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القَلَم

Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar

Surah 68. The Pen (al-Qalam)

52 verses Meccan
Home›Qur'an›al-Qalam›Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
0:00
1 Not a Madman's Message
68:1 ›
۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
N]n! By the pen and what they inscribe:
noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn
68:2 ›
مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Thou art not, by the divine blessing of thy Lord, one who is possessed.
mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni
68:3 ›
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
And, truly, there is for thee certainly, compensation, that which is unfailing.
wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni
68:4 ›
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
And, truly, thou art of sublime morals.
wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi
68:5 ›
فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Thou wilt perceive and they will perceive
fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn
68:6 ›
بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
which of you is the one who is demented.
bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn
68:7 ›
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِیلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِینَ ۝٧
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Truly, thy Lord, He is greater in knowledge of whoever went astray from His Way and He is greater in knowledge of ones who are truly guided.
inna rabbaka huwa aʿlamu biman ḍalla ʿan sabīlihi wahuwa aʿlamu bil-muh'tadīn
68:8 ›
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Then, obey not ones who deny.
falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn
68:9 ›
وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
They wished that thou wouldst compromise with them and they would compromise with thee.
waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn
68:10 ›
وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
But obey thou not every worthless swearer, defamer,
walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni
68:11 ›
هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
one who goes about with slander, slandering,
hammāzin mashāin binamīmi
68:12 ›
مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
who delays good, a sinful, exceeder of limits,
mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi
68:13 ›
عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
cruel and after that, ignoble,
an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn
68:14 ›
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
because he had been possessor of wealth and children.
An kana tha malin wabaneena
68:15 ›
إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
When Our signs are recounted to him, he said: Fables of the ancient ones!
idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn
68:16 ›
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
We will mark him on the snout!
sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm
68:17 ›
إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَـٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَاۤ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُوا۟ لَیَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝١٧
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Truly, We tried them as We tried the Companions of the Garden when they swore an oath that they would pluck fruit, in that which is happening in the morning.
innā balawnāhum kamā balawnā aṣḥāba l-janati idh aqsamū layaṣrimunnahā muṣ'biḥīn
68:18 ›
وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
They make no exception by saying if God wills.
walā yastathnūn
68:19 ›
فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Then, a visitation from thy Lord visited it while they were ones who sleep,
faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn
68:20 ›
فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
in that which is happening in the morning, it was like a plucked garden!
fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm
68:21 ›
فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
And they called to one another in that which is morning:
fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn
68:22 ›
أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Set forth in the early morning dawn to your cultivation if you had been ones who pluck fruit.
ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn
68:23 ›
فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
So they set out and they whisper, saying:
fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn
68:24 ›
أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
There will, truly, not enter it today on you any needy person.
an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu
68:25 ›
وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
And they set forth in the early morning, designing, assuming they were ones who have the power.
waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn
68:26 ›
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
But when they saw it, they said: We are, certainly, ones who go astray!
falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn
68:27 ›
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Nay! We are ones who are deprived.
bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn
68:28 ›
قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
The most moderate of them said: Say I not to you: Why glorify you not God?
qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn
68:29 ›
قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
They said: Glory be to God, our Lord! Truly, we had been ones who are unjust.
qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn
68:30 ›
فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Then, they came forward, some with some others blaming one another.
fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn
68:31 ›
قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
They said: O woe be to us! Truly, we had been ones who are defiant.
qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn
68:32 ›
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَاۤ أَن یُبۡدِلَنَا خَیۡرࣰا مِّنۡهَاۤ إِنَّاۤ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَ ٰغِبُونَ ۝٣٢
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Perhaps our Lord will cause to exchange for us better than it. Truly, we are ones who quest our Lord.
kadhālika l-ʿadhābu walaʿadhābu l-ākhirati akbaru law kānū yaʿlamūn
68:33 ›
كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Thus, this is the punishment of this present life, but the punishment of the world to come is greater, if they had been knowing!
Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona
2 A Reminder for Nations
68:34 ›
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Truly, for ones who are Godfearing are Gardens of Bliss with their Lord.
inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm
68:35 ›
أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Will We make ones who submit to God as ones who sin?
afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn
68:36 ›
مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
What is the matter with you? How you give judgment!
mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn
68:37 ›
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Or have you a Book by which you study
am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn
68:38 ›
إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
that you will have in it whatever you specify?
inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn
68:39 ›
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَیۡمَـٰنٌ عَلَیۡنَا بَـٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ یَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِیَـٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٩
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Or are there oaths from Us, ones that reach through to the Day of Resurrection providing that you will have what you yourselves give as judgment?
am lakum aymānun ʿalaynā bālighatun ilā yawmi l-qiyāmati inna lakum lamā taḥkumūn
68:40 ›
سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Ask them, then, which of them will be a guarantor for that.
salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu
68:41 ›
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Or have they ones they ascribe as associate with God? Then, let them approach with their ascribed associates if they had been ones who are sincere.
am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn
68:42 ›
یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
On a Day the great calamity will be uncovered and they will be called to prostration, then, they will not be able to do so.
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
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Their sight will be that which is humbled. Abasement will come over them and they had before this been called to prostration while they were ones who are healthy.
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
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
So forsake Me and whoever denies this discourse. We will draw them on gradually from where they know not
fadharnī waman yukadhibu bihādhā l-ḥadīthi sanastadrijuhum min ḥaythu lā yaʿlamūn
68:45 ›
وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
and I will grant indulgence to them. Truly, My cunning is sure.
wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu
68:46 ›
أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Or hast thou asked them for a compensation, so that they would be weighed down from something owed?
am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn
68:47 ›
أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
Or have they knowledge of the unseen with them so that they write it down?
am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn
68:48 ›
فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومࣱ ۝٤٨
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
So be thou patient until the determination of thy Lord and be not like the Companion of the Great Fish when he cried out, one who is suppressed by grief.
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
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
If a divine blessing not followed him one after another, from His Lord he would be cast forth on the naked shore while he was one who is condemned.
lawlā an tadārakahu niʿ'matun min rabbihi lanubidha bil-ʿarāi wahuwa madhmūmu
68:50 ›
فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
But his Lord elected him and made him among the ones in accord with morality.
fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīn
68:51 ›
وَإِن یَكَادُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَیُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَیَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونࣱ ۝٥١
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
It was almost as if those who were ungrateful looked at thee sternly with their sight when they heard the Remembrance, and they say: He is one who is 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
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
And it is, certainly, not but a Remembrance to the worlds.
wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn
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Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar

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Surah Info

Surah
The Pen
Verses
52
Revelation
Meccan
Juz
29
Translations
62

Themes in This Surah

Pen Character Patience Accountability

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Sections (Ruku)

  1. 1 Not a Madman's Message Ayat 1 – 33
  2. 2 A Reminder for Nations Ayat 34 – 52

Places Mentioned in the Quran

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Quranic Concept Graph

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