Al-Qalam

نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ

NOOON. WALQ̣ALAMI wa-maa yasṭuroon,―

Nūn. By the pen and what they inscribe,

مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ

Maaa ʹañta biniʻmati Rabbika bimajnoon.

You are not, [O Muḥammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ

Wa-ʹinna laka laʹAjran g̣ayra mamnoon:

And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

Wa-ʹinnaka laʻalaa khuluq̣in ʻaz̤̣eem.

And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ

Fasatubṣiru wa-yubṣiroon,

So you will see and they will see

بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ

Biʹayyikumul maftoon.

Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ

ʹInna Rabbaka Huwa ʹaʻlamu bimañ ḍalla ʻañ Sabeelih: wa-Huwa ʹAʻlamu bil-Muhtadeen.

Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Falaa tuṭiʻil mukaẓẓibeen.

Then do not obey the deniers.

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ

Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoon.

They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ

Wa-laa tuṭiʻ kulla ḥallaafim maheen,

And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ

Hammaazim mashshaaaʹim binameem,

[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -

مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ

Mannaaʻil lilkhayri muʻtadin ʹas̤eem,

A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ

ʻUtullim baʻda ẓaalika zaneem,―

Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ

ʹAñ kaana ẓaa maaliñwwa baneen.

Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

ʹIẓaa tutlaa ʻalayhi ʹAayaatunaa q̣aala ʹAsaaṭeerul ʹAwwaleen!

When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ

Sanasimuhoo ʻalal khurṭoom!

We will brand him upon the snout.

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ

ʹInnaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa ʹAṣḥaabal Jannah, ʹiẓ ʹaq̣samoo layaṣrimunnahaa muṣbiḥeen,

Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

Wa-laa yastas̤noon.

Without making exception.

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ

Faṭaafa ʻalayhaa ṭaaaʹifum mir Rabbika wa-hum naaaʹimoon.

So there came upon it [i.e., the garden] an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ

Faʹaṣbaḥat kaṣṣareem.

And it became as though reaped.

فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ

Fatanaadaw muṣbiḥeen,

And they called one another at morning,

أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰرِمِينَ

ʹAnig̣ doo ʻalaa ḥars̤ikum ʹiñ kuñtum ṣaarimeen.

[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ

Fañṭalaq̣oo wa-hum yatakhaafatoon―

So they set out, while lowering their voices,

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

ʹAl laa yadkhulannahal yawma ʻalaykum miskeen.

[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."

وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَـٰدِرِينَ

Wa-g̣adaw ʻalaa ḥardiñ q̣aadireen.

And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ

Falammaa raʹawhaa q̣aalooo ʹinnaa laḍaaalloon:

But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

Bal naḥnu maḥroomoon!

Rather, we have been deprived."

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

Q̣aala ʹawsaṭuhum ʹalam ʹaq̣ul lakum law-laa tusabbiḥoon?

The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allāh]?'"

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ

Q̣aaloo Subḥaana Rabbinaaa ʹinnaa kunnaa z̤̣aalimeen!

They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ

Faʹaq̣bala baʻḍuhum ʻalaa baʻḍiñy yatalaawamoon.

Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِينَ

Q̣aaloo yaa-waylanaaa ʹinnaa kunnaa ṭaag̣een!

They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ

ʻAsaa Rabbunaaa ʹañy yubdilanaa khayram minhaaa ʹinnaaa ʹilaa Rabbinaa raag̣iboon!

Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

Kaẓaalikal ʻAẓaab; wa-laʻAẓaabul ʹAakhirati ʹakbar. Law kaanoo yaʻlamoon!

Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

ʹInna lil-Muttaq̣eena ʻiñda Rabbihim Jannatin Naʻeem.

Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.

أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

ʹAfanajʻalul Muslimeena kalmujrimeen?

Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

Maa- lakum? kayfa taḥkumoon?

What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ

ʹAm lakum Kitaabuñ feehi tadrusoon―

Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

ʹInna lakum feehi lamaa takhayyaroon?

That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

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

ʹAm lakum ʹAymaanun ʻalaynaa baalig̣atun ʹilaa Yawmil Q̣iyaamati ʹinna lakum lamaa taḥkumoon?

Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

Salhum ʹayyuhum̃ biẓaalika zaʻeem!

Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِينَ

ʹAm lahum shurakaaaʹu fal-yaʹtoo bishurakaaaʹihim ʹiñ kaanoo ṣaadiq̣een!

Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

Yawma yukshafu ʻañ saaq̣iñw wayudʻawna ʹilas sujoodi falaa yastaṭeeʻoon,―

The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but they [i.e., the disbelievers] will not be able,

خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَـٰلِمُونَ

Khaashiʻatan ʹabṣaaruhum tarhaq̣uhum ẓillah: wa-q̣ad kaanoo yudʻawna ʹilas sujoodi wa-hum saalimoon.

Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Faẓarnee wa-mañy yukaẓẓibu bihaaẓal Ḥadees̤: sanastadrijuhum min ḥays̤u laa- yaʻlamoon.

So leave Me, [O Muḥammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies this statement [i.e., the Qur’ān]. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.

وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ

Wa-ʹumlee lahum: ʹinna kaydee mateen.

And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.

أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ

ʹAm tasʹaluhum ʹajrañ fahum mim mag̣ramim mus̤q̣aloon?

Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?

أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

ʹAm ʻiñdahumul G̣aybu fahum yaktuboon?

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

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

Faṣbir li-Ḥukmi Rabbika wa-laa takuñ ka-Ṣaaḥibil Ḥoot. ʹIẓ naadaa wa-huwa makz̤̣oom.

Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muḥammad], and be not like the companion of the fish [i.e., Jonah] when he called out while he was distressed.

لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

Law-laaa ʹañ tadaarakahoo Niʻmatum mir Rabbihee lanubiẓa bilʻaraaaʹi wa-huwa maẓmoom.

If not that a favor [i.e., mercy] from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.

فَٱجْتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

Fajtabaahu Rabbuhoo fajaʻalahoo minaṣ Ṣaaliḥeen.

And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.

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

Wa-ʹiñy yakaadul laẓeena kafaroo layuzliq̣oonaka biʹabṣaarihim lammaa samiʻuẓ Ẓikra wa-yaq̣ooloona ʹinnahoo lamajnoon!

And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes [i.e., looks] when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad."

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

Wa-maa huwa ʹillaa Ẓikrul lilʻAalameen.

But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.