القلم

Surah Al-Qalam

Meaning of the name: The Pen

Mushaf #68 Makkan Ayat 52

Reading the ayat before and after can make the meaning clearer.

Listen to this Surah Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary · Murattal

Recitation by Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1

نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ

Nūn[1]. By the pen and what they [i.e., the angels] write [in the Records of deeds],

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Translation footnote [1]

[1] See footnote 2:1.
2

مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ

By the grace of your Lord [O Prophet], you are not a madman.

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3

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ

You will surely have a never-ending reward.

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4

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

Indeed, you are of a great moral character.

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5

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ

Soon you will see and they will see,

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6

بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ

which of you is afflicted with madness.

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7

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ

Indeed, your Lord alone knows best who has strayed from His way and those who are rightly guided.

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8

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

So do not obey the deniers.

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9

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ

They wish that you would compromise so they would too compromise.

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10

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ

And do not obey every disgraceful swearer,

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11

هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ

backbiter, gossip-monger,

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12

مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ

withholder of good, transgressor, sinful,

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13

عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ

coarse, and furthermore, an illegitimate child[2].

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Translation footnote [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

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ

Simply because he has wealth and children,

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15

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

When Our verses are recited to him, he says, “Ancient fables!”

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16

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ

We will soon brand him on the snout[3].

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Translation footnote [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

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ

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,

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18

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

and made no exception [by saying: if Allah wills][4].

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Translation footnote [4]

[4] Or without leaving some for the poor.
19

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ

Then it was struck by an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep,

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20

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ

and it turned to ashes [as black as night].

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21

فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ

Then in the early morning they called out to one another:

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22

أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰرِمِينَ

“Go early to your garden if you really wish to harvest.”

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23

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ

So they set out, whispering to one another,

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24

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

“Not a single poor person should enter your garden today.”

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25

وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَـٰدِرِينَ

And they left early, fully determined to stick to their plan[5].

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Translation footnote [5]

[5] To implement their plan, fully confident of their ability.
26

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ

But when they saw the garden, they said, “We must have lost our way!

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27

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

Rather, we have been deprived.”

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28

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

The best among them said, “Did I not say to you to glorify Allah[6]?”

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Translation footnote [6]

[6] i.e., remember Him by saying, "...if Allah wills." Or "praise" and "thank" Allah for His bounty.
29

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ

They said, “Glory be to our Lord! We were truly wrongdoers.”

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30

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ

Then they turned to one another, throwing blame.

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31

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِينَ

They said, “Woe to us! We were surely transgressors.

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32

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ

Our Lord may give us something better than this. We certainly turn to our Lord in hope[7].”

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Translation footnote [7]

[7] Of His forgiveness and bounty.
33

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

Such is the punishment [in this world]; but the punishment of the Hereafter is far worse, if only they knew.

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34

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

Indeed, the righteous will have gardens of bliss with their Lord.

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35

أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

Should We then treat Muslims like the wicked?

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36

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

What is the matter with you that you make such a judgment?

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37

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ

Or do you have a scripture in which you read

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38

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

that you will be given whatever you choose?

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39

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَـٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَـٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ

Or do you have a solemn promise binding upon Us until the Day of Resurrection, that you will have whatever you decide for yourselves?

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40

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

Ask them which of them can guarantee that.

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41

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِينَ

Or do they have associate-gods? Then let them bring forth their associate-gods[8], if they are truthful.

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Translation footnote [8]

[8] whom they took as partners with Allah.
42

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

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.

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Translation footnote [9]

[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

خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَـٰلِمُونَ

Their eyes will be downcast, overwhelmed with humiliation, for they were invited to prostrate when they were capable[10] [but they refused].

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Translation footnote [10]

[10] During the life of this world.
44

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

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].

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Translation footnote [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

وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ

I will give them respite, but My plan is firm.

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46

أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ

Or are you asking them for a reward, so they find it too burdensome?

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47

أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

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

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48

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

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].

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Translation footnote [12]

[12] While inside the belly of the whale. See 21:87 and 37:139-148.
49

لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

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].

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Translation footnote [13]

[13] Instead, Allah accepted his repentance and provided for him means of recovery. See 37:139-148.
50

فَٱجْتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

But his Lord chose him and made him one of the righteous.

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51

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ

The disbelievers would almost strike you down with their malicious gazes when they hear the Reminder, and they say, “He is certainly mad.”

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52

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

But it is nothing other than a reminder to the whole world.

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Surah Al-Qalam

Arabic with an established translation