The Pen — Muhammad Taqi Usmani Translation

68:1

۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Nun , by the pen and what they write

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

68:2

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

with the grace of your Lord, you are not insane

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

68:3

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And you will definitely have a reward that will never end

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

68:4

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And you are surely on an excellent standard of character

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

68:5

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

So, you will see, and they will se

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

68:6

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

which of you is demented

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn

68:7

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Surely your Lord knows best who has strayed from his way, and He is well aware of those who are on the right path

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

68:8

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

So, do not obey those who reject (the true faith.

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

68:9

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

They wish that you become flexible (in your faith), so that they should become flexible (in their hostile attitude.

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

68:10

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And do not obey any contemptible one who swears much

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

68:11

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

a slanderer who goes about with calumnies

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

68:12

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

one who prevents good, (and who is) transgressor, sinful

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

68:13

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

harsh, (and) after all that, notorious

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

68:14

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

(do not obey such a person merely) because he is a man of wealth and sons

An kana tha malin wabaneena

68:15

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

When Our verses are recited to him, he says, .(These are) the tales of the ancient

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

68:16

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

We will soon brand him on the snout

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm

68:17

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

We have tested them as We had tested the Owners of the Garden, when they had sworn an oath that they would pluck its fruits on the next morning

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

68:18

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

and did not make any exception (by saying insha‘allah )

walā yastathnūn

68:19

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Then, there whirled around it a whirl (of calamity) from your Lord, while they were asleep

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

68:20

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Thus, on the next morning, it was like a harvested field

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

68:21

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

So, they called out each other as the morning broke

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

68:22

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

saying, .Set out early, if you are going to pluck (the fruits)

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

68:23

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

So they set out while they were whispering to each other

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

68:24

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

saying, .Let no poor man enter into it upon you today

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

68:25

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And in early hours they rushed quickly, while they were (assuming themselves) powerful (to pluck the fruits and prevent the poor.

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

68:26

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

But when they saw it (the place of the ruined garden), they said, .We have missed the way

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

68:27

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

(Then, once they realized that the garden is the same, but it has been destroyed, they said,) .No, but we are deprived (of the fruits)

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

68:28

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Said he who was the best among them, .Did I not say to you, ‘Why do you not pronounce tasbiH (Allah‘s purity)?

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

68:29

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

They said, .We pronounce the purity of our Lord. No doubt, we were wrongdoers

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

68:30

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Then, (at the beginning,) they started reproaching one another

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

68:31

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

(and at last,) they said, .Woe to us! In fact, we (all) were outrageous

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

68:32

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange something better than this. Truly we turn to Allah

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

68:33

كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

In this way the punishment comes. And, of course, the punishment of the Hereafter is even greater, if they but realize

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

68:34

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Surely, for the God-fearing there are gardens of bliss

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

68:35

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Otherwise, shall We make the obedient like the sinners

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

68:36

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

What has happened to you? How do you judge

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

68:37

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Do you have a book in which you rea

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

68:38

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

that for you there is what you choose

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

68:39

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Or do you have oaths sworn by Us, remaining effective up to the Day of Judgment, that you will get what you decide

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

68:40

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Ask them which of them stands surety for that

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

68:41

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Or do they have associate-gods (who have guaranteed safety for them)? Then, let them bring their associate-gods, if they are true

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

68:42

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

On the Day when the Shin will be exposed, and they will be called upon to prostrate themselves, they will not be able to

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

With their eyes downcast, they will be enveloped by ignominy. They used to be called upon to prostrate when they were healthy (but they did not.

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

So, leave Me alone with those who reject this discourse. We will draw them on little by little (towards Hell) from a way they do not know

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

68:45

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And I give them respite. Indeed, My plan is firm

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

68:46

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Is it that you ask them for a fee, due to which they are burdened with debt

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

68:47

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Or do they have the (knowledge of the) Unseen, and they write it down

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

68:48

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

So, remain patient with your Lord‘s judgment, and be not like the Man of the Fish, he cried out while he was in anguish

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Had not a favour from His Lord come to his help, he would have been cast in the wilderness in a reproachable state

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

68:50

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

Then his Lord chose him, and made him one 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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And indeed the disbelievers seem to trip you up with their glances when they hear the Reminder, and say, .He is a madman indeed

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

Muhammad Taqi Usmani

And it is nothing else but a Reminder for all the worlds

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

Surah 68. The Pen (al-Qalam)

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