English - Chapter 68 - Al-Qalam

NUN. I swear by the Pen and by that which they write

By the grace of your Lord you (Muhammad) are not mad (or stupid, deluded or possessed)

And most surely you shall have a reward unfailing

And most surely you have the most sublime (or exalted) character

Soon will you see, and they too shall see

Which of you is afflicted with madness (stupidity or delusion)

Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right guidance

So do not yield to the rejecters

They desire that you should be pliant (or compromise) so they too would be pliant (compromise)

And yield not to any mean swearer

Defamer, going about with slander

Hinderer (obstructer) of good, transgressor beyond limits, malefactor

Ignoble (violent, cruel and greedy), besides all that, base-born (inherently degenerate)

Because he possesses wealth and sons

When Our communications are recited to him, he says, "Stories of those of old

We will brand him on the snout

Surely We will try them as We tried the people of the garden, when they resolved to cut the produce in the morning

And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor)

Then there encompassed it (the garden) a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping

So it became as black, barren land

And they called out to each other in the morning (unaware of what had happened)

Saying, "Go early to your tilth if you would cut the produce

So they went, while they murmured to each other secretly

Saying, "Let no poor man enter it today besides you

And in the morning they went, strong in this (evil) resolve

But when they saw it (the garden), they said, "Most surely we have gone astray

Nay! We are made to suffer privation

The best of them said, "Did I not say to you, ´Why not glorify (Allah)?´

They said, "Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust

Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other

Said they, "O woe to us! Surely we were outrageous transgressors

Maybe, our Lord will give us instead a garden better than this; lo! We beseech (or turn in repentance to) our Lord

Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter is even greater, did they but know

Surely those who guard against evil shall have with their Lord Gardens of Delight

What! Shall We then treat those who have Surrendered (in Islam) as those who are guilty

What ails you? How do you judge

Or have you a Book wherein you learn

That you shall have through it whatever you choose

Or have you received from Us an agreement, confirmed by an oath, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that you shall have what you demand

Ask them which of them will vouch for that

Or have they associates (in the Godhead); then let them produce them if they are truthful

On the day when the Shin (the Hidden Mystery or Truth) shall be laid bare, and they shall be called upon to make obeisance, but they shall not be able

Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them seeing that they had been called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe

So leave Me and him who rejects this Announcement (The Message of Muhammad); We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not

Yet I do bear with them, for lo! My plan is firm

Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt

Or have they the knowledge of the unseen, so that they write it down

So wait patiently for the judgment of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish (Jonah), when he cried while he was in distress

Were it not that favour from his Lord had reached him, he would certainly have been cast down upon the naked shore while he was blameworthy

Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the righteous

And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the Reminder (Quran), and they say, "Most surely he is mad (or possessed)

And it is naught but a reminder to creation (or all the worlds)