68. Surah Al-Qalam

No. Transliteration English Arabic
1. Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoonNun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,- ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
2. Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoonThou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.مَا أَنْتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
3. Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoonNay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ
4. Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeemAnd thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
5. Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroonSoon wilt thou see, and they will see,فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
6. Bi ayyikumul maftoonWhich of you is afflicted with madness.بِأَيْيِكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ
7. Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeenVerily it is thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He knoweth best those who receive (true) Guidance.إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
8. Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeenSo hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ
9. Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoonTheir desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
10. Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheenHeed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَهِينٍ
11. Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameemA slanderer, going about with calumnies,هَمَّازٍ مَشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ
12. Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem(Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,مَنَّاعٍ لِلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
13. 'Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneemViolent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,-عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
14. An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneenBecause he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.أَنْ كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ
15. Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleenWhen to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
16. Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoomSoon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!سَنَسِمُهُ عَلَى الْخُرْطُومِ
17. Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheenVerily 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.إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
18. Wa laa yastasnoonBut made no reservation, ("If it be Allah´s Will").وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
19. Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoonThen there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ
20. Fa asbahat kassareemSo the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ
21. Fatanaadaw musbiheenAs the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ
22. Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen"Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَارِمِينَ
23. Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoonSo they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-فَانْطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ
24. Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen"Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."أَنْ لَا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِسْكِينٌ
25. Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireenAnd they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ
26. Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloonBut when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ
27. Bal nahnu mahroomoon"Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
28. Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoonSaid one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, ´Why not glorify (Allah)?´"قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
29. Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeenThey said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ
30. Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoonThen they turned, one against another, in reproach.فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ
31. Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheenThey said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ
32. 'Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon"It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!"عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَا أَنْ يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ
33. Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoonSuch is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!كَذَٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
34. Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eemVerily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
35. Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeenShall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ
36. Maa lakum kaifa tahkumoonWhat is the matter with you? How judge ye?مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
37. Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoonOr have ye a book through which ye learn-أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
38. Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroonThat ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
39. Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoonOr have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
40. Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eemAsk thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
41. Am lahum shurakaaa'u fal ya'too bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeenOr have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ
42. Yawma yukshafu 'an saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oonThe Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able,-يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
43. Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoonTheir 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).خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ
44. Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoonThen leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.فَذَرْنِي وَمَنْ يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
45. Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateenA (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ
46. Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum min maghramin musqaloonOr is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt?-أَمْ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُمْ مِنْ مَغْرَمٍ مُثْقَلُونَ
47. Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboonOr that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?أَمْ عِنْدَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
48. Fasbir lihukmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil hoot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoomSo wait with patience for the Command of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish,- when he cried out in agony.فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُنْ كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
49. Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoomHad not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.لَوْلَا أَنْ تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ
50. Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheenThus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.فَاجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
51. Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa sami'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoonAnd the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"وَإِنْ يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ
52. Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameenBut it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ
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Recitation by Mishary Al-Alfasy

Tafseer


This Surah is called Nun as well as Al-Qalam, the words with which it begins.

Period of Revelation
This too is one of the earliest surahs to be revealed at Makkah, but its subject matter shows that it was sent down at the time when opposition to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) had grown very harsh and tyrannical.

Theme and Subject Matter
It consists of three themes: Replies to the opponents objections, administration of warning and admonition to them, and exhortation to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to patience and constancy.

At the outset, the Holy Prophet has been addressed, to the effect: "The disbelievers call you a madman whereas the Book that you are presenting and the sublime conduct that you practice, are by themselves sufficient to refute their false accusations. Soon they will see as to who was mad and who was sane; therefore, do not at all yield to the din of opposition being kicked up against you, for all this is actually meant to cow you and make you resort to a compromise with them."

Then, in order to enlighten the common people the character of a prominent man from among the opponents, whom the people of Makkah fully well recognized, has been presented, without naming him: At that time, the Holy Prophet's pure and sublime conduct was before them, and every discerning eye could also see what sort of character and morals were possessed by the chiefs of Makkah, who were leading the opposition against him.

Then, in vv. 17-33, the parable of the owners of a garden has been presented, who after having been blessed by Allah turned ungrateful to Him, and did not heed the admonition of the best man among them when it was given them. Consequently, they were deprived of the blessing and they realized this, when all they had lay devastated. With this parable the people of Makkah have been warned to the effect: "With the appointment of the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to Prophethood, you, O people of Makkah, too, have been put to a test similar to the one to which the owners of the garden had been put. If you do not listen to him, you too will be afflicted with a punishment in the world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is far greater."

Then, in vv. 34-47 continuously, the disbelievers have been admonished, in which the address sometimes turns to them directly and sometimes they are warned through the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace). A summary of what has been said in this regard, is this: Well being in the Hereafter inevitably belongs to those who spend their lives in the world in full consciousness of God. It is utterly against reason that the obedient servants should meet in the Hereafter the same fate as the guilty. There is absolutely no basis of the disbelievers misunderstanding that God will treat them in the manner they choose for themselves, whereas they have no guarantee for this. Those who are being called upon to bow before God in the world and they refuse to do so, would be unable to prostrate themselves on the Day of Resurrection even if they wanted to do so, and thus would stand disgraced and condemned. Having denied the Qur'an they cannot escape Divine punishment. The rein they are being given, has deluded them. They think that since they are not being punished in spite of their denial, they must be on the right path, whereas they are following the path of ruin. They have no reasonable ground for opposing the Messenger, for he is a preacher without any vested interest: he is not asking any reward of them for himself, and they cannot either make the claim that they know with certainty that he is not a true Messenger, nor that what he says is false.

In conclusion, the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been exhorted to the effect:"Bear with patience the hardships that you may have to face in the way of preaching the Faith till Allah's judgment arrives, and avoid the impatience which caused suffering and affliction to the Prophet Jonah (peace be on him)."