The Pen — Arthur John Arberry Translation

68:1

۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

Arthur John Arberry

Nun. By the Pen, and what they inscribe

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

68:2

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

Arthur John Arberry

thou art not, by the blessing of thy Lord, a man possessed

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

68:3

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

Arthur John Arberry

Surely thou shalt have a wage unfailing

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

68:4

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

Arthur John Arberry

surely thou art upon a mighty morality

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

68:5

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

Arthur John Arberry

So thou shalt see, and they will see

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

68:6

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

Arthur John Arberry

which of you is the demented

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn

68:7

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

Arthur John Arberry

Surely thy Lord knows very well those who have gone astray from His way, and He knows very well those who are guided

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

68:8

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

Arthur John Arberry

So obey thou not those who cry lies

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

68:9

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

Arthur John Arberry

They wish that thou shouldst compromise, then they would compromise

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

68:10

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

Arthur John Arberry

And obey thou not every mean swearer

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

68:11

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

Arthur John Arberry

backbiter, going about with slander

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

68:12

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

Arthur John Arberry

hinderer of good, guilty aggressor, coarse-grained

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

68:13

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

Arthur John Arberry

moreover ignoble

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

68:14

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

Arthur John Arberry

because he has wealth and sons

An kana tha malin wabaneena

68:15

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

Arthur John Arberry

When Our signs are recited to him, he says, 'Fairy-tales of the ancients!

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

68:16

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

Arthur John Arberry

We shall brand him upon the muzzle

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm

68:17

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

Arthur John Arberry

Now We have tried them, even as We tried the owners of the garden when they swore they would pluck in the mornin

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

68:18

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

Arthur John Arberry

and they added not the saving words

walā yastathnūn

68:19

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

Arthur John Arberry

Then a visitation from thy Lord visited it, while they were sleeping

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

68:20

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

Arthur John Arberry

and in the morning it was as if it were a garden plucked

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

68:21

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

Arthur John Arberry

In the morning they called to one another

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

68:22

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

Arthur John Arberry

'Come forth betimes upon your tillage, if you would pluck!

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

68:23

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

Arthur John Arberry

So they departed, whispering together

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

68:24

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

Arthur John Arberry

'No needy man shall enter it today against your will.

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

68:25

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

Arthur John Arberry

And they went forth early, determined upon their purpose

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

68:26

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

Arthur John Arberry

But when they saw it, they said, 'Surely we are gone astray

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

68:27

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

Arthur John Arberry

nay, rather we have been robbed!

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

68:28

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

Arthur John Arberry

Said the most moderate of them, 'Did I not say to you, "Why do you not give glory?"

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

68:29

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

Arthur John Arberry

They said, 'Glory be to God, our Lord; truly, we were evildoers.

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

68:30

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

Arthur John Arberry

And they advanced one upon another, blaming each other

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

68:31

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

Arthur John Arberry

They said, 'Woe, alas for us! Truly, we were insolent

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

68:32

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

Arthur John Arberry

It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better than it; to our Lord we humbly turn.

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

68:33

كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

Arthur John Arberry

Such is the chastisement; and the chastisement of the world to come, is assuredly greater, did they but know

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

68:34

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

Arthur John Arberry

Surely for the godfearing shall be Gardens of Bliss with their Lord

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

68:35

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

Arthur John Arberry

What, shall we make those who have surrendered like to the sinners

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

68:36

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

Arthur John Arberry

What ails you then, how you judge

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

68:37

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Arthur John Arberry

Or have you a Book wherein you study

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

68:38

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

Arthur John Arberry

Surely therein you shall have whatever you choose

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

68:39

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

Arthur John Arberry

Or have you oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection? Surely you shall have whatever you judge

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

68:40

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Arthur John Arberry

Ask them, which of them will guarantee that

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

68:41

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Arthur John Arberry

Or do they have associates? Then let them bring their associates, if they speak truly

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

68:42

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

Arthur John Arberry

Upon the day when the leg shall be bared, and they shall be summoned to bow themselves, but they cannot

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

68:43

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

Arthur John Arberry

humbled shall be their eyes, and abasement shall overspread them, for they had been summoned to bow themselves while they were whole

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

68:44

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

Arthur John Arberry

So leave Me with him who cries lies to this discourse! We will draw them on little by little whence they know not

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

68:45

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

Arthur John Arberry

and I shall respite them -- assuredly My guile is sure

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

68:46

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Arthur John Arberry

Or askest thou them for a wage, and so they are weighed down with debt

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

68:47

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Arthur John Arberry

Or is the Unseen in their keeping, and so they are writing it down

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

68:48

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

Arthur John Arberry

So be thou patient under the judgment of thy Lord, and be not as the Man of the Fish, when he called, choking inwardly

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

68:49

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

Arthur John Arberry

Had there not overtaken him a blessing from his Lord he would have been cast upon the wilderness, being condemned

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

68:50

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

Arthur John Arberry

But his Lord had chosen him, and He placed him among the righteous

fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīn

68:51

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

Arthur John Arberry

The unbelievers wellnigh strike thee down with their glances, when they hear the Reminder, and they say, 'Surely he is a man possessed!

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

68:52

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ ۝٥٢

Arthur John Arberry

And it is nothing but a Reminder unto all beings

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

Surah 68. The Pen (al-Qalam)

Places Mentioned in the Quran

Prophetic Journeys & Events

Quranic Concept Graph