| | Muhammad Asad rendition of Surah The Pen(al-Qalam)
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| 68:1 | | Nun. CONSIDER the pen, and all that they write [therewith] |
| 68:1 | | Nun. CONSIDER the pen, and all that they write [therewith] |
| 68:2 | | Thou art not, by thy Sustainer's grace, a madman |
| 68:2 | | Thou art not, by thy Sustainer's grace, a madman |
| 68:3 | | And, verily, thine shall be a reward neverending &ndash |
| 68:3 | | And, verily, thine shall be a reward neverending &ndash |
| 68:4 | | for, behold, thou keepest indeed to a sublime way of life |
| 68:4 | | for, behold, thou keepest indeed to a sublime way of life |
| 68:5 | | and [one day] thou shalt see, and they [who now deride thee] shall see |
| 68:5 | | and [one day] thou shalt see, and they [who now deride thee] shall see |
| 68:6 | | which of you was bereft of reason |
| 68:6 | | which of you was bereft of reason |
| 68:7 | | 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 |
| 68:7 | | 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 |
| 68:8 | | Hence, defer not to [the likes and dislikes of] those who give the lie to the truth |
| 68:8 | | Hence, defer not to [the likes and dislikes of] those who give the lie to the truth |
| 68:9 | | they would like thee to be soft [with them], so that they might be soft [with thee] |
| 68:9 | | they would like thee to be soft [with them], so that they might be soft [with thee] |
| 68:10 | | Furthermore, defer not to the contemptible swearer of oaths |
| 68:10 | | Furthermore, defer not to the contemptible swearer of oaths |
| 68:11 | | [or to] the slanderer that goes about with defaming tales |
| 68:11 | | [or to] the slanderer that goes about with defaming tales |
| 68:12 | | [or] the withholder of good, [or] the sinful aggressor |
| 68:12 | | [or] the withholder of good, [or] the sinful aggressor |
| 68:13 | | [or] one who is cruel, by greed possessed, and, in addition to all this, utterly useless [to his fellow-men] |
| 68:13 | | [or] one who is cruel, by greed possessed, and, in addition to all this, utterly useless [to his fellow-men] |
| 68:14 | | Is it because he is possessed of worldly goods and childre |
| 68:14 | | Is it because he is possessed of worldly goods and childre |
| 68:15 | | that, whenever Our messages are conveyed to him, such a one says, "Fables of ancient times" |
| 68:15 | | that, whenever Our messages are conveyed to him, such a one says, "Fables of ancient times" |
| 68:16 | | [For this] We shall brand him with indelible disgrace |
| 68:16 | | [For this] We shall brand him with indelible disgrace |
| 68:17 | | [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 |
| 68:17 | | [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 |
| 68:18 | | and made no allowance [for the will of God] |
| 68:18 | | and made no allowance [for the will of God] |
| 68:19 | | whereupon a visitation for thy Sustainer came upon that [garden] while they were asleep |
| 68:19 | | whereupon a visitation for thy Sustainer came upon that [garden] while they were asleep |
| 68:20 | | so that by the morrow it became barren and bleak |
| 68:20 | | so that by the morrow it became barren and bleak |
| 68:21 | | Now when they rose at early morn, they called unto one another |
| 68:21 | | Now when they rose at early morn, they called unto one another |
| 68:22 | | "Go early to your tilth if you want to harvest the fruit!" |
| 68:22 | | "Go early to your tilth if you want to harvest the fruit!" |
| 68:23 | | Thus they launched forth, whispering unto one another |
| 68:23 | | Thus they launched forth, whispering unto one another |
| 68:24 | | "Indeed, no needy person shall enter it today [and come] upon you [unawares]," |
| 68:24 | | "Indeed, no needy person shall enter it today [and come] upon you [unawares]," |
| 68:25 | | – and early they went, strongly bent upon their purpose |
| 68:25 | | – and early they went, strongly bent upon their purpose |
| 68:26 | | But as soon as they beheld [the garden and could not recognize] it, they exclaimed, "Surely we have lost our way!" |
| 68:26 | | But as soon as they beheld [the garden and could not recognize] it, they exclaimed, "Surely we have lost our way!" |
| 68:27 | | - [and then,] "Nay, but we have been rendered destitute!" |
| 68:27 | | - [and then,] "Nay, but we have been rendered destitute!" |
| 68:28 | | Said the most right-minded among them: "Did I not tell you, 'Will you not extol God's limitless glory?’" |
| 68:28 | | Said the most right-minded among them: "Did I not tell you, 'Will you not extol God's limitless glory?’" |
| 68:29 | | They answered: "Limitless in His glory is our Sustainer! Verily, we were doing wrong!" |
| 68:29 | | They answered: "Limitless in His glory is our Sustainer! Verily, we were doing wrong!" |
| 68:30 | | - and then they turned upon one another with mutual reproaches |
| 68:30 | | - and then they turned upon one another with mutual reproaches |
| 68:31 | | [In the end] they said: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we did behave outrageously |
| 68:31 | | [In the end] they said: "Oh, woe unto us! Verily, we did behave outrageously |
| 68:32 | | [But] it may be that our Sustainer will grant us something better instead: for, verily, unto our Sustainer do we turn with hope!" |
| 68:32 | | [But] it may be that our Sustainer will grant us something better instead: for, verily, unto our Sustainer do we turn with hope!" |
| 68:33 | | 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 |
| 68:33 | | 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 |
| 68:34 | | For, behold, it is the God-conscious [alone] whom gardens of bliss await with their Sustainer |
| 68:34 | | For, behold, it is the God-conscious [alone] whom gardens of bliss await with their Sustainer |
| 68:35 | | or should We, perchance, treat those who surrender themselves unto Us as [We would treat] those who remain lost in sin |
| 68:35 | | or should We, perchance, treat those who surrender themselves unto Us as [We would treat] those who remain lost in sin |
| 68:36 | | What is amiss with you? On what do you base your judgment [of right and wrong] |
| 68:36 | | What is amiss with you? On what do you base your judgment [of right and wrong] |
| 68:37 | | Or have you, perchance, a [special] divine writ which you study |
| 68:37 | | Or have you, perchance, a [special] divine writ which you study |
| 68:38 | | and in which you find all that you may wish to find |
| 68:38 | | and in which you find all that you may wish to find |
| 68:39 | | 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] |
| 68:39 | | 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] |
| 68:40 | | Ask them which of them is able to vouch for this |
| 68:40 | | Ask them which of them is able to vouch for this |
| 68:41 | | 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 |
| 68:41 | | 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 |
| 68:42 | | 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 |
| 68:42 | | 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 |
| 68:43 | | 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] |
| 68:43 | | 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] |
| 68:44 | | 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 |
| 68:44 | | 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 |
| 68:45 | | for, behold, though I may give them rein for a while, My subtle scheme is exceedingly firm |
| 68:45 | | for, behold, though I may give them rein for a while, My subtle scheme is exceedingly firm |
| 68:46 | | 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] |
| 68:46 | | 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] |
| 68:47 | | 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 |
| 68:47 | | 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 |
| 68:48 | | 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 |
| 68:48 | | 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 |
| 68:49 | | [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 |
| 68:49 | | [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 |
| 68:50 | | but [as it was,] his Sustainer had elected him and placed him among the righteous |
| 68:50 | | but [as it was,] his Sustainer had elected him and placed him among the righteous |
| 68:51 | | 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!" |
| 68:51 | | 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!" |
| 68:52 | | [Be patient:] for this is nought else but a reminder [from God] to all mankind |
| 68:52 | | [Be patient:] for this is nought else but a reminder [from God] to all mankind |
