| | Dr. Munir Munshey rendition of Surah The Pen(al-Qalam)
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| 68:1 | | Nun! (Allah swears by) the pen and whatever they, (the angels), write |
| 68:2 | | (Oh prophet), you are not, by the grace of your Lord, a mad man |
| 68:3 | | In fact, you certainly have a perpetual and ever lasting reward (with your Lord) |
| 68:4 | | Indeed, you certainly bear the highest moral character |
| 68:5 | | Soon you will see, and so shall they |
| 68:6 | | Who is deranged _ (you or they) |
| 68:7 | | Indeed, your Lord knows well who has strayed from His path; and He (also) knows those who are the rightly guided |
| 68:8 | | Do not yield to those who have denied the truth |
| 68:9 | | They would love it if you make concessions (and compromise the truth somewhat). They too, would then give in (some) |
| 68:10 | | And do not obey the contemptible oath-monger |
| 68:11 | | The abusive mudslinger, who throws insults around (all the time) |
| 68:12 | | The one who prohibits the good, trespasses and defiantly indulges in sinful acts |
| 68:13 | | Ignoble and greedy, in short, despised |
| 68:14 | | (He acts that way), because he is wealthy and has (many) children |
| 68:15 | | When Our verses are recited to him, he remarks, "(Legends)! Tales of the earlier folks!" |
| 68:16 | | Very soon, We will (burn and) brand his snout |
| 68:17 | | Indeed, We have put them through a test, just as We tested the owners of an orchard. They swore to pick its fruit the next morning |
| 68:18 | | They allowed no exception, (They did not say, "If Allah pleases") |
| 68:19 | | So, while they slept, a calamity from their Lord visited that orchard (and destroyed it completely) |
| 68:20 | | By the morning, it looked bare, as if it had already been picked clean |
| 68:21 | | At daybreak they called each other |
| 68:22 | | "Proceed to your field early in the morning, if you want to pick the fruit (today)." |
| 68:23 | | So they departed, muttering to each other |
| 68:24 | | "Today, do not let the poor and the needy enter the orchard and pester you (for alms)." |
| 68:25 | | With that resolve, and certain (in their minds) that they had the means (to harvest), they left in the morning |
| 68:26 | | When they saw their orchard, they (failed to recognize it, and) cried out, "We have surely lost our way." |
| 68:27 | | "No! Rather, we have been deprived!" |
| 68:28 | | The moderate one among them said, "Did I not tell you? Why did you not chant (your Lord´s) praises?" |
| 68:29 | | They said, "Exalted is our Lord. In fact, we were the wrongdoers!" |
| 68:30 | | Then they turned around, and began blaming each other |
| 68:31 | | They said, "Indeed, we had certainly acted arrogantly." |
| 68:32 | | "Hopefully, our Lord will grant us something better in its place. Of course, we do turn to our Lord for forgiveness." |
| 68:33 | | Such is the punishment (in this life), but the torment of the afterlife is far greater, if they only knew |
| 68:34 | | For the righteous, there exist with their Lord the blessings filled gardens |
| 68:35 | | Are We to treat the obedient ones the same as the criminals |
| 68:36 | | What is wrong with you? How do you draw your conclusions |
| 68:37 | | Or did you learn it from your scriptures |
| 68:38 | | That you shall have whatever you prefer |
| 68:39 | | Or, do you hold a binding contract over Us till the day of Resurrection, (guaranteeing) that whatever you order shall be yours |
| 68:40 | | Ask them. Who amongst them can claim that |
| 68:41 | | Or, do they have (other gods as Allah´s) partners (offering them such a guarantee)? Let them produce these partners if they are truthful |
| 68:42 | | They would be asked to prostrate (before Allah) on that day when the reality is laid bare. But (that day), they shall find themselves unable (to prostrate) |
| 68:43 | | Downcast would be their eyes (in shame); disgrace shall overwhelm them. They were asked to prostrate in this life, when they were sound and solid |
| 68:44 | | So let Me handle (all) those who reject this Qur´an. Gradually, We would lead them (into Hell), by means they would seldom perceive |
| 68:45 | | I will let them have a little respite. My scheme is a cinch _ (airtight and foolproof) |
| 68:46 | | Or, do you ask them for a fee (or a reward)? Are they laboring under the burden (of such a demand) |
| 68:47 | | Or, do they have the knowledge of the unseen so they may write (their own fate) |
| 68:48 | | So, wait patiently for your Lord´s decree. Do not act like the man of the fish, (the prophet Jonah), when he called (his Lord), choked with grief |
| 68:49 | | (In the fish he would still be), had the mercy of your Lord not reached him. He was tossed on the bare (and barren) beach _ censured (and chastised) |
| 68:50 | | Eventually, his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous ones |
| 68:51 | | The unbelievers look at you with aversion (and animosity), and they almost trip you up with their eyes. They hear this reminder, the Qur´an, and say, "He is really a man possessed." |
| 68:52 | | Although it is (nothing but) a reminder for the whole world |
