The Pen — Shabbir Ahmed Translation – Parallel Quran

1 Not a Madman's Message

۞ نۤۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا یَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

N. Nuon. The Inkpot. And the Pen, and all that they write, stand witness. (The high domain of knowledge will bear out that)

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūn

مَاۤ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

You (O Messenger), by the Grace of your Lord, are not a madman

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūni

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَیۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

And, behold, yours will be an everlasting reward

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūni

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِیمࣲ ۝٤

For, verily, you are of the noblest moral character

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmi

فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَیُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

And soon you will see and they will see

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūn

بِأَییِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

Which of you is the demented. (Outstanding knowledge plus sublime character can only be compatible with a great mind)

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn

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

Verily, your Lord knows best him who strays from His Way, and He knows best those who are rightly guided

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

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ ۝٨

Hence, pay no heed to the rejecters

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīn

وَدُّوا۟ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَیُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

They wish that you strike a deal with them so that they can strike a deal (and compromise on a middle grounds between Truth and Falsehood (10:15), (11:113), (17:74))

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūn

وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِینٍ ۝١٠

- And yield not to any petty oath-monger. (Repetitious swearing hurts the credibility of a person)

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīni

هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّاۤءِۭ بِنَمِیمࣲ ۝١١

- Or to a defamer that goes about spreading slander

hammāzin mashāin binamīmi

مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَیۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ ۝١٢

- Or to a withholder of the good and of wealth, trespasser of values, low in virtue

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmi

عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَ ٰلِكَ زَنِیمٍ ۝١٣

- Or to one greedy to the extent of insensitivity, and, in addition, worthless to the society

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīn

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِینَ ۝١٤

- Or he who because of his riches and party

An kana tha malin wabaneena

إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ ۝١٥

- Says, "Fables of ancient times", whenever Our Messages are conveyed to him

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīn

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

- We shall brand such a person with manifest disgrace! ('Branding the snout' alludes to bringing to visible disgrace a person who chooses to live at the subhuman level)

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūm

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

Behold, We have tried such people as We tried the owners of the garden who swore that they would pluck its fruit in the morning. (18:32-44)

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

وَلَا یَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

And made no exception (for the needy poor)

walā yastathnūn

فَطَافَ عَلَیۡهَا طَاۤىِٕفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَاۤىِٕمُونَ ۝١٩

Then a tornado from your Lord struck it while they slept

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūn

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِیمِ ۝٢٠

So that by the morning it was barren, bleak

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīm

فَتَنَادَوۡا۟ مُصۡبِحِینَ ۝٢١

Now, in the morning, they called out unto one another

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīn

أَنِ ٱغۡدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰرِمِینَ ۝٢٢

"Go early to your field if you want to pick the fruit."

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمۡ یَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

So they went off whispering unto one another

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūn

أَن لَّا یَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡكُم مِّسۡكِینࣱ ۝٢٤

"Let not a single poor come near you today."

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnu

وَغَدَوۡا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَـٰدِرِینَ ۝٢٥

And early they went strong in their resolve (to keep the poor away)

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لَضَاۤلُّونَ ۝٢٦

But when they saw it, they said, "Behold, we have lost our way."

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūn

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

(Then they realized), "Ah! Now we are destitute."

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

Said the most balanced among them, "Did I not tell you - why did you not work aright (thinking of the poor)?" ('Sabh' = Swim in strides = Work hard = Labor for a noble cause)

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn

قَالُوا۟ سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٢٩

They said, "Glorified is our Lord! Verily, it is we who have been offenders." (Refusing the Divine Right of the needy)

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ یَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

And then they confronted one another, blaming

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰوَیۡلَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِینَ ۝٣١

They said, "Oh, woe unto us! We were trespassers of goodness."

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn

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

It may be that our Lord grants us something better than this. Behold, we turn to our Lord affectionately

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

كَذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

Such is the suffering! But far greater is the suffering of the Hereafter - if they knew it

Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

2 A Reminder for Nations

إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِیمِ ۝٣٤

Behold, for those who walk aright are Gardens of Bliss with their Lord

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīm

أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝٣٥

Shall We, then, treat those who submit (to Our Laws) like the guilty

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīn

مَا لَكُمۡ كَیۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

What is the matter with you? How do you judge (the right and wrong and their logical consequence)

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn

أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَـٰبࣱ فِیهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

Or do you have a scripture wherein you learn

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn

إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِیهِ لَمَا تَخَیَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

That you shall indeed get the outcome of your choosing

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūn

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

Or have you a solemn oath, binding on Us till Resurrection Day, that yours shall be all that you order

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

سَلۡهُمۡ أَیُّهُم بِذَ ٰلِكَ زَعِیمٌ ۝٤٠

Ask them which of them guarantees it

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmu

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَاۤءُ فَلۡیَأۡتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَاۤىِٕهِمۡ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝٤١

Do they have 'partners'? Then let them bring their 'partners' if they are truthful

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīn

یَوۡمَ یُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَیُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا یَسۡتَطِیعُونَ ۝٤٢

On the Day when they are confronted with the stark reality and they are summoned to prostrate, they shall not be able to prostrate. (It will be too late to submit)

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

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

Their eyes drooping, humiliation will overwhelm them! And they had been repeatedly invited to prostrate when they were able

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

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

So leave unto Me him who denied this Message (39:23). We shall lead them step by step to a reprisal from directions they had never conceived

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

وَأُمۡلِی لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَیۡدِی مَتِینٌ ۝٤٥

Though I give them respite, behold, unwavering is My Plan

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnu

أَمۡ تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

Or is it that you ask them any reward so that they are burdened

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūn

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَیۡبُ فَهُمۡ یَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

Or is it that theirs is the future that they have written down

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūn

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

(O Prophet) Go ahead steadfastly in establishing your Lord's Command. And be not like him (Jonah) of the fish who cried out in distress. (21:87), (37:139)

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

If it were not for the Bliss of his Lord, he would have been cast into the wilderness and in the wilderness of thought. (37:146)

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

فَٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝٥٠

But his Lord had elected him and included him among those who have worked for reform and to actualize their 'Self'

fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīn

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

And behold, those who deny the Truth, offend you (O Prophet) with their eyes when they hear the Reminder. And they say, "Behold, 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

Nay, this Reminder is a giver of eminence to all nations

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

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