The Pen — Edward Henry Palmer Translation

68:1

۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

Edward Henry Palmer

N. By the pen, and what they write

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

68:2

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

Edward Henry Palmer

thou art not, by God's grace, mad

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

68:3

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

Edward Henry Palmer

and, verily, thine is a hire that is not grudged

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

68:4

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

Edward Henry Palmer

and, verily, thou art of a grand nature

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

68:5

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

Edward Henry Palmer

But thou shalt see and they shall se

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

68:6

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

Edward Henry Palmer

which of you is the infatuated

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn

68:7

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

Edward Henry Palmer

Verily, thy Lord He knows best who errs from His way; and He knows best those who are guided

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

68:8

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

Edward Henry Palmer

Then obey not those who call thee liar

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

68:9

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

Edward Henry Palmer

they would fain that thou shouldst be smooth with them, then would they be smooth with thee

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

68:10

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

Edward Henry Palmer

And obey not any mean swearer

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

68:11

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

Edward Henry Palmer

a back-biter, a walker about with slander

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

68:12

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

Edward Henry Palmer

a forbidder of good, a transgressor, a sinner

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

68:13

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

Edward Henry Palmer

rude, and base-born too

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

68:14

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

Edward Henry Palmer

though he have wealth and sons

An kana tha malin wabaneena

68:15

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

Edward Henry Palmer

When our signs are recited to him he says, 'Old folks' tales!

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

68:16

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

Edward Henry Palmer

We will brand him on the snout

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm

68:17

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

Edward Henry Palmer

Verily, we have tried them as we tried the fellows of the garden when they swore, 'We will cut its fruit at morn!

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

68:18

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

Edward Henry Palmer

But they made not the exception

walā yastathnūn

68:19

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

Edward Henry Palmer

and there came round about it an encompassing calamity from thy Lord the while they slept

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

68:20

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

Edward Henry Palmer

and on the morrow it was as one the fruit of which is cut

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

68:21

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

Edward Henry Palmer

And they cried to each other in the morning

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

68:22

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

Edward Henry Palmer

'Go early to your tilth if ye would cut it!

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

68:23

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

Edward Henry Palmer

So they set off, saying privily to each other

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

68:24

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

Edward Henry Palmer

'There shall surely enter it today unto you no poor person!

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

68:25

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

Edward Henry Palmer

And they went early deciding to be stingy

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

68:26

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

Edward Henry Palmer

And when they saw it they said, 'Verily, we have erred

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

68:27

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

Edward Henry Palmer

Nay, we are forbidden (its fruit)!

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

68:28

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

Edward Henry Palmer

Said the most moderate of them, 'Said I not to you, "unless ye celebrate God's praises!"

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

68:29

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

Edward Henry Palmer

Said they, 'Celebrated be the praises of our Lord! verily, we were unjust!

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

68:30

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

Edward Henry Palmer

And they approached each other with mutual blame

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

68:31

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

Edward Henry Palmer

Said they, 'O woe to us! verily, we have been outrageous

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

68:32

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

Edward Henry Palmer

Haply our Lord may give us instead a better than it; verily, we unto our Lord do yearn.

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

68:33

كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

Edward Henry Palmer

Thus is the torment, but, verily, the torment of the hereafter is greater, if ye did but know

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

68:34

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

Edward Henry Palmer

Verily, for the pious with their Lord are gardens of pleasure

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

68:35

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

Edward Henry Palmer

Shall we then make the Muslims like the sinners

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

68:36

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

Edward Henry Palmer

What ails you? how ye judge

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

68:37

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Edward Henry Palmer

Or have ye a book in which ye can study

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

68:38

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

Edward Henry Palmer

that ye are surely to have what ye may choose

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

68:39

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

Edward Henry Palmer

Or have ye oaths binding on us until the judgment day that ye are surely to have what ye may judge

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

68:40

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Edward Henry Palmer

Ask them, which of them will vouch for this

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

68:41

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Edward Henry Palmer

Or have they partners, then let them bring their partners if they do speak the truth

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

68:42

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

Edward Henry Palmer

On the day when the leg shall be bared; and they shall be called to adore and shall not be able

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

Edward Henry Palmer

Lowering their looks, abasement shall attack them, for they were called to adore while yet they were safe

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

Edward Henry Palmer

But let me alone with him who calls this new discourse a lie. We will surely bring them down by degrees from whence they do not know

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

68:45

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

Edward Henry Palmer

And I will let them have their way! for my device is sure

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

68:46

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Edward Henry Palmer

Or dost thou ask them a hire for it while they are burdened with debts

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

68:47

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Edward Henry Palmer

Or have they the knowledge of the unseen, so that they write

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

68:48

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

Edward Henry Palmer

But wait patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, and be not like the fellow of the fish, when he cried out as he was choking with rage

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

Edward Henry Palmer

Had it not been that grace from his Lord reached him, he would have been cast out on the naked (shore) and blamed the while

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

68:50

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

Edward Henry Palmer

But his Lord elected him, and made him of the pious

fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīn

68:51

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

Edward Henry Palmer

The misbelievers well-nigh upset thee with their looks when they hear the reminder, and they say, 'Surely he is mad!

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

Edward Henry Palmer

And yet it is but a reminder to the worlds

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

Surah 68. The Pen (al-Qalam)

Places Mentioned in the Quran

Prophetic Journeys & Events

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