Al Qalam

1 Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,

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 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 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 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 You will see, and they will see,

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

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 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 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 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 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 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

12 A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

12 Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,

13 Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.

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

14 Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

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

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

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

23 So they set out, while lowering their voices,

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

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

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

27 Rather, we have been deprived."

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

30 Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

30 Then they turned one against another, blaming.

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

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 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 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 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 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 What is the matter with you? How judge you?

37 Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

37 Or have you a Book wherein you learn,

38 That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

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