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).
Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) 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),
You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), by the Grace of your Lord, are not mad.
Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.
And Verily, for you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will be an endless reward.
Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ
And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.
And Verily, you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are on an exalted (standard of) character.
And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.
You will see, and they will see,
Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
And thou wilt see and they will see
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
بِأَييِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ
Which of you is the demented.
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.
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 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.
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]
So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).
فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Therefor obey not thou the rejecters
They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them: so they (too) would compromise with you.
Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.
وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.
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]
Heed not the type of despicable men, - ready with oaths,
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ
Neither obey thou each feeble oath - monger,
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ
Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,
(Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor
Cruel, and moreover base-born (of illegitimate birth).
Violent (and cruel), - with all that, base - born, -
عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
Greedy therewithal, intrusive.
(He was so) because he had wealth and children.
Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ
It is because he is possessed of wealth and children
When Our Verses (of the Qur'an) are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the men of old!"
When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.
We shall brand him on the snout (nose)!
Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!
سَنَسِمُهُ عَلَى الْخُرْطُومِ
We shall brand him on the nose.
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,
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 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,
Without saying: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills).
But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);
Then there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it 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 طَائِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ
Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept
So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins).
So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ
And in the morning it was as if plucked.
Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke.
As the morning broke, they called out, one to another, -
فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ
And they cried out one unto another in the morning,
Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits."
"Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."
أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ
Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying):
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying) -
فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ
So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:
"No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today."
"Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
No needy man shall enter it to - day against you.
And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom).
And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ
They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.
But when they saw the (garden), they said: "Verily, we have gone astray."
But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ
But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!
(Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!"
"Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Nay, but we are desolate!
The best among them said: "Did I not tell you: why say you not: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills)."
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
The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah) ?
They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zalimun (wrong-doers)."
They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ
They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong - doers.
Then they turned one against another, blaming.
Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ
Then some of them drew near unto others, self - reproaching.
They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient)
They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ
They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.
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).
"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 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.
Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.
Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter, - if only they knew!
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.
Verily, for the Muttaqun (the pious - See V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.
Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.
Shall We then treat the Muslims (believers of Islamic Monotheism, doers of righteous deeds) like the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?
Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?
أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ
Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty ?
What is the matter with you? How judge you?
What is the matter with you? How judge ye?
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
What aileth you ? How foolishly ye judge!
Or have you a Book wherein you learn,
Or have ye a book through which ye learn -
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn
That you shall therein have all that you choose?
That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose ?
Or have you oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection, that yours will be what 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 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 ?
Ask them, which of them will stand surety for that!
Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!
Or have they "partners"? Then let them bring their "partners" if they are truthful!
Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", 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
(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.
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 السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,
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).
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).
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.
Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.
Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions 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.
And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong.
A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.
وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ
Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.
Or is it that you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) ask them a wage, so that they are heavily burdened with debt?
Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt? -
أَمْ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed ?
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?
Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof) ?
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).
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.
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.
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.
Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.
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.
Then 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.
فَاجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.
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 the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"
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;
But it is nothing else than a Reminder to all the 'Alamin (mankind, and jinn).
But it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.