Surah Al-Qalam القلم

نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ ١

Nūn wal-qalami wamā yasturūn

Nūn.¹⁷²⁴ By the pen and what they inscribe,

مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٖ ٢

Mā anta bini'mati rabbika bimajnūn

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

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٖ ٣

Wa inna laka la ajran ghayra mamnūn

And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ ٤

Wa innaka la'alā khuluqin 'azīm

And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ ٥

Fasatubsiru wayubsirūn

So you will see and they will see

بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ٦

Bi ayyikumul-maftūn

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

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ ٧

Inna rabbaka huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabīlihī wahuwa a'lamu bil-muhtadīn

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

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٨

Falā tuti'il-mukaddhibīn

Then do not obey the deniers.

وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ ٩

Waddū law tudhinu fayudhinūn

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

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافٖ مَّهِينٍ ١٠

Walā tuti' kulla hallāfim mahīn

And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمٖ ١١

Hammāzim masshā'i binamīm

[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -

مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ ١٢

Mmannā'il lil-khayri mu'tadin athīm

A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ ١٣

'Utulli ba'da dhālika zanīm

Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.¹⁷²⁵

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٖ وَبَنِينَ ١٤

An kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٥

Idhā tutlā 'alayhi āyātunā qāla asātīrul-awwalīn

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

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ١٦

Sanasimuhū 'alal-khurtūm

We will brand him upon the snout.¹⁷²⁶

إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ ١٧

Innā balawnāhum kamā balawnā ashābal-jannati idh aqsamū layasrimunnahā musbihīn

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

وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ١٨

Walā yastathnūn

Without making exception.¹⁷²⁷

فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ ١٩

Fatāfa 'alayhā tā'ifum mir rabbika wahum nā'imūn

So there came upon it [i.e., the garden] an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ٢٠

Fa asbahat kas-sarīm

And it became as though reaped.

فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ ٢١

Fatanādaw musbihīn

And they called one another at morning,

أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ ٢٢

Anighdū 'alā harthikum in kuntum sārimīn

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

فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ٢٣

Fantalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

So they set out, while lowering their voices,

أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ ٢٤

Al lā yadkhulannahal-yawma 'alaykum miskīn

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

وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ ٢٥

Waghadaw 'alā hardin qādirīn

And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.¹⁷²⁸

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ ٢٦

Falammā ra'awhā qālū innā ladāllūn

But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ٢٧

Bal nahnu mahrūmūn

Rather, we have been deprived."

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ٢٨

Qāla awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbihūn

The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allāh]?'"¹⁷²⁹

قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ٢٩

Qālū subhāna rabbinā innā kunnā zālimīn

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

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ ٣٠

Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alā ba'din yatalāwamūn

Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ ٣١

Qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā tāghīn

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

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ ٣٢

'Asā rabbunā an yubdilanā khayram minhā innā ilā rabbinā rāghibūn

Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."¹⁷³⁰

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٣

Kadhālikal-'adhābu wala'adhābul-ākhirati akbaru law kānū ya'lamūn

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

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ٣٤

Inna lil-muttaqīna 'inda rabbihim jannātin-na'īm

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

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ٣٥

Afanaj'alul-muslimīna kal-mujrimīn

Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ٣٦

Mā lakum kayfa tahkumūn

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

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبٞ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ٣٧

Am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ ٣٨

Inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ ٣٩

Am lakum aymānun 'alaynā bālighatun ilā yawmil-qiyāmati inna lakum lamā tahkumūn

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

سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ ٤٠

Salhum ayyuhum bidhālika za'īm

Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ ٤١

Am lahum shurakā'u falya'tū bishurakā'ihim in kānū sādiqīn

Or do they have partners?¹⁷³¹ Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.

يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ ٤٢

Yawma yukshafu 'an sāqin wayud'awna ilas-sujūdi falā yastatī'ūn

The Day the shin will be uncovered¹⁷³² and they are invited to prostration but they [i.e., the disbelievers] will not be able,

خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةٞۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ ٤٣

Khāshi'atan absāruhum tarhaquhum dhillatun waqad kānū yud'awna ilas-sujūdi wahum sālimūn

Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.¹⁷³³

فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٤٤

Fadharnī waman yukaddhibu bihādhal-hadīthi sanastadrijuhum min haythu lā ya'lamūn

So leave Me, [O Muḥammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies this statement [i.e., the Qur’ān]. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.¹⁷³⁴

وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ ٤٥

Wa umlī lahum inna kaydī matīn

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

أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ٤٦

Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim muthqalūn

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

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ ٤٧

Am 'indahumul-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

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

فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومٞ ٤٨

Fasbir lihukmi rabbika walā takun kasāhibil-hūti idh nādā wahuwa makzūm

Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muḥammad], and be not like the companion of the fish [i.e., Jonah] when he called out while he was distressed.

لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومٞ ٤٩

Llawlā an tadārakahū ni'matum mir rabbihī lanubidha bil-'arā'i wahuwa madhmūm

If not that a favor [i.e., mercy] from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.¹⁷³⁵

فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ٥٠

Fajtabāhu rabbuhū faja'alahū minas-sālihīn

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

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونٞ ٥١

Wa in yakādul-ladhīna kafarū layuzliqūnaka bi absārihim lammā sami'udh-dhikra wayaqūlūna innahū lamajnūn

And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes [i.e., looks] when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad."

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٥٢

Wamā huwa illā dhikrul lil-'ālamīn

But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.