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, -
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.
And Verily, for you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will be an endless reward.
Nay, verily for thee is 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.
You will see, and they will see,
Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
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.
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).
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.
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,
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,
(Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
Cruel, and moreover base-born (of illegitimate birth).
Violent (and cruel), - with all that, base - born, -
(He was so) because he had wealth and children.
Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
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!
We shall brand him on the snout (nose)!
Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!
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.
Without saying: Insha' Allah (If Allah wills).
But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").
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.
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).
Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke.
As the morning broke, they called out, one to another, -
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."
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying):
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying) -
"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."
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.
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:
(Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!"
"Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"
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)?'"
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!"
Then they turned one against another, blaming.
Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.
They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient)
They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
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)!"
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!
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.
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?
What is the matter with you? How judge you?
What is the matter with you? How judge ye?
Or have you a Book wherein you learn,
Or have ye a book through which ye learn -
That you shall therein have all that you choose?
That ye shall have, through it whatever 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?
Ask them, which of them will stand surety for that!
Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety 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!
(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, -
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).
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.
And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong.
A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.
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? -
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?
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.
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.
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.
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!"
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.