The Holy Quran

CHAPTER 68

Al-Qalam: THE PEN

SECTION 1: Not a Madman’s Message

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

68:1 (By) the inkstand and the pen and that which they write!

68:2 By the grace of thy Lord thou art not mad.

68:3 And surely thine is a reward never to be cut off.

68:4 And surely thou hast sublime morals.

68:5 So thou wilt see, and they (too) will see,

68:6 Which of you is mad.

68:7 Surely thy Lord knows best who is erring from His way, and He knows best those who go aright.

68:8 So obey not the rejectors.

68:9 They wish that thou shouldst be pliant, so they (too) would be pliant.

68:10 And obey not any mean swearer,

68:11 Defamer, going about with slander,

68:12 Hinderer of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,

68:13 Ignoble, besides all that, notoriously mischievous --

68:14 Because he possess wealth and sons.

68:15 When Our messages are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore!

68:16 We shall brand him on the snout.

68:17 We shall try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore to pluck its fruits in the morning,

68:18 And would not set aside a portion (for the poor).

68:19 But a visitation from thy Lord came on it, while they slept.

68:20 So it became as black, barren land --

68:21 Then they called out one to another in the morning,

68:22 Saying: Go early to your tilth, if you would pluck (the fruit).

68:23 So they went, while they said one to another in low tones:

68:24 No poor man shall enter it to-day to you --

68:25 And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.

68:26 But when they saw it, they said: Surely we are in error;

68:27 Nay, we are made to suffer privation.

68:28 The best of them said: Said I not to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?

68:29 They said: Glory be to our Lord! surely we were unjust.

68:30 Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.

68:31 Said they: O woe to us! Surely we were inordinate --

68:32 Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it -- surely to our Lord we make petition.

68:33 Such is the chastisement. And certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter is greater, did they but know!

SECTION 2: A Reminder for the Nations

68:34 Surely the dutiful have with their Lord Gardens of bliss.

68:35 Shall We then make those who submit as the guilty?

68:36 What is the matter with you? How do you judge?

68:37 Or have you a book wherein you read

68:38 That you shall surely have therein what you choose?

68:39 Or have you covenants from us on oath, extending to the day of Resurrection, that yours is surely what you judge?

68:40 Ask them which of them will vouch for that.

68:41 Or have they associate-gods? Then let them bring their associates, if they are truthful.

68:42 On the day when thee is a severe affliction, and they are called upon to prostrate themselves, but they are not able --

68:43 Their looks cast down, abasement will cover them. And they were indeed called upon to prostrate themselves, while yet they were safe.

68:44 So leave Me alone with him who rejects this announcement. We shall overtake them by degrees, from whence they know not.

68:45 And I bear with them, surely My plan is firm.

68:46 Or dost thou ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?

68:47 Or is the unseen with them so that they write (it) down?

68:48 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.

68:49 Had not favour from his Lord reached him, he would certainly have been cast down on naked ground, while he was blamed.

68:50 Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the righteous.

68:51 And those who disbelieve would almost smite thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Surely he is mad!

68:52 And it is naught but a Reminder for the nations.