Chapter 68, 52 verses
Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,
Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,
Noon waalqalami wama yasturoona
Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write, -
You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.
By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.
Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoonin
Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.
And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.
Wainna laka laajran ghayra mamnoonin
Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.
Wainnaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheemin
And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
So you will see and they will see
So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,
Fasatubsiru wayubsiroona
Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
Biayyikumu almaftoonu
Which of you is afflicted with madness.
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.
Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dalla AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bialmuhtadeena
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.
Then do not obey the deniers.
So do not yield to the rejecters.
Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeena
So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).
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.
Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoona
Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.
And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer
And yield not to any mean swearer
Wala tutiAA kulla hallafin maheenin
Heed not the type of despicable men, - ready with oaths,
[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -
Defamer, going about with slander
Hammazin mashshain binameemin
A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,
Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,
MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheemin
(Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.
Ignoble, besides all that, base - born;
AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneemin
Violent (and cruel), - with all that, base - born, -
Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,
Because he possesses wealth and sons.
An kana tha malin wabaneena
Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
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.
Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna qala asateeru alawwaleena
When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!
We will brand him upon the snout.
We will brand him on the nose.
Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoomi
Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!
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,
Inna balawnahum kama balawna ashaba aljannati ith aqsamoo layasrimunnaha musbiheena
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 making exception.
And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).
Wala yastathnoona
But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").
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.
Fatafa AAalayha taifun min rabbika wahum naimoona
Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.
And it became as though reaped.
So it became as black, barren land.
Faasbahat kaalssareemi
So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).
And they called one another at morning,
And they called out to each other in the morning,
Fatanadaw musbiheena
As the morning broke, they called out, one to another, -
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."
Saying: Go early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).
Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum in kuntum sarimeena
"Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
So they went, while they consulted together secretly,
Faintalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoona
So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying) -
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."
Saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you.
An la yadkhulannaha alyawma AAalaykum miskeenun
"Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.
And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.
Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireena
And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;
But when they saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray
Falamma raawha qaloo inna ladalloona
But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:
Rather, we have been deprived."
Nay! we are made to suffer privation.
Bal nahnu mahroomoona
"Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"
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)?
Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawla tusabbihoona
Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify (Allah)?'"
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
They said: Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.
Qaloo subhana rabbina inna kunna thalimeena
They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.
Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatalawamoona
Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.
Said they: O woe to us! surely we were inordinate:
Qaloo ya waylana inna kunna tagheena
They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
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.
AAasa rabbuna an yubdilana khayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboona
"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 [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!
Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu alakhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona
Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter, - if only they knew!
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.
Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannati alnnaAAeemi
Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?
What! shall We then make (that is, treat) those who submit as the guilty?
AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kaalmujrimeena
Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?
What has happened to you? How do you judge?
Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoona
What is the matter with you? How judge ye?
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
Or have you a book wherein you read,
Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoona
Or have ye a book through which ye learn -
That indeed for you is whatever you choose?
That you have surely therein what you choose?
Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroona
That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?
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?
Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatun ila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoona
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, for that [claim], is responsible.
Ask them which of them will vouch for that,
Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeemun
Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!
Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.
Or have they associates if they are truthful.
Am lahum shurakao falyatoo bishurakaihim in kanoo sadiqeena
Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!
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,
Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawna ila alssujoodi fala yastateeAAoona
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 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.
KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ila alssujoodi wahum salimoona
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).
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:
Fatharnee waman yukaththibu bihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythu la yaAAlamoona
Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.
And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.
And I do bear with them, surely My plan is firm.
Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateenun
A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.
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?
Am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqaloona
Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt? -
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?
Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboona
Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
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.
Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nada wahuwa makthoomun
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.
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.
Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatun min rabbihi lanubitha bialAAarai wahuwa mathmoomun
Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.
And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the good.
Faijtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahu mina alssaliheena
Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.
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.
Wain yakadu allatheena kafaroo layuzliqoonaka biabsarihim lamma samiAAoo alththikra wayaqooloona innahu lamajnoonun
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 not except a reminder to the worlds.
And it is naught but a reminder to the nations.
Wama huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena
But it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.