The Pen — Maulana Muhammad Ali Translation

68:1

۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

Maulana Muhammad Ali

(By) the inkstand and the pen and that which they write

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

68:2

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

Maulana Muhammad Ali

By the grace of thy Lord thou art not mad

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

68:3

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And surely thine is a reward never to be cut off

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

68:4

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And surely thou hast sublime morals

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

68:5

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

Maulana Muhammad Ali

So thou wilt see, and they (too) will see

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

68:6

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Surely thy Lord knows best who is erring from His way, and He knows best those who go aright

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

68:8

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

Maulana Muhammad Ali

So obey not the rejectors

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

68:9

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

Maulana Muhammad Ali

They wish that thou shouldst be pliant, so they (too) would be pliant

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

68:10

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And obey not any mean swearer

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

68:11

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Defamer, going about with slander

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

68:12

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Hinderer of good, outstepping the limits, sinful

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

68:13

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Ignoble, besides all that, notoriously mischievous -

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

68:14

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Because he possess wealth and sons

An kana tha malin wabaneena

68:15

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

Maulana Muhammad Ali

When Our messages are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

68:16

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

Maulana Muhammad Ali

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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

We shall try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore to pluck its fruits in the morning

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

68:18

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And would not set aside a portion (for the poor)

walā yastathnūn

68:19

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

Maulana Muhammad Ali

But a visitation from thy Lord came on it, while they slept

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

68:20

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

Maulana Muhammad Ali

So it became as black, barren land -

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

68:21

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Then they called out one to another in the morning

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

68:22

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Saying: Go early to your tilth, if you would pluck (the fruit)

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

68:23

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

Maulana Muhammad Ali

So they went, while they said one to another in low tones

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

68:24

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

Maulana Muhammad Ali

No poor man shall enter it to-day to you -

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

68:25

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

68:26

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

Maulana Muhammad Ali

But when they saw it, they said: Surely we are in error

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

68:27

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Nay, we are made to suffer privation

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

68:28

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

Maulana Muhammad Ali

The best of them said: Said I not to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

68:29

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

Maulana Muhammad Ali

They said: Glory be to our Lord! surely we were unjust

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

68:30

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

68:31

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Said they: O woe to us! Surely we were inordinate -

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

68:32

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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it -- surely to our Lord we make petition

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

68:33

كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Such is the chastisement. And certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter is greater, did they but know

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

68:34

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Surely the dutiful have with their Lord Gardens of bliss

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

68:35

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Shall We then make those who submit as the guilty

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

68:36

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

Maulana Muhammad Ali

What is the matter with you? How do you judge

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

68:37

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Or have you a book wherein you rea

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

68:38

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

Maulana Muhammad Ali

That you shall surely have therein what you choose

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

68:39

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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Or have you covenants from us on oath, extending to the day of Resurrection, that yours is surely what you judge

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

68:40

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Ask them which of them will vouch for that

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

68:41

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Or have they associate-gods? Then let them bring their associates, if they are truthful

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

68:42

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

Maulana Muhammad Ali

On the day when thee is a severe affliction, and they are called upon to prostrate themselves, but they are not 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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Their looks cast down, abasement will cover them. And they were indeed called upon to prostrate themselves, 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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

So leave Me alone with him who rejects this announcement. We shall overtake them by degrees, from whence they know not

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

68:45

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And I bear with them, surely My plan is firm

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

68:46

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Or dost thou ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

68:47

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Or is 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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

So wait patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the fish, when he cried while he was in distress

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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Had not favour from his Lord reached him, he would certainly have been cast down on naked ground, while he was blamed

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

68:50

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of 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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And those who disbelieve would almost smite thee with their eyes 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

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And it is naught but a Reminder for the nations

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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