الـقـلـم

1 Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,

1 Noon waalqalami wama yasturoona

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 You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.

2 Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoonin

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

3 And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.

3 Wainna laka laajran ghayra mamnoonin

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

4 And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

4 Wainnaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheemin

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

5 So you will see and they will see

5 Fasatubsiru wayubsiroona

5 You will see, and they will see,

6 Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].

6 Biayyikumu almaftoonu

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

7 Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

7 Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dalla AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bialmuhtadeena

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 Then do not obey the deniers.

8 Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeena

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 would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].

9 Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoona

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

10 And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

10 Wala tutiAA kulla hallafin maheenin

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 [And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -

11 Hammazin mashshain binameemin

11 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

12 A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

12 MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheemin

12 Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,

13 Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.

13 AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneemin

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

14 Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

14 An kana tha malin wabaneena

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

15 When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."

15 Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna qala asateeru alawwaleena

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 upon the snout.

16 Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoomi

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

17 Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

17 Inna balawnahum kama balawna ashaba aljannati ith aqsamoo layasrimunnaha musbiheena

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 Without making exception.

18 Wala yastathnoona

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

19 So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

19 Fatafa AAalayha taifun min rabbika wahum naimoona

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

20 And it became as though reaped.

20 Faasbahat kaalssareemi

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

21 And they called one another at morning,

21 Fatanadaw musbiheena

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

22 [Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."

22 Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum in kuntum sarimeena

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

23 So they set out, while lowering their voices,

23 Faintalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoona

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

24 [Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."

24 An la yadkhulannaha alyawma AAalaykum miskeenun

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

25 And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.

25 Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireena

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, "Indeed, we are lost;

26 Falamma raawha qaloo inna ladalloona

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

27 Rather, we have been deprived."

27 Bal nahnu mahroomoona

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

28 The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]?' "

28 Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawla tusabbihoona

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

29 They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

29 Qaloo subhana rabbina inna kunna thalimeena

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

30 Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

30 Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatalawamoona

30 Then they turned one against another, blaming.

31 They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.

31 Qaloo ya waylana inna kunna tagheena

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

32 Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."

32 AAasa rabbuna an yubdilana khayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboona

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 punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.

33 Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu alakhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

33 Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.

34 Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.

34 Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannati alnnaAAeemi

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

35 Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

35 AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kaalmujrimeena

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 is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?

36 Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoona

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

37 Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

37 Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoona

37 Or have you a Book wherein you learn,

38 That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

38 Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroona

38 That you shall therein have all that you choose?

39 Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?

39 Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatun ila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoona

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, for that [claim], is responsible.

40 Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeemun

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

41 Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.

41 Am lahum shurakao falyatoo bishurakaihim in kanoo sadiqeena

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

42 The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,

42 Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawna ila alssujoodi fala yastateeAAoona

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 eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.

43 KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ila alssujoodi wahum salimoona

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, [O Muhammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies the Qur'an. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.

44 Fatharnee waman yukaththibu bihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythu la yaAAlamoona

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 will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.

45 Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateenun

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

46 Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?

46 Am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqaloona

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 [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?

47 Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboona

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 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.

48 Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nada wahuwa makthoomun

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 If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.

49 Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatun min rabbihi lanubitha bialAAarai wahuwa mathmoomun

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 And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.

50 Faijtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahu mina alssaliheena

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

51 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."

51 Wain yakadu allatheena kafaroo layuzliqoonaka biabsarihim lamma samiAAoo alththikra wayaqooloona innahu lamajnoonun

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 But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.

52 Wama huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena

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