Surah Al-Qalam – The Pen – Quran Chapter 68
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سورة القلمAl-QalamThe Pen
68
Chapter
52
Verses
Makki
Revelation
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About Surah Al-Qalam

Al-Qalam opens by swearing an oath by the pen and what is written, defending Prophet Muhammad's character against accusations of madness made by his opponents, and affirming that he stands upon "great moral character." It includes the parable of the owners of a garden who plotted to harvest their crop secretly without giving their due to the poor, only to have it destroyed overnight — a lesson about greed, planning without regard for God, and the value of humility.

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1
نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ
Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon
Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith),
Tafseer
2
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٖ
Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoon
Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.
Tafseer
3
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٖ
Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon
And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.
Tafseer
4
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ
Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeem
And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.
Tafseer
5
فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ
Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon
And thou wilt see and they will see
Tafseer
6
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ
Bi ayyikumul maftoon
Which of you is the demented.
Tafseer
7
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ
Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen
Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.
Tafseer
8
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ
Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeen
Therefor obey not thou the rejecters
Tafseer
9
وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ
Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon
Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.
Tafseer
10
وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافٖ مَّهِينٍ
Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheen
Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger,
Tafseer
11
هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمٖ
Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameem
Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,
Tafseer
12
مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor
Tafseer
13
عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
'Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneem
Greedy therewithal, intrusive.
Tafseer
14
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٖ وَبَنِينَ
An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen
It is because he is possessed of wealth and children
Tafseer
15
إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen
That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.
Tafseer
16
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ
Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoom
We shall brand him on the nose.
Tafseer
17
إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ
Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen
Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning,
Tafseer
18
وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ
Wa laa yastasnoon
And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);
Tafseer
19
فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ
Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoon
Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept
Tafseer
20
فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
Fa asbahat kassareem
And in the morning it was as if plucked.
Tafseer
21
فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ
Fatanaadaw musbiheen
And they cried out one unto another in the morning,
Tafseer
22
أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ
Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen
Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).
Tafseer
23
فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon
So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:
Tafseer
24
أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ
Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen
No needy man shall enter it to-day against you.
Tafseer
25
وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ
Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireen
They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.
Tafseer
26
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon
But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!
Tafseer
27
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
Nay, but we are desolate!
Tafseer
28
قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon
The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah)?
Tafseer
29
قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen
They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong-doers.
Tafseer
30
فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoon
Then some of them drew near unto others, self-reproaching.
Tafseer
31
قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen
They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.
Tafseer
32
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
'Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon
It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.
Tafseer
33
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ
Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon
Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.
Tafseer
34
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eem
Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.
Tafseer
35
أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen
Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty?
Tafseer
36
مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ
Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon
What aileth you? How foolishly ye judge!
Tafseer
37
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبٞ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ
Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon
Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn
Tafseer
38
إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon
That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose?
Tafseer
39
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ
Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon
Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain?
Tafseer
40
سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eem
Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!
Tafseer
41
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ
Am lahum shurakaaa'u falyaatoo bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen
Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful
Tafseer
42
يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ
Yawma yukshafu 'am saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oon
On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,
Tafseer
43
خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةٞۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ
Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon
With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.
Tafseer
44
فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ
Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoon
Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.
Tafseer
45
وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ
Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen
Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.
Tafseer
46
أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ
Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon
Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed?
Tafseer
47
أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ
Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon
Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof)?
Tafseer
48
فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومٞ
Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom
But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.
Tafseer
49
لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومٞ
Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoom
Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.
Tafseer
50
فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheen
But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.
Tafseer
51
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونٞ
Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon
And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;
Tafseer
52
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen
When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.
Tafseer