Chapter 68, 52 verses
Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,
Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ن ۚ والقلم وما يسطرون
نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.
By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.
ما أنت بنعمة ربك بمجنون
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.
And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.
وإن لك لأجرا غير ممنون
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.
وإنك لعلى خلق عظيم
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
So you will see and they will see
So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,
فستبصر ويبصرون
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
بأييكم المفتون
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ
Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right course.
إن ربك هو أعلم بمن ضل عن سبيله وهو أعلم بالمهتدين
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Then do not obey the deniers.
So do not yield to the rejecters.
فلا تطع المكذبين
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].
They wish that you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.
ودوا لو تدهن فيدهنون
وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer
And yield not to any mean swearer
ولا تطع كل حلاف مهين
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ
[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -
Defamer, going about with slander
هماز مشاء بنميم
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ
A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,
Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,
مناع للخير معتد أثيم
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.
Ignoble, besides all that, base - born;
عتل بعد ذلك زنيم
عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,
Because he possesses wealth and sons.
أن كان ذا مال وبنين
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."
When Our communications are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore.
إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولين
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
We will brand him upon the snout.
We will brand him on the nose.
سنسمه على الخرطوم
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ
Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning
Surely We will try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore that they would certainly cut off the produce in the morning,
إنا بلوناهم كما بلونا أصحاب الجنة إذ أقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
Without making exception.
And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).
ولا يستثنون
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.
Then there encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.
فطاف عليها طائف من ربك وهم نائمون
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ
And it became as though reaped.
So it became as black, barren land.
فأصبحت كالصريم
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
And they called one another at morning,
And they called out to each other in the morning,
فتنادوا مصبحين
فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."
Saying: Go early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).
أن اغدوا على حرثكم إن كنتم صارمين
أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
So they went, while they consulted together secretly,
فانطلقوا وهم يتخافتون
فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."
Saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you.
أن لا يدخلنها اليوم عليكم مسكين
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.
And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.
وغدوا على حرد قادرين
وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَٰدِرِينَ
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;
But when they saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray
فلما رأوها قالوا إنا لضالون
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
Rather, we have been deprived."
Nay! we are made to suffer privation.
بل نحن محرومون
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]?' "
The best of them said: Did I not say to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?
قال أوسطهم ألم أقل لكم لولا تسبحون
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
They said: Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.
قالوا سبحان ربنا إنا كنا ظالمين
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.
فأقبل بعضهم على بعض يتلاومون
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.
Said they: O woe to us! surely we were inordinate:
قالوا يا ويلنا إنا كنا طاغين
قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."
Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our humble petition.
عسى ربنا أن يبدلنا خيرا منها إنا إلى ربنا راغبون
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did they but know!
كذلك العذاب ۖ ولعذاب الآخرة أكبر ۚ لو كانوا يعلمون
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.
Surely those who guard (against evil) shall have with their Lord gardens of bliss.
إن للمتقين عند ربهم جنات النعيم
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?
What! shall We then make (that is, treat) those who submit as the guilty?
أفنجعل المسلمين كالمجرمين
أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?
What has happened to you? How do you judge?
ما لكم كيف تحكمون
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
Or have you a book wherein you read,
أم لكم كتاب فيه تدرسون
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
That indeed for you is whatever you choose?
That you have surely therein what you choose?
إن لكم فيه لما تخيرون
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?
Or have you received from Us an agreement confirmed by an oath extending to the day of resurrection that you shall surely have what you demand?
أم لكم أيمان علينا بالغة إلى يوم القيامة ۙ إن لكم لما تحكمون
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.
Ask them which of them will vouch for that,
سلهم أيهم بذلك زعيم
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.
Or have they associates if they are truthful.
أم لهم شركاء فليأتوا بشركائهم إن كانوا صادقين
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ
The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,
On the day when there shall be a severe affliction, and they shall be called upon to make obeisance, but they shall not be able,
يوم يكشف عن ساق ويدعون إلى السجود فلا يستطيعون
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.
Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them; and they were called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.
خاشعة أبصارهم ترهقهم ذلة ۖ وقد كانوا يدعون إلى السجود وهم سالمون
خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ
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.
So leave Me and him who rejects this announcement; We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not:
فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا الحديث ۖ سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.
And I do bear with them, surely My plan is firm.
وأملي لهم ۚ إن كيدي متين
وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ
Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?
Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?
أم تسألهم أجرا فهم من مغرم مثقلون
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?
Or have they (the knowledge of) the unseen, so that they write (it) down?
أم عندهم الغيب فهم يكتبون
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
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 patiently for the judgment of your Lord, and be not like the companion of the fish, when he cried while he was in distress.
فاصبر لحكم ربك ولا تكن كصاحب الحوت إذ نادى وهو مكظوم
فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.
Were it not that favor from his Lord had overtaken him, he would certainly have been cast down upon the naked Found while he was blamed.
لولا أن تداركه نعمة من ربه لنبذ بالعراء وهو مذموم
لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ
And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the good.
فاجتباه ربه فجعله من الصالحين
فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
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 those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: Most surely he is mad.
وإن يكاد الذين كفروا ليزلقونك بأبصارهم لما سمعوا الذكر ويقولون إنه لمجنون
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ
But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.
And it is naught but a reminder to the nations.
وما هو إلا ذكر للعالمين
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ