Al-Qalam
سُورَةُ القَلَمِ
The Pen
**In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful** The Chapter, revealed in Mecca, has 52 Verses. Some Qur’an exegetes have entertained doubts about the Revelation of all the blessed Verses of the Chapter in Mecca, though the Chapter stands in total harmony with Meccan Chapters in terms of tone and content, since above all, it treats of the Noble Prophet’s (S) Prophetic call and confrontation with the foes who regarded him as insane, call to patience and steadfastness, and warning the opponents against Divine torments. All in all, the topics discussed in the Chapter may be epitomized as follows: 1. The blessed Chapter opens with some of the excellences peculiar to the Messenger of Allah (S), particularly his nobilities, and proceeds to lay emphasis on them. 2. The blessed Chapter proceeds with an enumeration of his foes’ vices. 3. Making mention of the people of Paradise actually serves as a warning against the evil polytheists. 4. Mention is also made of miscellaneous material regarding the Day of Resurrection and the disbelievers’ torments. 5. The Noble Prophet of the Islamic faith (S) is enjoined to persevere and exercise patience against obdurate foes. 6. Warnings against polytheists. 7. Finally, the blessed Chapter in question closes with the glory of the Holy Qur’an and different conspiracies of enemies against the Noble Prophet (S). The designation of the Chapter, mentioned by some as Nun, derives from the opening Verse. Though some of the traditions narrated on the merits of the blessed Chapter reflect that the title is Nun wa ’l-Qalam.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon
NUN. I CALL to witness the pen and what they inscribe,
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍۢ
Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoon
You are not demented by the grace of your Lord.
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍۢ
Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon
There is surely reward unending for you,
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍۢ
Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeem
For you are verily born of sublime nature.
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon
So you will see, and they will realise,
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ
Bi ayyikumul maftoon
Who is distracted.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen
Verily your Lord knows those who have gone astray from His path, and He knows those who are guided on the way.
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeen
So do not comply with those who deny:
وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon
They only want that you should relent, so that they may come to terms.
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍۢ مَّهِينٍ
Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheen
Do not heed a contemptible swearer,
هَمَّازٍۢ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍۢ
Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameem
Or backbiter, calumniator, slanderer,
مَّنَّاعٍۢ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem
Who hinders men from (doing) good, the transgressor, the iniquitous,
عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
'Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneem
Crude, and above all, mean and infamous,
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍۢ وَبَنِينَ
An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen
Simply because he possesses wealth and children.
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen
When you recite Our revelations to him, he says: "These are fables of long ago."
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ
Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoom
We shall brand him on the muzzle.
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen
We have tried you as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed to gather the fruits in the morning
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
Wa laa yastasnoon
But did not add: "If God may please."
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ
Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoon
Then a calamity from your Lord fell upon it, but they remained fast asleep.
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
Fa asbahat kassareem
So by the morning it seemed as though picked clean.
فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ
Fatanaadaw musbiheen
At daybreak they called to each other:
أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ
Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen
"If you want to gather the fruits, let us go early to the plantation."
فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon
So they departed, talking in low voices:
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌۭ
Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen
"Let no needy person come to you within it today."
وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍۢ قَٰدِرِينَ
Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireen
They left early in the morning bent on this purpose.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon
When they saw (and did not recognise it) they said: "Surely we have lost the way.
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
No. In fact we have been deprived of it."
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon
One who was temperate among them, said: "Did I not say: 'Why don't you priase God?'"
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen
"Glory to our Lord," they said; we were really in the wrong."
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoon
Then they started blaming one another,
قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen
Saying: "Alas the woe, we were iniquitous.
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
'Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon
Maybe our Lord will give us better than this. We turn to our Lord in supplication."
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon
Such is Our chastisement; and the punishment of the Hereafter will be greater, if only they knew!
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eem
For those who fear God there are pleasure gardens with their Lord.
أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen
Should We treat those who submit and obey in the same way as those who are culpable?
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon
What has come upon you that you judge in such a wise?
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌۭ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon
Or have you a Book in which you read
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon
That you can surely have whatever you choose?
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon
Or have you taken a binding promise from Us which would hold till the Day of Judgement, that you will get whatever you demand?
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eem
Ask them: "Which of you is able to vouch for this?"
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ
Am lahum shurakaaa'u falyaatoo bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen
Or have they any partners? Let them bring their partners then, if what they say is true.
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍۢ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
Yawma yukshafu 'am saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oon
On the day the great calamity befalls, and they are called to bow in homage, they will not be able to do so.
خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ
Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon
Lowered will be their eyes, disgrace overwhelming them. They had indeed been called to bow in homage when they were free of blame.
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoon
So leave those who deny this Discourse to Me. We shall lead them step by step to (ruin) in a way they will not know.
وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ
Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen
Yet I will give them respite: Surely My plan is compact.
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًۭا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍۢ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon
Do you ask for any compensation from them that they are burdened with want?
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon
Or do they have knowledge of the unknown which they copy down?
فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌۭ
Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom
So wait with patience for the judgement of your Lord, and do not be like (onah) of the fish who called (to his Lord) when he was choked with anger.
لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌۭ
Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoom
Had it not been for a favour from his Lord he would have been cast blame-worthy on a barren plain.
فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheen
Then his Lord chose him and placed him among the upright.
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌۭ
Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon
But the unbelievers would like to stare you out of balance when they hear the warning, and say: "Surely he is possessed;"
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ
Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen
Whilst it is no more than reminder for the people of the world.