Sura 68: Al-Qalam (The Pen) القلم
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Qalqala (echo)
Tafkhim (heavy)
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In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
بِسْمِbis'miIn (the) nameٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) God,ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِl-raḥmāniMost Gracious,ٱلرَّحِيمِl-raḥīmiMost Merciful.
[68:1] NuN,* the pen, and what they (the people) write.
نونnoonNuN.وَٱلْقَلَمِwal-qalamiBy the penوَمَاwamāand whatيَسْطُرُونَyasṭurūnathey write. ﴿١﴾
*68:1 "NuN" is unique among the Quran's miraculous initials. See Appendix 1.
[68:2] You have attained a great blessing from your Lord; you are not crazy.
مَآmāNotأَنتَantayou (are),بِنِعْمَةِbiniʿ'matiby (the) graceرَبِّكَrabbika(of) your Lord,بِمَجْنُونٍbimajnūninof one who is crazy. ﴿٢﴾
[68:3] You have attained a recompense that is well deserved.
وَإِنَّwa-innaAnd indeed,لَكَlakafor youلَأَجْرًاla-ajransurely a reward / recompenseغَيْرَghayrawithoutمَمْنُونٍmamnūninend[ing]. ﴿٣﴾
[68:4] You are blessed with a great moral character.
وَإِنَّكَwa-innakaAnd indeed, you (are)لَعَلَىٰlaʿalāsurely withخُلُقٍkhuluqina moral characterعَظِيمٍʿaẓīmingreat. ﴿٤﴾
[68:5] You will see, and they will see.
فَسَتُبْصِرُfasatub'ṣiruSo you will seeوَيُبْصِرُونَwayub'ṣirūnaand they will see, ﴿٥﴾
[68:6] Which of you are condemned.
بِأَييِّكُمُbi-ayyikumuWhich of you [all] (is)ٱلْمَفْتُونُl-maftūnuthe one afflicted. ﴿٦﴾
[68:7] Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed off His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.
إِنَّinnaIndeed,رَبَّكَrabbakayour Lord,هُوَhuwaHe (is)أَعْلَمُaʿlamufully aware / best knowerبِمَنbimanof whoضَلَّḍallahe strayedعَنʿanfromسَبِيلِهِۦsabīlihiHis path,وَهُوَwahuwaand He (is)أَعْلَمُaʿlamufully aware / best knowerبِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَbil-muh'tadīnaof the guided ones. ﴿٧﴾
[68:8] Do not obey the rejectors.
فَلَاfalāSo (do) notتُطِعِtuṭiʿiyou obeyٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَl-mukadhibīnathe deniers / rejectors. ﴿٨﴾
[68:9] They wish that you compromise, so they too can compromise.
وَدُّوا۟waddūThey wishedلَوْlawifتُدْهِنُtud'hinuyou compromise,فَيُدْهِنُونَfayud'hinūnaso they (too can) compromise. ﴿٩﴾
[68:10] Do not obey every lowly swearer.
وَلَاwalāAnd (do) notتُطِعْtuṭiʿyou obeyكُلَّkullaeveryحَلَّافٍḥallāfinhabitual swearerمَّهِينٍmahīninworthless / lowly. ﴿١٠﴾
[68:11] A slanderer, a backbiter.
هَمَّازٍhammāzinSlandererمَّشَّآءٍۭmashāingoing aboutبِنَمِيمٍbinamīminwith malicious gossip / backbiter. ﴿١١﴾
[68:12] Forbidder of charity, a transgressor, a sinner.
مَّنَّاعٍmannāʿinA preventer / forbidderلِّلْخَيْرِlil'khayriof the good,مُعْتَدٍmuʿ'tadintransgressor,أَثِيمٍathīminsinful. ﴿١٢﴾
[68:13] Unappreciative, and greedy.
عُتُلٍّۭʿutullinCruel / Rebellious / Unappreciativeبَعْدَbaʿdaafterذَٰلِكَdhālikathatزَنِيمٍzanīminutterly useless / evil / notoriously mischievous / greedy. ﴿١٣﴾
[68:14] Even though he possessed enough money and children.
أَنanAlthoughكَانَkānahe wasذَاdhāa possessor ofمَالٍmālinwealthوَبَنِينَwabanīnaand children. ﴿١٤﴾
[68:15] When our revelations are recited to him, he says, "Tales from the past!"
إِذَاidhāWhenتُتْلَىٰtut'lā[it] is recitedعَلَيْهِʿalayhito himءَايَـٰتُنَاāyātunāour verses / revelations,قَالَqālahe says,أَسَـٰطِيرُasāṭīru"Tales (of)ٱلْأَوَّلِينَl-awalīnathe past [ones]." ﴿١٥﴾
[68:16] We will mark his face.
سَنَسِمُهُۥsanasimuhuWe will mark himعَلَىʿalāonٱلْخُرْطُومِl-khur'ṭūmithe snout (face). ﴿١٦﴾
[68:17] We have tested them like we tested the owners of the garden who swore that they will harvest it in the morning.
إِنَّاinnāIndeed, weبَلَوْنَـٰهُمْbalawnāhum[we] tested themكَمَاkamāasبَلَوْنَآbalawnāwe testedأَصْحَـٰبَaṣḥāba(the) companions / owners (of)ٱلْجَنَّةِl-janatithe garden,إِذْidhwhenأَقْسَمُوا۟aqsamūthey sworeلَيَصْرِمُنَّهَاlayaṣrimunnahāsurely they will harvest itمُصْبِحِينَmuṣ'biḥīna(in the) morning, ﴿١٧﴾
[68:18] They were so absolutely sure.
وَلَاwalāAnd notيَسْتَثْنُونَyastathnūnathey made (any) reservations / exceptions. ﴿١٨﴾
[68:19] A passing (storm) from your Lord passed by it while they were asleep.
فَطَافَfaṭāfaSo [it] circulated / visited / cameعَلَيْهَاʿalayhāupon itطَآئِفٌṭāifunan overpowering rain / stormمِّنminfromرَّبِّكَrabbikayour Lordوَهُمْwahumwhile they (were)نَآئِمُونَnāimūna[ones] asleep. ﴿١٩﴾
[68:20] By morning, it was barren.
فَأَصْبَحَتْfa-aṣbaḥatBy morningكَٱلصَّرِيمِkal-ṣarīmilike the harvested / plucked from the roots / barren (land). ﴿٢٠﴾
[68:21] They called on each other in the morning.
فَتَنَادَوْا۟fatanādawAnd they called one another (in)مُصْبِحِينَmuṣ'biḥīna(the) morning. ﴿٢١﴾
[68:22] "Let us harvest the crop."
أَنِaniThatٱغْدُوا۟igh'dū"Go early [you all]عَلَىٰʿalātoحَرْثِكُمْḥarthikumyour cropإِنinifكُنتُمْkuntumyou [all] areصَـٰرِمِينَṣārimīna[ones] to harvest." ﴿٢٢﴾
[68:23] On their way, they confided to each other.
فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟fa-inṭalaqūSo they set out / departed,وَهُمْwahumwhile theyيَتَخَـٰفَتُونَyatakhāfatūna[they] whisper (*confided to each other), ﴿٢٣﴾
[68:24] That from then on, none of them would be poor.
أَنanThatلَّاlā"Notيَدْخُلَنَّهَاyadkhulannahāhe will enter itٱلْيَوْمَl-yawmatodayعَلَيْكُمʿalaykumupon you [all]مِّسْكِينٌmis'kīnunone who is poor." ﴿٢٤﴾
[68:25] They were so absolutely sure of their harvest.
وَغَدَوْا۟waghadawAnd they went earlyعَلَىٰʿalāwithحَرْدٍḥardindeterminationقَـٰدِرِينَqādirīnaable [ones]. ﴿٢٥﴾
[68:26] But when they saw it, they said, "We were so wrong!
فَلَمَّاfalammāBut whenرَأَوْهَاra-awhāthey saw it,قَالُوٓا۟qālūthey said,إِنَّاinnā"Indeed, we (are)لَضَآلُّونَlaḍāllūnasurely ones gone astray / in error. ﴿٢٦﴾
[68:27] "Now, we have nothing!"
بَلْbal"Nay!نَحْنُnaḥnuWe (are)مَحْرُومُونَmaḥrūmūnadeprived ones." ﴿٢٧﴾
They Should Have Said: "God Willing."
[68:28] The righteous among them said, "If only you had glorified (GOD)!"
قَالَqāla[He] saidأَوْسَطُهُمْawsaṭuhum(the) best among them,أَلَمْalam"Did notأَقُلaqulI say / tellلَّكُمْlakum[to] you [all],لَوْلَاlawlā 'Why not (do)تُسَبِّحُونَtusabbiḥūnayou [all] glorify (God)?'" ﴿٢٨﴾
[68:29] They said, "Glory be to our Lord. We have transgressed."
قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,سُبْحَـٰنَsub'ḥāna"Glory be (to)رَبِّنَآrabbināour Lord!إِنَّاinnāIndeed, [we]كُنَّاkunnāwe wereظَـٰلِمِينَẓālimīnawrongdoers / transgressors." ﴿٢٩﴾
[68:30] They started to blame each other.
فَأَقْبَلَfa-aqbalaThen it approached,بَعْضُهُمْbaʿḍuhumsome of themعَلَىٰʿalātoبَعْضٍbaʿḍinsome othersيَتَلَـٰوَمُونَyatalāwamūnathey blaming. ﴿٣٠﴾
[68:31] They said, "Woe to us. We sinned.
قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,يَـٰوَيْلَنَآyāwaylanā"O! Woe to us!إِنَّاinnāIndeed, [we]كُنَّاkunnāwe wereطَـٰغِينَṭāghīnatransgressors / sinners. ﴿٣١﴾
[68:32] "May our Lord grant us a better one. We repent to our Lord."
عَسَىٰʿasā"Perhaps,رَبُّنَآrabbunāour Lord,أَنanthatيُبْدِلَنَاyub'dilanāHe will substitute for usخَيْرًاkhayrana betterمِّنْهَآmin'hāthan it.إِنَّآinnāIndeed, weإِلَىٰilātoرَبِّنَاrabbināour Lordرَٰغِبُونَrāghibūna[ones] (who) turn humbly / supplicate earnestly (repent)." ﴿٣٢﴾
[68:33] Such was the requital. But the retribution of the Hereafter is far worse, if they only knew.
كَذَٰلِكَkadhālikaThus / Such (is)ٱلْعَذَابُl-ʿadhābuthe requital / retribution.وَلَعَذَابُwalaʿadhābuAnd surely (the) requital / retribution (of)ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِl-ākhiratithe Hereafter (is)أَكْبَرُakbarugreaterلَوْlawifكَانُوا۟kānūthey were (to)يَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūna[they] know. ﴿٣٣﴾
[68:34] The righteous have deserved, at their Lord, gardens of bliss.
إِنَّinnaIndeed,لِلْمُتَّقِينَlil'muttaqīnafor the righteous [ones]عِندَʿindawithرَبِّهِمْrabbihimtheir Lord (are)جَنَّـٰتِjannātigardens (of)ٱلنَّعِيمِl-naʿīmi[the] bliss. ﴿٣٤﴾
[68:35] Shall we treat the submitters like the criminals?
أَفَنَجْعَلُafanajʿaluThen shall we make / regard / treatٱلْمُسْلِمِينَl-mus'limīnathe submittersكَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَkal-muj'rimīnalike the criminals? ﴿٣٥﴾
[68:36] What is wrong with your logic?
مَاmāWhat (is)لَكُمْlakumfor you [all]كَيْفَkayfahowتَحْكُمُونَtaḥkumūnayou [all] judge? ﴿٣٦﴾
[68:37] Do you have another book to uphold?
أَمْamOr isلَكُمْlakumfor you [all]كِتَـٰبٌkitābuna bookفِيهِfīhiin itتَدْرُسُونَtadrusūnayou [all] are studying? ﴿٣٧﴾
[68:38] In it, do you find anything you want?
إِنَّinnaIndeedلَكُمْlakumfor you [all]فِيهِfīhiin itلَمَاlamāthat whichتَخَيَّرُونَtakhayyarūnayou [all] choose / prefer? ﴿٣٨﴾
[68:39] Or, have you received solemn assurances from us that grant you whatever you wish on the Day of Resurrection?
أَمْamOr isلَكُمْlakumfor you [all]أَيْمَـٰنٌaymānunoaths / solemn assurancesعَلَيْنَاʿalaynāfrom usبَـٰلِغَةٌbālighatunreaching / attainingإِلَىٰilātillيَوْمِyawmi(the) Day (of)ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِl-qiyāmatithe Resurrection,إِنَّinna(that) indeedلَكُمْlakumfor you [all]لَمَاlamāthat whichتَحْكُمُونَtaḥkumūnayou [all] judge / decide? ﴿٣٩﴾
[68:40] Ask them, "Who guarantees this for you?"
سَلْهُمْsalhumAsk them,أَيُّهُمayyuhum"Which of themبِذَٰلِكَbidhālikafor that (is)زَعِيمٌzaʿīmunguaranteed?" ﴿٤٠﴾
[68:41] Do they have idols? Let their idols help them, if they are truthful.
أَمْamOr areلَهُمْlahumfor themشُرَكَآءُshurakāupartners / idols?فَلْيَأْتُوا۟falyatūThen let them bringبِشُرَكَآئِهِمْbishurakāihimof their partners/ idols, إِنinifكَانُوا۟kānūthey wereصَـٰدِقِينَṣādiqīnatruthful [ones]. ﴿٤١﴾
[68:42] The day will come when they will be exposed, and they will be required to fall prostrate, but they will be unable to.
يَوْمَyawma(The) Dayيُكْشَفُyuk'shafuit will be exposed*عَنʿanfrom*سَاقٍsāqin(the) shins / leg (*truth will be exposed)وَيُدْعَوْنَwayud'ʿawnaand they will be calledإِلَىilātoٱلسُّجُودِl-sujūdithe prostrationفَلَاfalābut notيَسْتَطِيعُونَyastaṭīʿūnathey will be able. ﴿٤٢﴾
[68:43] With their eyes subdued, humiliation will cover them. They were invited to fall prostrate when they were whole and able.
خَـٰشِعَةًkhāshiʿatanSubduedأَبْصَـٰرُهُمْabṣāruhumtheir eyes,تَرْهَقُهُمْtarhaquhum[it] will cover themذِلَّةٌdhillatunhumiliation.وَقَدْwaqadAnd indeed,كَانُوا۟kānūthey wereيُدْعَوْنَyud'ʿawna[they] calledإِلَىilātoٱلسُّجُودِl-sujūdithe prostrationوَهُمْwahumwhile they (were)سَـٰلِمُونَsālimūna[ones] sound / whole and able. ﴿٤٣﴾
[68:44] Therefore, let Me deal with those who reject this Hadith; we will lead them on whence they never perceive.
فَذَرْنِىfadharnīSo leave Meوَمَنwamanand whoeverيُكَذِّبُyukadhibuhe denies / rejectsبِهَـٰذَاbihādhā[in] thisٱلْحَدِيثِl-ḥadīthi[the] Hadith.سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمsanastadrijuhumWe will gradually lead themمِّنْminfromحَيْثُḥaythuwhereلَاlānotيَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūnathey know / perceive. ﴿٤٤﴾
[68:45] I will give them enough rope; My scheming is formidable.
وَأُمْلِىwa-um'līAnd I will make enjoy for a whileلَهُمْlahumfor them.إِنَّinnaIndeed,كَيْدِىkaydīMy schemeمَتِينٌmatīnun(is) firm / formidable. ﴿٤٥﴾
[68:46] Are you asking them for money, so they are burdened by the fine?
أَمْamOr doتَسْـَٔلُهُمْtasaluhumyou ask themأَجْرًاajrana payment,فَهُمfahumso they (are)مِّنminfromمَّغْرَمٍmaghramin(the) debtمُّثْقَلُونَmuth'qalūna[ones] burdened? ﴿٤٦﴾
[68:47] Do they know the future? Do they have it recorded?
أَمْamOr isعِندَهُمُʿindahumuwith themٱلْغَيْبُl-ghaybuthe unseen / future,فَهُمْfahumso theyيَكْتُبُونَyaktubūna[they] write (it down)? ﴿٤٧﴾
[68:48] You shall steadfastly persevere in carrying out the commands of your Lord. Do not be like (Jonah) who called from inside the fish.
فَٱصْبِرْfa-iṣ'birSo be patientلِحُكْمِliḥuk'mifor (the) decisionرَبِّكَrabbika(of) your Lord,وَلَاwalāand (do) notتَكُنtakunyou beكَصَاحِبِkaṣāḥibilike (the) companion (of)ٱلْحُوتِl-ḥūtithe fish,إِذْidhwhenنَادَىٰnādāhe called out,وَهُوَwahuwawhile he (was)مَكْظُومٌmakẓūmun[one] incapacitated by grief / restrained. ﴿٤٨﴾
[68:49] If it were not for his Lord's grace, he would have been ejected into the desert as a sinner.
لَّوْلَآlawlāIf notأَنanthatتَدَٰرَكَهُۥtadārakahu[it] overtakes / reaches himنِعْمَةٌniʿ'matuna favor / graceمِّنminfromرَّبِّهِۦrabbihihis Lord,لَنُبِذَlanubidhasurely he would have been ejectedبِٱلْعَرَآءِbil-ʿarāionto the naked shore وَهُوَwahuwawhile he (was)مَذْمُومٌmadhmūmun[one] blamed (a sinner). ﴿٤٩﴾
[68:50] But his Lord blessed him, and made him righteous.
فَٱجْتَبَـٰهُfa-ij'tabāhuBut [He] chose himرَبُّهُۥrabbuhuhis Lord,فَجَعَلَهُۥfajaʿalahuand He made himمِنَminaamongٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَl-ṣāliḥīnathe righteous [ones]. ﴿٥٠﴾
[68:51] Those who disbelieved show their ridicule in their eyes when they hear the message and say, "He is crazy!"
وَإِنwa-inAnd indeed,يَكَادُyakādu[he] almost,ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnathose whoكَفَرُوا۟kafarū[they] disbelieved,لَيُزْلِقُونَكَlayuz'liqūnakasurely they would make you stumbleبِأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْbi-abṣārihimwith their eyes / lookلَمَّاlammāwhenسَمِعُوا۟samiʿūthey heardٱلذِّكْرَl-dhik'rathe reminder / message,وَيَقُولُونَwayaqūlūnaand they say,إِنَّهُۥinnahu"Indeed, he (is)لَمَجْنُونٌlamajnūnunsurely one who is crazy." ﴿٥١﴾
[68:52] It is in fact a message to the world.
وَمَاwamāAnd notهُوَhuwait (is)إِلَّاillāexceptذِكْرٌdhik'runa reminder / messageلِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَlil'ʿālamīnato the people / nations / worlds. ﴿٥٢﴾