القلم
Al-Qalam
The Pen
1 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 001
نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ
Nūn[1]. By the pen and what they [i.e., the angels] write [in the Records of deeds],
[1] See footnote 2:1.
2 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 002
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٖ
By the grace of your Lord [O Prophet], you are not a madman.
3 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 003
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٖ
You will surely have a never-ending reward.
4 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 004
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ
Indeed, you are of a great moral character.
5 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 005
فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ
Soon you will see and they will see,
6 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 006
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ
which of you is afflicted with madness.
7 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 007
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ
Indeed, your Lord alone knows best who has strayed from His way and those who are rightly guided.
8 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 008
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ
So do not obey the deniers.
9 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 009
وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ
They wish that you would compromise so they would too compromise.
10 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 010
وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافٖ مَّهِينٍ
And do not obey every disgraceful swearer,
11 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 011
هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمٖ
backbiter, gossip-monger,
12 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 012
مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
withholder of good, transgressor, sinful,
13 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 013
عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
coarse, and furthermore, an illegitimate child[2].
[2] i.e., falsely claiming a particular lineage. It refers to Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah (See also 74:11-25) or possibly Al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq.
14 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 014
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٖ وَبَنِينَ
Simply because he has wealth and children,
15 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 015
إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, “Ancient fables!”
16 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 016
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ
We will soon brand him on the snout[3].
[3] Lit., "trunk," meaning the nose of an elephant or pig. These verses refer to Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah, a leader of the pagans of Makkah and a staunch enemy of Islam. He called the Prophet (ﷺ) a madman, so the Qur’an responded by mentioning ten of Al-Walīd’s qualities. (See 53:33-35 and 74:11-26). Two of those qualities were not known to him: the fact that he was an illegitimate child and that his nose would be chopped off years later at the Battle of Badr. Khālid ibn al-Walīd and two of his brothers embraced Islam.
17 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 017
إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ
Indeed, We have tested them [i.e., the Makkans] as We tested the people of the garden when they swore to harvest its fruits in the early morning,
18 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 018
وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ
and made no exception [by saying: if Allah wills][4].
[4] Or without leaving some for the poor.
19 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 019
فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ
Then it was struck by an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep,
20 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 020
فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
and it turned to ashes [as black as night].
21 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 021
فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ
Then in the early morning they called out to one another:
22 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 022
أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ
“Go early to your garden if you really wish to harvest.”
23 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 023
فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
So they set out, whispering to one another,
24 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 024
أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ
“Not a single poor person should enter your garden today.”
25 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 025
وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ
And they left early, fully determined to stick to their plan[5].
[5] To implement their plan, fully confident of their ability.
26 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 026
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
But when they saw the garden, they said, “We must have lost our way!
27 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 027
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ
Rather, we have been deprived.”
28 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 028
قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
The best among them said, “Did I not say to you to glorify Allah[6]?”
[6] i.e., remember Him by saying, "...if Allah wills." Or "praise" and "thank" Allah for His bounty.
29 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 029
قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
They said, “Glory be to our Lord! We were truly wrongdoers.”
30 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 030
فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
Then they turned to one another, throwing blame.
31 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 031
قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
They said, “Woe to us! We were surely transgressors.
32 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 032
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
Our Lord may give us something better than this. We certainly turn to our Lord in hope[7].”
[7] Of His forgiveness and bounty.
33 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 033
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ
Such is the punishment [in this world]; but the punishment of the Hereafter is far worse, if only they knew.
34 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 034
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Indeed, the righteous will have gardens of bliss with their Lord.
35 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 035
أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
Should We then treat Muslims like the wicked?
36 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 036
مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ
What is the matter with you that you make such a judgment?
37 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 037
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبٞ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ
Or do you have a scripture in which you read
38 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 038
إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
that you will be given whatever you choose?
39 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 039
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ
Or do you have a solemn promise binding upon Us until the Day of Resurrection, that you will have whatever you decide for yourselves?
40 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 040
سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Ask them which of them can guarantee that.
41 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 041
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ
Or do they have associate-gods? Then let them bring forth their associate-gods[8], if they are truthful.
[8] whom they took as partners with Allah.
42 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 042
يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ
On the Day when the Shin [of Allah] will be uncovered[9], and they are invited to prostrate, but they will not be able to do so.
[9] i.e., It is a Day that everyone will find before him great difficulty. According to a long and authentic Hadīth of Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudrī, "the Shin" refers to that of Allah Almighty, before which every believer will prostrate on the Day of Judgment when the disbelievers and hypocrites will not be able to prostrate. The text of the Hadith is as follows: "... Then the Lord will uncover His Shank, so they will prostrate to Him...".
43 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 043
خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةٞۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ
Their eyes will be downcast, overwhelmed with humiliation, for they were invited to prostrate when they were capable[10] [but they refused].
[10] During the life of this world.
44 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 044
فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ
So leave to Me those who reject this message [O Prophet]. We will gradually lead them to their ruin in ways that they do not perceive[11].
[11] Allah will increase favors upon them in this life as a trial, so they will increase sin, which will lead to their destruction.
45 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 045
وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ
I will give them respite, but My plan is firm.
46 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 046
أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ
Or are you asking them for a reward, so they find it too burdensome?
47 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 047
أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ
Or do they have knowledge of the unseen, so they write it down?
48 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 048
فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومٞ
So be patient with the decree of your Lord, and do not be like the man of the Whale [i.e., Jonah], when he cried out in anguish[12].
[12] While inside the belly of the whale. See 21:87 and 37:139-148.
49 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 049
لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومٞ
Had it not been for the grace that he received from his Lord, he would have surely been thrown onto the barren shore, blameworthy[13].
[13] Instead, Allah accepted his repentance and provided for him means of recovery. See 37:139-148.
50 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 050
فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
But his Lord chose him and made him one of the righteous.
51 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 051
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونٞ
The disbelievers would almost strike you down with their malicious gazes when they hear the Reminder, and they say, “He is certainly mad.”
52 - Al-Qalam (The Pen) - 052
