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