The Pen — Dr Mohammad Tahir Ul Qadri Translation

Nun. (Only Allah and the Messenger [blessings and peace be upon him] know the real meaning.) By the pen and by that (subject) which (the angels) write down

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

68:2

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

(O Esteemed Beloved!) By the Grace of your Lord, you are not (at all) insane

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

68:3

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And assuredly, for you there is a reward that will never end

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

68:4

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And assuredly, you are placed high on the Most Glorious and Exalted (seat of) character (i.e., adorned with the Qur’anic morality and endowed with the character traits of Allah)

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

68:5

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Soon you will see and they (too) will see

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

68:6

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

As to which of you is mad

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn

68:7

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

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Surely, your Lord knows him best who has strayed from the straight path and (also) knows best those who are rightly guided

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

68:8

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So do not agree with what the beliers say

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

68:9

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

They wish that you should become (needlessly) flexible (in the matter of the Din [Religion]). Then they too would show flexibility

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

68:10

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And do not agree with any vile, most mean swearer of oaths

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

68:11

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

(The one who is) a slanderer, fault-finder, mischief-monger, (and) who backbites the people to rouse strife

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

68:12

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

(The one who) greatly hinders pious works and is a miser, rebellious transgressor (and) toughened sinner

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

68:13

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

(The one who is) rude, unmannerly, crooked and moreover of doubtful birth.

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

68:14

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So (do not pay any heed to him) because he is wealthy and has children

An kana tha malin wabaneena

68:15

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

When Our Verses are recited to him, he says: ‘These are the fictitious stories of the bygone people.

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

68:16

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Now We shall brand him on the snout

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm

68:17

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

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Surely, We will try them (the inhabitants of Mecca in the same way) as We tried (in Yemen) the owners of the garden when they swore that they would surely pluck its fruit the next morning

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

68:18

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And they did not make any exception (saying ‘if Allah wills’ or for the share of the orphans)

walā yastathnūn

68:19

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So a whirl (of disaster) from your Lord went round (that garden during the night) whilst they were asleep

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

68:20

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So, that (waving fruit-laden garden) became a harvested field in the morning

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

68:21

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Then as the day dawned, they started calling out one another

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

68:22

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

‘Leave early for your tilth if you want to pick the fruit.

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

68:23

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So they set off whispering to one another

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

68:24

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

‘Do not let any pauper come near you in the garden today.

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

68:25

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And early in the morning they left, (feeling) quite competent to execute their plan (of getting the yield and depriving the poor of their share)

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

68:26

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Then when they saw that (ruined garden), they said: ‘We must have lost our way; (this is not our garden).

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

68:27

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

(But when they saw it cautiously, they cried: ‘Oh no!) We have been deprived indeed.

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

68:28

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

One of them, wise and inclined to the balanced judgment, said: ‘Did I not say to you: Why do you not glorify and remember Allah?

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

68:29

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

(Then) they said: ‘Our Lord is Holy. Surely, it is we who were the wrongdoers.

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

68:30

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So, blaming and maligning, they turned to one another

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

68:31

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

They said: ‘Woe to us! No doubt it is we who were disobedient and rebellious

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

68:32

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

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

We hope that our Lord may give us something better than this in exchange. Verily, we turn to 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. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Such is the punishment. And truly, the torment of the Hereafter is far greater (than this). Would that they only knew

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

68:34

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Surely, for the Godfearing there are Gardens of Bliss with their Lord

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

68:35

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Shall We (deprive) the obedient like the disobedient

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

68:36

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

What is the matter with you? How do you make a judgment

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

68:37

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Do you have any Book with you in which you read (this)

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

68:38

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

That it contains all that you like

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

68:39

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

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Or have you any (such) firm covenants from Us as will subsist till the Day of Resurrection (by means of which We are bound) that you will be provided with whatever you shall decide (for yourselves)

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

68:40

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Ask them which of them will vouch for such (a baseless assertion)

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

68:41

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Or do they have any partners (as well)? Then they should bring their partners if they are truthful

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

68:42

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

The Day when the ‘shin’ (i.e., the terrifying fierceness of the Hour of Rising) will be laid bare, and (the disobedient) people will be called to prostrate themselves, but they will not be able to do so (i.e., to prostrate themselves)

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. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Their eyes will be cast down (with terror and shame) and disgrace will be spreading over them, whereas they were called to prostrate themselves (in the world also) when they were healthy (but they, even then, refused to fall prostrate)

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. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So, (O Esteemed Beloved,) leave Me (to exact revenge) from the one who rejects this Revelation. Now We shall take them (towards disaster) so gradually that they will not perceive it

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

68:45

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And I am giving them respite. Surely, My strategy is unbeatable

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

68:46

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Do you ask them for any reward (for preaching the faith in Messengership) that they are weighed down with (the burden of) paying the recompense

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

68:47

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Do they have the knowledge of the unseen that they write down (their judgments on the basis of that)

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

68:48

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

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

So be steadfast in waiting for the command of your Lord, and do not (take it to your heart) like (Yunus [Jonah], the Messenger with) fish episode, when he cried out (to Allah) in a state pent up with rage and grief (against his community)

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. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Had the mercy and blessing of his Lord not helped him, he would certainly have been thrown in the barren field, blamed. (But Allah saved him from that.

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

68:50

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

Then his Lord exalted him and (placed him) amongst the perfectly pious (blessing him with His exceptional nearness)

fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīn

68:51

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

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And indeed, when the disbelievers listen to the Qur’an, it seems as if they wish to damage you with their (jealously evil) looks and say: ‘He is insane.

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. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

And it (the Qur’an) is direction and guidance for all the worlds

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

Surah 68. The Pen (al-Qalam)

Places Mentioned in the Quran

Prophetic Journeys & Events

Quranic Concept Graph