English - Chapter 68 - Al-Qalam

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

You are not demented by the grace of your Lord

There is surely reward unending for you

For you are verily born of sublime nature

So you will see, and they will realise

Who is distracted

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

So do not comply with those who deny

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

Do not heed a contemptible swearer

Or backbiter, calumniator, slanderer

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

Crude, and above all, mean and infamous

Simply because he possesses wealth and children

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

We shall brand him on the muzzle

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

But did not add: "If God may please

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

So by the morning it seemed as though picked clean

At daybreak they called to each other

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

So they departed, talking in low voices

Let no needy person come to you within it today

They left early in the morning bent on this purpose

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

No. In fact we have been deprived of it

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

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

Then they started blaming one another

Saying: "Alas the woe, we were iniquitous

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

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

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

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

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

Or have you a Book in which you read

That you can surely have whatever you choose

Or have you taken a binding promise from Us which would hold till the Day of Judgement, that you will get whatever you demand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then his Lord chose him and placed him among the upright

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

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