Al-Qur'an English
Surat al-qalam (Pen)

القلم

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نۤ ۚوَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُوْنَۙ

nūn, wal-qalami wa mā yasṭurụn

NUN. I CALL to witness the pen and what they inscribe

مَآ اَنْتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُوْنٍ

mā anta bini'mati rabbika bimajnụn

You are not demented by the grace of your Lord.

وَاِنَّ لَكَ لَاَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُوْنٍۚ

wa inna laka la`ajran gaira mamnụn

There is surely reward unending for you

وَاِنَّكَ لَعَلٰى خُلُقٍ عَظِيْمٍ

wa innaka la'alā khuluqin 'aẓīm

For you are verily born of sublime nature.

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُوْنَۙ

fa satubṣiru wa yubṣirụn

So you will see and they will realise

بِاَيِّىكُمُ الْمَفْتُوْنُ

bi`ayyikumul-maftụn

Who is distracted.

اِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيْلِهٖۖ وَهُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِيْنَ

inna rabbaka huwa a'lamu biman ḍalla 'an sabīlihī wa huwa a'lamu bil-muhtadīn

Verily your Lord knows those who have gone astray from His path and He knows those who are guided on the way.

فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِيْنَ

fa lā tuṭi'il-mukażżibīn

So do not comply with those who deny:

وَدُّوْا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُوْنَۚ

waddụ lau tud-hinu fa yud-hinụn

They only want that you should relent so that they may come to terms.

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِيْنٍۙ

wa lā tuṭi' kulla ḥallāfim mahīn

Do not heed a contemptible swearer

هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاۤءٍۢ بِنَمِيْمٍۙ

hammāzim masysyā`im binamīm

Or backbiter calumniator slanderer

مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ اَثِيْمٍۙ

mannā'il lil-khairi mu'tadin aṡīm

Who hinders men from (doing) good the transgressor the iniquitous

عُتُلٍّۢ بَعْدَ ذٰلِكَ زَنِيْمٍۙ

'utullim ba'da żālika zanīm

Crude and above all mean and infamous

اَنْ كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَّبَنِيْنَۗ

ang kāna żā māliw wa banīn

Simply because he possesses wealth and children.

اِذَا تُتْلٰى عَلَيْهِ اٰيٰتُنَا قَالَ اَسَاطِيْرُ الْاَوَّلِيْنَۗ

iżā tutlā 'alaihi āyātunā qāla asāṭīrul-awwalīn

When you recite Our revelations to him he says: "These are fables of long ago."

سَنَسِمُهٗ عَلَى الْخُرْطُوْمِ

sanasimuhụ 'alal-khurṭụm

We shall brand him on the muzzle.

اِنَّا بَلَوْنٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ اَصْحٰبَ الْجَنَّةِۚ اِذْ اَقْسَمُوْا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِيْنَۙ

innā balaunāhum kamā balaunā aṣ-ḥābal-jannah, iż aqsamụ layaṣrimunnahā muṣbiḥīn

We have tried you as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed to gather the fruits in the morning

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُوْنَ

wa lā yastaṡnụn

But did not add: "If God may please."

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَاۤىِٕفٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَاۤىِٕمُوْنَ

fa ṭāfa 'alaihā ṭā`ifum mir rabbika wa hum nā`imụn

Then a calamity from your Lord fell upon it but they remained fast asleep.

فَاَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيْمِۙ

fa aṣbaḥat kaṣ-ṣarīm

So by the morning it seemed as though picked clean.

فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِيْنَۙ

fa tanādau muṣbiḥīn

At daybreak they called to each other:

اَنِ اغْدُوْا عَلٰى حَرْثِكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَارِمِيْنَ

anigdụ 'alā ḥarṡikum ing kuntum ṣārimīn

"If you want to gather the fruits let us go early to the plantation."

فَانْطَلَقُوْا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُوْنَۙ

fanṭalaqụ wa hum yatakhāfatụn

So they departed talking in low voices:

اَنْ لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّسْكِيْنٌۙ

al lā yadkhulannahal-yauma 'alaikum miskīn

"Let no needy person come to you within it today."

وَّغَدَوْا عَلٰى حَرْدٍ قَادِرِيْنَ

wa gadau 'alā ḥarding qādirīn

They left early in the morning bent on this purpose.

فَلَمَّا رَاَوْهَا قَالُوْٓا اِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّوْنَۙ

fa lammā ra`auhā qālū innā laḍāllụn

When they saw (and did not recognise it) they said: "Surely we have lost the way.

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُوْمُوْنَ

bal naḥnu maḥrụmụn

No. In fact we have been deprived of it."

قَالَ اَوْسَطُهُمْ اَلَمْ اَقُلْ لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُوْنَ

qāla ausaṭuhum a lam aqul lakum lau lā tusabbiḥụn

One who was temperate among them said: "Did I not say: ´Why don´t you priase God?´"

قَالُوْا سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّنَآ اِنَّا كُنَّا ظٰلِمِيْنَ

qālụ sub-ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

"Glory to our Lord " they said; we were really in the wrong."

فَاَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ يَّتَلَاوَمُوْنَ

fa aqbala ba'ḍuhum 'alā ba'ḍiy yatalāwamụn

Then they started blaming one another

قَالُوْا يٰوَيْلَنَآ اِنَّا كُنَّا طٰغِيْنَ

qālụ yā wailanā innā kunnā ṭāgīn

Saying: "Alas the woe we were iniquitous.

عَسٰى رَبُّنَآ اَنْ يُّبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ اِنَّآ اِلٰى رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُوْنَ

'asā rabbunā ay yubdilanā khairam min-hā innā ilā rabbinā rāgibụn

Maybe our Lord will give us better than this. We turn to our Lord in supplication."

كَذٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُۗ وَلَعَذَابُ الْاٰخِرَةِ اَكْبَرُۘ لَوْ كَانُوْا يَعْلَمُوْنَ

każālikal-'ażāb, wa la'ażābul-ākhirati akbar, lau kānụ ya'lamụn

Such is Our chastisement; and the punishment of the Hereafter will be greater if only they knew!

اِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِيْنَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِيْمِ

inna lil-muttaqīna 'inda rabbihim jannātin na'īm

For those who fear God there are pleasure gardens with their Lord.

اَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ كَالْمُجْرِمِيْنَۗ

a fa naj'alul-muslimīna kal-mujrimīn

Should We treat those who submit and obey in the same way as those who are culpable?

مَا لَكُمْۗ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُوْنَۚ

mā lakum, kaifa taḥkumụn

What has come upon you that you judge in such a wise?

اَمْ لَكُمْ كِتٰبٌ فِيْهِ تَدْرُسُوْنَۙ

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusụn

Or have you a Book in which you read

اِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيْهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُوْنَۚ

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarụn

That you can surely have whatever you choose?

اَمْ لَكُمْ اَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِۙ اِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُوْنَۚ

am lakum aimānun 'alainā bāligatun ilā yaumil-qiyāmati inna lakum lamā taḥkumụn

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 اَيُّهُمْ بِذٰلِكَ زَعِيْمٌۚ

sal-hum ayyuhum biżālika za'īm

Ask them: "Which of you is able to vouch for this?"

اَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاۤءُۚ فَلْيَأْتُوْا بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمْ اِنْ كَانُوْا صٰدِقِيْنَ

am lahum syurakā`, falya`tụ bisyurakā`ihim ing kānụ ṣādiqīn

Or have they any partners? Let them bring their partners then if what they say is true.

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ وَّيُدْعَوْنَ اِلَى السُّجُوْدِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيْعُوْنَۙ

yauma yuksyafu 'an sāqiw wa yud'auna ilas-sujụdi fa lā yastaṭī'ụn

On the day the great calamity befalls and they are called to bow in homage they will not be able to do so.

خَاشِعَةً اَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۗوَقَدْ كَانُوْا يُدْعَوْنَ اِلَى السُّجُوْدِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُوْنَ

khāsyi'atan abṣāruhum tar-haquhum żillah, wa qad kānụ yud'auna ilas-sujụdi wa hum sālimụn

Lowered will be their eyes disgrace overwhelming them. They had indeed been called to bow in homage when they were free of blame.

فَذَرْنِيْ وَمَنْ يُّكَذِّبُ بِهٰذَا الْحَدِيْثِۗ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَۙ

fa żarnī wa may yukażżibu bihāżal-ḥadīṡ, sanastadrijuhum min ḥaiṡu lā ya'lamụn

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.

وَاُمْلِيْ لَهُمْۗ اِنَّ كَيْدِيْ مَتِيْنٌ

wa umlī lahum, inna kaidī matīn

Yet I will give them respite: Surely My plan is compact.

اَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ اَجْرًا فَهُمْ مِّنْ مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُوْنَۚ

am tas`aluhum ajran fa hum mim magramim muṡqalụn

Do you ask for any compensation from them that they are burdened with want?

اَمْ عِنْدَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُوْنَ

am 'indahumul-gaibu fa hum yaktubụn

Or do they have knowledge of the unknown which they copy down?

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُنْ كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوْتِۘ اِذْ نَادٰى وَهُوَ مَكْظُوْمٌۗ

faṣbir liḥukmi rabbika wa lā takung kaṣāḥibil-ḥụt, iż nādā wa huwa makẓụm

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.

لَوْلَآ اَنْ تَدَارَكَهٗ نِعْمَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّهٖ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاۤءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُوْمٌ

lau lā an tadārakahụ ni'matum mir rabbihī lanubiża bil-'arā`i wa huwa mażmụm

Had it not been for a favour from his Lord he would have been cast blame-worthy on a barren plain.

فَاجْتَبٰىهُ رَبُّهٗ فَجَعَلَهٗ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ

fajtabāhu rabbuhụ fa ja'alahụ minaṣ-ṣāliḥīn

Then his Lord chose him and placed him among the upright.

وَاِنْ يَّكَادُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَيُزْلِقُوْنَكَ بِاَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُوْلُوْنَ اِنَّهٗ لَمَجْنُوْنٌ ۘ

wa iy yakādullażīna kafarụ layuzliqụnaka bi`abṣārihim lammā sami'uż-żikra wa yaqụlụna innahụ lamajnụn

But the unbelievers would like to stare you out of balance when they hear the warning and say: "Surely he is possessed;"

وَمَا هُوَ اِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعٰلَمِيْنَ

wa mā huwa illā żikrul lil-'ālamīn

Whilst it is no more than reminder for the people of the world.