Al Qalam

1 Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write, -

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 Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.

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

3 Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:

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

4 And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.

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

5 Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,

5 You will see, and they will see,

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

6 Which of you is afflicted with madness.

7 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.

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 So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).

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 Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.

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

10 Heed not the type of despicable men, - ready with oaths,

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 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

11 A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

12 (Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,

12 Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,

13 Violent (and cruel), - with all that, base - born, -

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

14 Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.

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

15 When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!

15 When Our Verses (of the Qur'an) are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the men of old!"

16 Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!

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

17 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.

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 But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").

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

19 Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, 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 So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).

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

21 As the morning broke, they called out, one to another, -

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

22 "Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."

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

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

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

24 "Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."

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

25 And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.

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 the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:

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

27 "Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"

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

28 Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify (Allah)?'"

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

29 They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"

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

30 Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.

30 Then they turned one against another, blaming.

31 They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!

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

32 "It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!"

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 (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter, - if only they knew!

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

34 Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.

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

35 Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?

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 judge ye?

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

37 Or have ye a book through which ye learn -

37 Or have you a Book wherein you learn,

38 That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

38 That you shall therein have all that you choose?

39 Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?

39 Or have you oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection, that yours will be what you judge?

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

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

41 Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!

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

42 The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall 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 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).

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 Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.

44 Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.

45 A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.

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

46 Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt? -

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 that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can 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 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.

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 Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.

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 Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.

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

51 And the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"

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 nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.

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