English - Chapter 68 - Al-Qalam

Nun. By the pen and that which they inscribe

thou art not, by the blessing of thy Lord, possessed

Truly thine shall be a reward unceasing

And truly thou art of an exalted character

So thou wilt see and they will see

which of you is afflicted

Truly thy Lord knows best those who stray from His way, and He knows best those who are rightly guided

so obey not the deniers

They wish that thou might compromise and that they might compromise

So obey not any vile oath-monger—

slanderer spreading calumny

hinderer of good, a transgressing sinner

churlish, surly, and ignoble withal—

simply because he possesses wealth and children

When Our signs are recited unto him he says, “Fables of those of old.”

We shall brand him on the snout

Truly We tried them, just as We tried the owners of the garden who vowed that they would harvest its fruit in the morning

And they made no exception

Whereupon a visitation from your Lord came upon it while they slept

such that it became like a garden plucked

Then they called to one another in the morning

“Go early to your tillage if you would harvest.”

So they set forth while whispering to one another

“Surely no indigent shall come to you therein today.”

And they set out early, strong in their purpose

Then when they saw it, they said, “Surely, we are astray

Nay! we are deprived!”

The most moderate of them said, “Did I not say to you, why do you not glorify?”

They said, “Glory be to our Lord! Truly we were wrongdoers.”

Then they turned to one another, reproaching each other

saying, “Oh, woe unto us! Truly we were rebellious

Perhaps our Lord will give us something better in its stead. Truly we beseech our Lord.”

Such is the punishment; yet the punishment of the Hereafter is surely greater, if they but knew

Truly for the reverent there shall be Gardens of bliss in the presence of their Lord

Are We then to treat the submitters like the guilty

What ails you? How do you judge

Or do you have a book wherein you learn

that you shall have therein whatsoever you choose

Or do you have oaths binding upon Us until the Day of Resurrection that you shall have whatever you ordain

Ask them which of them shall vouch for that

Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners if they are truthful

On the Day when the shank is laid bare and they are called to prostrate, yet are not able

their eyes humbled, abasement shall overcome them; for they had indeed been called to prostrate while they were yet sound

So leave Me with those who deny this discourse. We shall lead them on little by little, whence they know not

And I shall grant them respite; truly My scheme is firm

Or do they possess the Unseen, such that they write it down

So be patient with thy Lord’s Judgment and be not like the companion of the fish, who cried out while choking with anguish

Had not the blessing from his Lord reached him, he would surely have been cast upon the barren shore still blameworthy

But his Lord chose him and made him among the righteous

Indeed, those who disbelieve would well-nigh smite thee down with their glances when they hear the Reminder, saying, “Surely, he is possessed.”

Yet it is naught but a reminder for the worlds