The Pen — Muhammad Asad Translation – Parallel Quran

1 Not a Madman's Message

۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

Nun. CONSIDER the pen, and all that they write [therewith]

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

Thou art not, by thy Sustainer's grace, a madman

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

And, verily, thine shall be a reward neverending –

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

for, behold, thou keepest indeed to a sublime way of life

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

and [one day] thou shalt see, and they [who now deride thee] shall see

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

which of you was bereft of reason

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn

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

Verily, thy Sustainer alone is fully aware as to who has strayed from His path, Just as He alone is fully aware of those who have found the right way

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

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

Hence, defer not to [the likes and dislikes of] those who give the lie to the truth

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

they would like thee to be soft [with them], so that they might be soft [with thee]

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

Furthermore, defer not to the contemptible swearer of oaths

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

[or to] the slanderer that goes about with defaming tales

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

[or] the withholder of good, [or] the sinful aggressor

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

[or] one who is cruel, by greed possessed, and, in addition to all this, utterly useless [to his fellow-men]

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

Is it because he is possessed of worldly goods and childre

An kana tha malin wabaneena

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

that, whenever Our messages are conveyed to him, such a one says, "Fables of ancient times"

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

[For this] We shall brand him with indelible disgrace

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm

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

[As for such sinners,] behold, We [but] try them as We tried the owners of a certain garden who vowed that they would surely harvest its fruit on the morrow

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

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

and made no allowance [for the will of God]

walā yastathnūn

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

whereupon a visitation for thy Sustainer came upon that [garden] while they were asleep

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

so that by the morrow it became barren and bleak

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

Now when they rose at early morn, they called unto one another

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

"Go early to your tilth if you want to harvest the fruit!"

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

Thus they launched forth, whispering unto one another

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

"Indeed, no needy person shall enter it today [and come] upon you [unawares],"

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

– and early they went, strongly bent upon their purpose

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

But as soon as they beheld [the garden and could not recognize] it, they exclaimed, "Surely we have lost our way!"

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

- [and then,] "Nay, but we have been rendered destitute!"

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

Said the most right-minded among them: "Did I not tell you, 'Will you not extol God's limitless glory?’"

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

They answered: "Limitless in His glory is our Sustainer! Verily, we were doing wrong!"

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

- and then they turned upon one another with mutual reproaches

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

[In the end] they said: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we did behave outrageously

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

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

[But] it may be that our Sustainer will grant us something better instead: for, verily, unto our Sustainer do we turn with hope!"

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

كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

SUCH is the suffering [with which We try some people in this world]; but greater by far will be the suffering [which sinners shall have to bear] in the life to come - if they but knew it

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

2 A Reminder for Nations

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

For, behold, it is the God-conscious [alone] whom gardens of bliss await with their Sustainer

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

or should We, perchance, treat those who surrender themselves unto Us as [We would treat] those who remain lost in sin

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

What is amiss with you? On what do you base your judgment [of right and wrong]

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Or have you, perchance, a [special] divine writ which you study

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

and in which you find all that you may wish to find

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

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

Or have you received a solemn promise, binding on Us till Resurrection Day, that yours will assuredly be whatever you judge [to be your rightful due]

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

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Ask them which of them is able to vouch for this

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Or have they, perchance, anys ages to support their views? Well, then, if they are sincere in this their claim, let them produce those supporters of their

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

on the Day when man's very being shall be bared to the bone, and when they [who now deny the truth] shall be called upon to prostrate themselves [before God], and shall be unable to do so

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

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

downcast will be their eyes, with ignominy overwhelming them - seeing that they had been called upon [in vain] to prostrate themselves [before Him] while they were yet sound [and alive]

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

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

Hence, leave Me alone with such as give the lie to this tiding. We shall bring them low, step by step, without their perceiving how it has come about

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

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

for, behold, though I may give them rein for a while, My subtle scheme is exceedingly firm

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Or is it that [they fear lest] thou ask them for a reward, [O Prophet,] so that they would be burdened with debt [if they listened to thee]

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Or [do they think] that the hidden reality [of all that exists] is within their grasp, so that [in time] they can write it down

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

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

BEAR THEN with patience thy Sustainer's will and be not like him of the great fish, who cried out [in distress] after having given in to anger

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

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

[And remember:] had not grace from his Sustainer reached him, he would indeed have been cast forth upon that barren shore in a state of disgrace

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

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

but [as it was,] his Sustainer had elected him and placed him among the righteous

fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīn

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

Hence, [be patient,] even though they who are bent on denying the truth would all but kill thee with their eyes whenever they hear this reminder, and [though] they say, "[As for Mubammad,] behold, most surely he is a madman!"

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

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ ۝٥٢

[Be patient:] for this is nought else but a reminder [from God] to all mankind

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

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