Chapter 68, 52 verses
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).
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ن ۚ والقلم وما يسطرون
Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,
Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write, -
نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), by the Grace of your Lord, are not mad.
ما أنت بنعمة ربك بمجنون
You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.
Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
And Verily, for you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will be an endless reward.
وإن لك لأجرا غير ممنون
And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.
Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ
And Verily, you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are on an exalted (standard of) character.
وإنك لعلى خلق عظيم
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
You will see, and they will see,
فستبصر ويبصرون
So you will see and they will see
Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
بأييكم المفتون
Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ
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.
إن ربك هو أعلم بمن ضل عن سبيله وهو أعلم بالمهتدين
Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
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.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
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]
فلا تطع المكذبين
Then do not obey the deniers.
So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them: so they (too) would compromise with you.
ودوا لو تدهن فيدهنون
They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].
Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.
وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
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]
ولا تطع كل حلاف مهين
And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer
Heed not the type of despicable men, - ready with oaths,
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
هماز مشاء بنميم
[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,
مناع للخير معتد أثيم
A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,
(Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Cruel, and moreover base-born (of illegitimate birth).
عتل بعد ذلك زنيم
Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.
Violent (and cruel), - with all that, base - born, -
عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
(He was so) because he had wealth and children.
أن كان ذا مال وبنين
Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,
Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ
When Our Verses (of the Qur'an) are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the men of old!"
إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولين
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."
When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
We shall brand him on the snout (nose)!
سنسمه على الخرطوم
We will brand him upon the snout.
Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ
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,
إنا بلوناهم كما بلونا أصحاب الجنة إذ أقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين
Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning
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.
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
Without saying: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills).
ولا يستثنون
Without making exception.
But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
Then there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep.
فطاف عليها طائف من ربك وهم نائمون
So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.
Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ
So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins).
فأصبحت كالصريم
And it became as though reaped.
So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke.
فتنادوا مصبحين
And they called one another at morning,
As the morning broke, they called out, one to another, -
فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ
Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits."
أن اغدوا على حرثكم إن كنتم صارمين
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."
"Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."
أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying):
فانطلقوا وهم يتخافتون
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying) -
فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
"No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today."
أن لا يدخلنها اليوم عليكم مسكين
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."
"Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom).
وغدوا على حرد قادرين
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.
And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَٰدِرِينَ
But when they saw the (garden), they said: "Verily, we have gone astray."
فلما رأوها قالوا إنا لضالون
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;
But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
(Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!"
بل نحن محرومون
Rather, we have been deprived."
"Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
The best among them said: "Did I not tell you: why say you not: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills)."
قال أوسطهم ألم أقل لكم لولا تسبحون
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]?' "
Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify (Allah)?'"
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zalimun (wrong-doers)."
قالوا سبحان ربنا إنا كنا ظالمين
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
Then they turned one against another, blaming.
فأقبل بعضهم على بعض يتلاومون
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient)
قالوا يا ويلنا إنا كنا طاغين
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.
They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
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).
عسى ربنا أن يبدلنا خيرا منها إنا إلى ربنا راغبون
Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."
"It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!"
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.
كذلك العذاب ۖ ولعذاب الآخرة أكبر ۚ لو كانوا يعلمون
Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter, - if only they knew!
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
Verily, for the Muttaqun (the pious - See V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.
إن للمتقين عند ربهم جنات النعيم
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.
Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Shall We then treat the Muslims (believers of Islamic Monotheism, doers of righteous deeds) like the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?
أفنجعل المسلمين كالمجرمين
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?
Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?
أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
What is the matter with you? How judge you?
ما لكم كيف تحكمون
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?
What is the matter with you? How judge ye?
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Or have you a Book wherein you learn,
أم لكم كتاب فيه تدرسون
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
Or have ye a book through which ye learn -
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
That you shall therein have all that you choose?
إن لكم فيه لما تخيرون
That indeed for you is whatever you choose?
That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
Or have you oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection, that yours will be what you judge?
أم لكم أيمان علينا بالغة إلى يوم القيامة ۙ إن لكم لما تحكمون
Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?
Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
Ask them, which of them will stand surety for that!
سلهم أيهم بذلك زعيم
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.
Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Or have they "partners"? Then let them bring their "partners" if they are truthful!
أم لهم شركاء فليأتوا بشركائهم إن كانوا صادقين
Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.
Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ
(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.
يوم يكشف عن ساق ويدعون إلى السجود فلا يستطيعون
The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,
The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able, -
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
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).
خاشعة أبصارهم ترهقهم ذلة ۖ وقد كانوا يدعون إلى السجود وهم سالمون
Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.
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).
خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ
Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.
فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا الحديث ۖ سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون
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.
Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong.
وأملي لهم ۚ إن كيدي متين
And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.
A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.
وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ
Or is it that you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) ask them a wage, so that they are heavily burdened with debt?
أم تسألهم أجرا فهم من مغرم مثقلون
Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?
Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt? -
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
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?
أم عندهم الغيب فهم يكتبون
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?
Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
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).
فاصبر لحكم ربك ولا تكن كصاحب الحوت إذ نادى وهو مكظوم
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.
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.
فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
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.
لولا أن تداركه نعمة من ربه لنبذ بالعراء وهو مذموم
If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.
Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.
لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ
Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
فاجتباه ربه فجعله من الصالحين
And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.
فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
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!"
وإن يكاد الذين كفروا ليزلقونك بأبصارهم لما سمعوا الذكر ويقولون إنه لمجنون
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."
And the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ
But it is nothing else than a Reminder to all the 'Alamin (mankind, and jinn).
وما هو إلا ذكر للعالمين
But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.
But it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ