The Pen — Al Muntakhab Translation – Parallel Quran

1 Not a Madman's Message

۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

(Nun, and by what it represents and what it stands for as a natural symbol of adoration), and the pen -employed in writing with a pen- and by the pen -the instrument of authorship-, (and by what they commit in writing)

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

That you, Muhammad, are not ungrateful to Allah, your Creator, for the gift He bestowed upon you, nor is the utterance ungrateful to your ear, nor are you uncontrolled by reason or a demoniac possessed by an eviI spirit

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

And you shall be continually rewarded for relating Allah’s message and for the suffering you endure but - "in your patience possess you your soul"

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

And you are a man of distinguished character; excellent repute and distinct mental and moral constitution

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

Soon shall you see and so shall they -your opponent- who is the stray who has erred and strayed from the path of righteousness

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

And soon shall they know who is uncontrolled by reason and who is of unsound mind

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِیلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِینَ ۝٧

Allah your Creator, is He Who knows best those who have wandered from the path of rectitude, and those who have been guided by the spirit of truth into all truth

inna rabbaka huwa aʿlamu biman ḍalla ʿan sabīlihi wahuwa aʿlamu bil-muh'tadīn

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

So conditioned, do not O Muhammad submit to those who deny the truth and suspect you of falsehood

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

They wish you were flexible and they would come to terms with mutual concessions

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

Nor listen to the contemptible who always makes an oath to the truth of his statement because he feels he is not taken at his word nor do his actions to his words accord

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

A gossiper who delights in idle talk, a slanderer who fans the flow of discord

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

Obstructive to all that is good and commendable, a transgressor who goes beyond the limits prescribed by Allah and justifies the forbidden

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

Moreover, cruel, hurtful and callous

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

His manner of acting as representative of feeling, answers his ingratitude to Allah Who has given him wealth and progeny

An kana tha malin wabaneena

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

Whose response to Our Revelations when he applies his ears to them, is: "Tales fabled by those of old "

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

We shall impress on him a stigma of infamy and furnish him with a distorted, contemptuous and ugly disproportionate snout

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm

إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَـٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَاۤ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُوا۟ لَیَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝١٧

We have put them -your people- O Muhammad to the test as We had tried the owners of the orchard who decided upon picking up all the fruits by the morrow at dawn to escape notice and evade paying the poor their due. They disregarded alms which are but the vehicles of prayer

innā balawnāhum kamā balawnā aṣḥāba l-janati idh aqsamū layaṣrimunnahā muṣ'biḥīn

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

No one did they except and the decision was irrevocable

walā yastathnūn

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

But the orchard was visited by a divine dispensation which did away with it at one blow while they were asleep

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

So that by morning it stood desolate and bare, and there was nothing left for them to reap

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

When they woke up they held discourse to hasten the course of action and expedite their desire

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

"Let us go", said one of them, "and do what you have planned to do if you are to serve your purpose"

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

And so they went onward to their orchard whispering to each other as to how they would accomplish their desire

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

That no indigent shall have the chance to break in and seek any share to which he might aspire

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

And thus they finally and firmly resolved not to be moved from their purpose and course of action

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

And when they saw the orchard had been changed out of all recognition and their dreams which they cherished with unreasonable affection were simply a reverie, they said: "We must have missed our way"

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

But having recognized the calamity, they said : "We have suffered a big loss; we will get no return for our labour and effort, and our expectant waiting has come to a moist mirage in desert eyes"

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

The moderate among them said : "Would it not have been befitting, as I advised, had we praised Allah and rendered thanks for the benefits that to us, He has given?"

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

Now, they said, "Glory to You, our Creator; we have been wrongful of the actions we harmfully performed yet we knew they are utterly forbidden"

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

Then they turned round on each other in reproach for the ingratitude to Allah and for the idea of evading benevolence to the poor

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

"How denunciated shall we be" they said. "We went beyond the limits prescribed by Allah and offended against the poor and it serves us right"

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَاۤ أَن یُبۡدِلَنَا خَیۡرࣰا مِّنۡهَاۤ إِنَّاۤ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَ ٰغِبُونَ ۝٣٢

"It is hoped that Allah, our Creator, may compensate us for our losses with what is better". And thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood

kadhālika l-ʿadhābu walaʿadhābu l-ākhirati akbaru law kānū yaʿlamūn

كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

Such is the retributory punishment, here, for those who go beyond the limits prescribed by Allah and say to their money "my Allah art thou " or " you are my god ", and deny the poor what is due, and greater shall be the punishment Hereafter if only people knew

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

2 A Reminder for Nations

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

But the righteous shall Allah admit in the bliss and the beatitude of His heaven’s realm

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

Or shall We then treat those who entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah, the same as We treat those who do not regard Allah nor His divine law

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

How could you be so bold -you people- as to think beyond all bounds of prudence and discretion

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Or do you people have a Book which was revealed to you and you use it as a valid reference and you apply the rules which bear upon it.

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

And you choose from it what suits you and make use of it as a convenient aid to your intentions

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَیۡمَـٰنٌ عَلَیۡنَا بَـٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ یَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِیَـٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٩

Or did you ratify with Us covenants with unquestionable validity until the Day of Resurrection, and you are then judged according to your desire and expected satisfaction

am lakum aymānun ʿalaynā bālighatun ilā yawmi l-qiyāmati inna lakum lamā taḥkumūn

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Ask them O Muhammad "who has championed the idea and shall offer himself as the candidate who presents a firm front and guarantees them against all exactions?"

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Or do they have deities sharing with Allah His divine nature that they incorporate with Him? If so, ask them to bring them over if they are declaring the truth

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

Wait, a Day shall come when the truth comes to light and their records are exposed, and distress, horror and crushing sorrow are imposed and now they are called to prostrate before their Creator but they cannot

yawma yuk'shafu ʿan sāqin wayud'ʿawna ilā l-sujūdi falā yastaṭīʿūn

خَـٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةࣱۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُوا۟ یُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَـٰلِمُونَ ۝٤٣

They stand drooping their sight and drooping their souls, hollow-eyed, gazing in bewilderment and fear and gazing their souls away, mortified, despaired of hope and discredited by the base and ignominious cover of their quality and conduct; yet they were admonished in life to bow to the ground in adoration when conditions were wholesome but they did no

khāshiʿatan abṣāruhum tarhaquhum dhillatun waqad kānū yud'ʿawna ilā l-sujūdi wahum sālimūn

فَذَرۡنِی وَمَن یُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِیثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٤٤

So leave to Me the one who refuses to admit the truth of the Quran. We shall give such persons enough rope and allow them free scope, so that they overreach and commit themselves to an evil line of conduct and be swept away in the general cataclysm

fadharnī waman yukadhibu bihādhā l-ḥadīthi sanastadrijuhum min ḥaythu lā yaʿlamūn

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

I give them respite and delay My action, but My scheme of action is decisive, conclusive, strict and unfailing, it strikes at the root

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Or do you invite them O Muhammad and present them with inducements to follow the path of truth and reality for something in return, and so they are charged with a debt that burdens them or brings them under such liability! The truth is that they are obstinate, not that they hold opinions but the opinions hold them

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Or do they, of all people, apprehend and comprehend what is by nature not an object of sight and they commit it to writing

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومࣱ ۝٤٨

So be patient O Muhammad and forbear their faults and limitations until Allah judges between you and them. Be not like (Zun Nun) (Jonah ) who fled his people because of their hostility and neglected his responsibility toward Allah. He went to the sea only to be swallowed by the fish. And in distress and utter darkness, he invoked Allah’s forgiveness and mercy

fa-iṣ'bir liḥuk'mi rabbika walā takun kaṣāḥibi l-ḥūti idh nādā wahuwa makẓūmu

لَّوۡلَاۤ أَن تَدَ ٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَاۤءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومࣱ ۝٤٩

And had it not been for the grace and mercy of Allah, his Creator, on him, he would have been cast in the open, low on his knees, brought down to a bad and disagreeable condition, discredited with infamy and shame

lawlā an tadārakahu niʿ'matun min rabbihi lanubidha bil-ʿarāi wahuwa madhmūmu

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

But Allah relented and quit him all His debt, and with divine grace he came to be of the righteous whose deeds were imprinted with wisdom and piety

fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīn

وَإِن یَكَادُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَیُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَیَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونࣱ ۝٥١

When the infidels hear you O Muhammad recite the Quran they turn their attention to you and their eyes almost breathe vengeance; their ill-will and their hatred forged in their bosoms that their tongues must vent, have vented your accusation of being a demoniac

wa-in yakādu alladhīna kafarū layuz'liqūnaka bi-abṣārihim lammā samiʿū l-dhik'ra wayaqūlūna innahu lamajnūnu

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ ۝٥٢

When in effect -the Quran- is but a universal message which people are yet to learn, and an admonition and a counsel of the greatest concern

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

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