evil) shall have with their Lord gardens of bliss.
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.
إن للمتقين عند ربهم جنات النعيم
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
What! shall We then make (that is, treat) those who submit as the guilty?
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?
أفنجعل المسلمين كالمجرمين
أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
What has happened to you? How do you judge?
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?
ما لكم كيف تحكمون
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Or have you a book wherein you read,
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
أم لكم كتاب فيه تدرسون
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
That you have surely therein what you choose?
That indeed for you is whatever you choose?
إن لكم فيه لما تخيرون
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
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?
Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?
أم لكم أيمان علينا بالغة إلى يوم القيامة ۙ إن لكم لما تحكمون
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
Ask them which of them will vouch for that,
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.
سلهم أيهم بذلك زعيم
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Or have they associates if they are truthful.
Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.
أم لهم شركاء فليأتوا بشركائهم إن كانوا صادقين
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ
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,
The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,
يوم يكشف عن ساق ويدعون إلى السجود فلا يستطيعون
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them; and they were called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.
Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.
خاشعة أبصارهم ترهقهم ذلة ۖ وقد كانوا يدعون إلى السجود وهم سالمون
خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ
So leave Me and him who rejects this announcement; We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not:
So leave Me, [O Muhammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies the Qur'an. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.
فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا الحديث ۖ سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And I do bear with them, surely My plan is firm.
And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.
وأملي لهم ۚ إن كيدي متين
وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ
Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?
Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?
أم تسألهم أجرا فهم من مغرم مثقلون
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Or have they (the knowledge of) the unseen, so that they write (it) down?
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?
أم عندهم الغيب فهم يكتبون
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
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.
Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed.
فاصبر لحكم ربك ولا تكن كصاحب الحوت إذ نادى وهو مكظوم
فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
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.
If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.
لولا أن تداركه نعمة من ربه لنبذ بالعراء وهو مذموم
لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ
Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the good.
And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
فاجتباه ربه فجعله من الصالحين
فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: Most surely he is mad.
And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad."
وإن يكاد الذين كفروا ليزلقونك بأبصارهم لما سمعوا الذكر ويقولون إنه لمجنون
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ
And it is naught but a reminder to the nations.
But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.
وما هو إلا ذكر للعالمين
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ