Sūrat al-Qalam
سورۃ القلم
Sūrat al-Qalam was revealed in Makka; it has fifty-two (52) verses and two (2) rukūʿs.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
نٓ ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
nūn wa-l-qalami wa-mā yasṭurūn.
"Nūn — by the pen and what they write." (al-Qalam 68:1)
Nūn — some commentators say this is an abbreviated letter (ḥarf muqaṭṭaʿ) and some say it is the inkwell. Wa-l-qalam — and the pen, the instrument of writing. Wa-mā yasṭurūna — and the writing that Allah's word is written with and that some of the angels write.
Translation: "An oath — by the inkwell and the pen (the divine word) and those who write with it."
مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ
mā anta bi-niʿmati rabbika bi-majnūn.
"You are not — by the grace of your Lord — a madman." (al-Qalam 68:2)
Mā anta — you are not. Bi-niʿmati rabbika — by the grace of your Lord, by His favour and bestowing. Bi-majnūnin — a madman (as the ignorant suppose).
Translation: "You are not — by the grace and favour of your Lord — a madman."
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ
wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūn.
"And indeed for you is a reward unceasing." (al-Qalam 68:3)
Wa-inna laka — and indeed for you. La-ajran — a reward, a recompense. Ghayra mamnūnin — unceasing — mamtūn — meaning without end; uninterrupted, endless.
Translation: "And your reward is indeed unceasing (for your conveying and teaching)."
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
wa-innaka la-ʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīm.
"And indeed you are of a tremendous character." (al-Qalam 68:4)
Wa-innaka — and indeed, without doubt you. La-ʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīm — are on a tremendous and sublime character — your character and manners are excellent, your attributes are good, your conduct excellent.
Someone asked Ḥaḍrat ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the Prophet's character — she said: "The Qur'ān was his character." What does this mean? That he acted in accordance with the books — these books are the Qur'ān — and he is the speaking Qur'ān, the embodiment of Qur'ān. They are the embodiment of the Qur'ān — the deeds of the Qur'ān — their every act is the Qur'ān — in short, they are the Qur'ān in action.
Translation: "And you are indeed of a tremendous and sublime character."
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
fa-sa-tubṣiru wa-yubṣirūn.
"So you will see and they will see." (al-Qalam 68:5)
Fa-sa-tubṣiru — soon you will see, you will discern clearly. Wa-yubṣirūn — and others will see too.
Translation: "Soon you will see — and others will see too."
بِأَيِّيكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ
bi-ayyikumu l-maftūn.
"Which of you is afflicted with madness?" (al-Qalam 68:6)
Bi-ayyikum — which of you. Al-maftūn — the one who is afflicted with madness — who is the madman among you.
Translation: "(You will soon know) which of you is truly mad."
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
inna rabbaka huwa aʿlamu bi-man ḍalla ʿan sabīlihi wa-huwa aʿlamu bi-l-muhtadīn.
"Indeed your Lord is Most Knowing of whoever has strayed from His path — and He is Most Knowing of those who are guided." (al-Qalam 68:7)
Inna rabbaka — indeed your Lord. Huwa aʿlamu — He is the best knower. Bi-man ḍalla ʿan sabīlihi — of the one who has gone astray from His path, who has deviated — those who have gone astray from the path. Wa-huwa aʿlamu bi-l-muhtadīn — and He is the best knower of those who are on the right path, those who are well-established on the path.
Translation: "Indeed your Lord knows best those who have gone astray — and He knows best those who are on the straight path."
Fa-lā tuṭiʿ — so do not comply, do not obey them — do not follow their commands, do not listen to any of them — the deniers, the mockers.
فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ
fa-lā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhdhibīn.
"So do not obey the deniers." (al-Qalam 68:8)
Translation: "So do not obey these deniers (and mockers) — do not listen to a single one of them."
وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
waddū law tudhinu fa-yudhhinūn.
"They wish that you would be accommodating, so they would be accommodating." (al-Qalam 68:9)
Waddū — they wish, they desire. Law tudhinu — if you should soften, be accommodating. Fa-yudhhinūna — then they also would be accommodating. — They want you to soften somewhat on your tablīgh (conveying) — and then they would choose to be somewhat flexible as well.
Translation: "They desire that you be somewhat conciliatory towards them and they will also adopt some conciliation."
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ
wa-lā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīn.
"And do not obey any contemptible swearer." (al-Qalam 68:10)
Wa-lā tuṭiʿ — and (O Prophet!) do not obey. Kulla ḥallāfin — every excessive oath-swearer, every maker of false oaths. Mahīnin — a lowly, contemptible person, despicable and base.
Translation: "And (O Prophet!) do not obey any base and lowly person who swears many oaths (do not heed him)."
هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ
hammāzin mashshāʾin bi-namīm.
"A backbiter, an inveterate slanderer." (al-Qalam 68:11)
Hammāzin — what is it? A slanderer, one who humiliates, who gossips, who backbites. Mashshāʾin bi-namīmim — one who goes about spreading gossip, carrying tales, making mischief.
Translation: "A slanderer, one who goes about with tale-bearing."
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
mannāʿin li-l-khayri muʿtadin athīm.
"A hinderer of good, a transgressor, a sinner." (al-Qalam 68:12)
Mannāʿin li-l-khayr — one who prevents good from all sides, who bars from goodness. Muʿtadin — one who transgresses the limits, who exceeds, oversteps. Athīmim — a sinner, a wrongdoer.
Translation: "One who prevents good, who transgresses the limits — a sinner."
عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
ʿutullin baʿda dhālika zanīm.
"Coarse — and in addition to that — of spurious birth." (al-Qalam 68:13)
ʿUtullin — coarse, boorish, brutish. Baʿda dhālika — beyond that. Zanīmim — of low origin, low caste, mean station — with a base character.
Translation: "Boorish — and in addition to that — of low origin."
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ
an kāna dhā mālin wa-banīn.
"Because he has wealth and sons." (al-Qalam 68:14)
(Is he boorish and arrogant because of this?)
Translation: "Because he has wealth and many sons."
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
idhā tutlā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awwalīn.
"When Our verses are recited to him, he says: 'Legends of the ancients!'" (al-Qalam 68:15)
Idhā tutlā ʿalayhi — when Our verses are recited before him, when they are read in his presence. Qāla asāṭīru l-awwalīn — he says: these are legends of old — tales of the ancients, old stories — collected legends.
Translation: "When Our verses are read to him he says these are ancient tales."
سَنَسِمُهُ عَلَى الْخُرْطُومِ
sa-nasimuhu ʿalā l-khurṭūm.
"We shall brand him on the snout." (al-Qalam 68:16)
Sa-nasimuhu — We will soon brand him. ʿAlā l-khurṭūm — on the snout, the nose.
Translation: "We will soon brand him on the snout — (we will humiliate and debase him)."
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
innā balawnāhum kamā balawnā aṣḥāba l-jannati idh aqsamū la-yaṣrimunnahā muṣbiḥīn.
"Indeed We have tried them just as We tried the owners of the garden — when they swore that they would cut its fruit by morning." (al-Qalam 68:17)
Innā balawnāhum — indeed We have tried these people — just as We tried them. Kamā balawnā aṣḥāba l-jannati — just as We tested the people of the orchard — one orchard. Idh aqsamū — when they swore an oath together. La-yaṣrimunnahā — that they would cut all the fruit of this orchard. Muṣbiḥīn — in the morning — at the first light of dawn — We will cut all the fruit of the orchard before morning.
Translation: "Indeed We put these people to the trial — just as We tested the orchard owners — who swore that they would cut all the orchard's fruit when morning came."
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
wa-lā yastathnūn.
"And they made no exception." (al-Qalam 68:18)
Translation: "And they did not make any exception — (saying 'If God wills,' they did not say it)."
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ
fa-ṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāʾifun min rabbika wa-hum nāʾimūn.
"Then a visitation from your Lord went around it while they slept." (al-Qalam 68:19)
Fa-ṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāʾifun — then a calamity came over the orchard suddenly from their direction from the Lord — a circling visitation came upon it. Min rabbika — from your Lord's side. Wa-hum nāʾimūn — and they were sleeping soundly.
Translation: "Then a calamity from your Lord came around the orchard and they were fast asleep."
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ
fa-aṣbaḥat ka-l-ṣarīm.
"And by morning it was as if it had been cut down." (al-Qalam 68:20)
Fa-aṣbaḥat — then it became. Ka-l-ṣarīm — like something cut off — like a branch cut from a tree — dry, withered.
Translation: "Then (the orchard) became like something utterly cut and stripped."
فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ
fa-tanādaw muṣbiḥīn.
"Then they called out to one another at morning." (al-Qalam 68:21)
Fa-tanādaw — then they called out one another, calling and calling. Muṣbiḥīn — at morning, at dawn.
Translation: "Then in the morning they began calling each other."
أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ
ani ghdū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimin.
"Go early in the morning to your field — if you are going to cut the fruit." (al-Qalam 68:22)
Ani ghdū — come, let us go — from morning. ʿAlā ḥarthikum — to the orchard. In kuntum ṣārimin — if you intend to cut (the fruit of the orchard).
Translation: "Go in the morning to the orchard to cut the fruit (and the orchard to cut)."
فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ
fa-nṭalaqū wa-hum yatakhāfatūn.
"So they set off, speaking to one another in whispers." (al-Qalam 68:23)
Fa-nṭalaqū — so they set off. Wa-hum yatakhāfatūn — and they were speaking amongst themselves in whispers, quietly.
Translation: "Then they set off whispering to each other."
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ
an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum miskīn.
"That no poor person should enter it today upon you." (al-Qalam 68:24)
An lā yadkhulannahā — that no one should enter this orchard. Al-yawma — today. ʿAlaykum — upon you, your side. Miskīnun — any poor person, beggar, anyone in need.
Translation: "That today no poor person should enter this orchard."
وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ
wa-ghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn.
"And they went at early morn with strong determination, thinking themselves able." (al-Qalam 68:25)
Wa-ghadaw — and they set off early in the morning. ʿAlā ḥardin — with firm resolve — with decided intention not to give (anything away). Qādirīna — thinking themselves fully capable.
Translation: "And they went at morning in strong resolve (thinking in their own estimation themselves fully capable of not giving)."
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ
fa-lammā raʾawhā qālū innā la-ḍāllūn.
"But when they saw it, they said: 'We are indeed lost.'" (al-Qalam 68:26)
Fa-lammā raʾawhā — then when they saw the orchard. Qālū innā la-ḍāllūna — they said: we have committed a great error — we have badly gone astray.
Translation: "Then when they saw the orchard they said: we have indeed made a big mistake (we have gone terribly astray)."
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn.
"Nay, we are truly deprived." (al-Qalam 68:27)
Translation: "Nay, we have been deprived (of divine bestowing) — nothing has come to our hands."
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum law-lā tusabbiḥūn.
"The most upright among them said: 'Did I not say to you — why do you not glorify (Allah)?'" (al-Qalam 68:28)
Qāla awsaṭuhum — the most upright among them, the middle one, said. Alam aqul lakum — did I not say to you? Law-lā tusabbiḥūna — why did you not glorify Allah, why did you not declare His purity?
Translation: "The most upright and moderate one said: 'Did I not say to you — why do you not glorify Allah!'"
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ
qālū subḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn.
"They all said: 'Glory be to our Lord! Indeed we were wrongdoers.'" (al-Qalam 68:29)
Qālū subḥāna rabbinā — they all said together: Glory be to our Lord! Our Lord is pure and free from all fault. Innā kunnā ẓālimīna — indeed we were wrongdoers, we were the transgressors.
Translation: "They all said: Glory be (to Allah) — our Lord is pure! We were indeed wrongdoers."
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ
fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūn.
"Then they turned towards one another, reproaching each other." (al-Qalam 68:30)
Fa-aqbala — then they turned toward each other, addressing one another. Baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin — some upon others. Yatalāwamūna — blaming, reproaching, making accusations.
Translation: "Then they turned to blame each other reproachfully."
قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ
qālū yā waylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn.
"They said: 'Woe to us! Indeed we were transgressors.'" (al-Qalam 68:31)
Qālū yā waylanā — they all said: alas, woe! Innā kunnā ṭāghīnin — indeed we were insolent transgressors, rebellious — those who go beyond the limits in arrogance.
Translation: "They all said: woe to us! We were indeed transgressors."
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَا أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ
ʿasā rabbunā an yubdilanā khayran minhā innā ilā rabbinā rāghibūn.
"Perhaps our Lord will give us in exchange something better — indeed we turn to our Lord with desire." (al-Qalam 68:32)
ʿAsā rabbunā an yubdilahu — perhaps our Lord will replace it for us — the reason for our repentance — an yubdilanā khayran minhā — that He replace us with something better than it. Innā ilā rabbinā rāghibūna — indeed we are those who turn to our Lord with longing.
Translation: "Perhaps our Lord will give us a better orchard in exchange — we have this hope from our Lord — and we certainly long for our Lord (and this too is our wish)."
كَذَٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
kadhālika l-ʿadhābu wa-la-ʿadhābu l-ākhirati akbaru law kānū yaʿlamūn.
"Such is the punishment — and the punishment of the Hereafter is greater — if only they knew." (al-Qalam 68:33)
Kadhālika l-ʿadhāb — the worldly punishment is like this — it comes in this form. Wa-la-ʿadhābu l-ākhirati akbar — and the punishment of the Hereafter is greater than it — law kānū yaʿlamūn — if only they knew and were aware of it.
Translation: "Such punishment comes in this world — and the punishment of the Hereafter is even greater — if only they understood."
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
inna li-l-muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannātu l-naʿīm.
"Indeed for the God-fearing are gardens of bliss with their Lord." (al-Qalam 68:34)
Inna li-l-muttaqīna — indeed for the God-fearing, the devout. ʿInda rabbihim — with their Lord, in His presence — near the Lord, Allah. Jannātu l-naʿīm — there are gardens flowing with blessings and comforts.
Translation: "Indeed for the God-fearing with their Lord are gardens overflowing with blessings."
أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ
a-fa-najʿalu l-muslimīna ka-l-mujrimīn.
"Shall We then treat the Muslims like the criminals?" (al-Qalam 68:35)
A-fa-najʿalu — shall We make. Al-muslimīna — the Muslims, the submitting believers. Ka-l-mujrimīna — like the criminals — like the transgressors, the disbelievers, the wrongdoers?
Translation: "Shall We treat the Muslims like the criminals?"
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūn.
"What is the matter with you? How do you judge?" (al-Qalam 68:36)
Translation: "What has come over you? How do you arrive at such a (wrong) judgment?"
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūn.
"Or do you have a book in which you study?" (al-Qalam 68:37)
Translation: "Do you have some book (containing this wrong judgment) in which you study?"
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
inna lakum fīhi la-mā takhayyarūn.
"Indeed in it, for you, is whatever you choose." (al-Qalam 68:38)
Translation: "(Is it that in your book) whatever you like is written — that you choose and prefer as you wish?"
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
am lakum aymānun ʿalaynā bālighatun ilā yawmi l-qiyāmati inna lakum la-mā taḥkumūn.
"Or do you have oaths binding upon Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection — that you will have whatever you decree?" (al-Qalam 68:39)
Am lakum aymān — do you have some binding agreements with us? ʿAlaynā bālighatun — binding upon us, firm and binding agreements. Ilā yawmi l-qiyāma — until the Day of Judgement? Inna lakum la-mā taḥkumūn — what you decide will be fulfilled, it will come about — confirm this and insist on it.
Translation: "Do you have firm agreements with us until the Day of Judgement that whatever you decide will come about?"
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
salhum ayyuhum bi-dhālika zaʿīm.
"Ask them: which of them is a guarantor of this?" (al-Qalam 68:40)
Salhum — ask them, question them. Ayyuhum bi-dhālika zaʿīmun — which of them is the guarantor, the backer, the warrantor of this claim?
Translation: "Ask them: who among them is the guarantor of this claim?"
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ
am lahum shurakāʾu fa-l-yaʾtū bi-shurakāʾihim in kānū ṣādiqīn.
"Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners — if they are truthful." (al-Qalam 68:41)
Translation: "Do they have some partner with Allah? (If they think so) then let them bring their partners — if they are truthful and honest."
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
yawma yukshafu ʿan sāqin wa-yudʿawna ilā l-sujūdi fa-lā yastaṭīʿūn.
"The Day the shin shall be uncovered — and they are called to prostrate, but they are unable." (al-Qalam 68:42)
Yawma yukshafu ʿan sāqin — on the Day when every high thing becomes low, when the glory of Allah Most High is fully manifest. Wa-yudʿawna ilā l-sujūd — and they will be called to prostrate. Fa-lā yastaṭīʿūn — they will not be able — they will not be capable of prostrating.
Translation: "On the Day when all things become low and humble from before the Divine Majesty — and they are called to perform prostration — they will be unable."
Esteemed readers! When Allah Most High's complete Divine Manifestation (tajallī) takes place it will be beyond description — because the believers will have only the light of faith — there will be no light for the deniers. Their light will be extinguished — they will never come to faith — and they will remain veiled from their Lord on account of the darkness of their disbelief.
خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ
khāshiʿatan abṣāruhum tarhaquhum dhillatun wa*khāshiʿatan abṣāruhum tarhaquhum dhillatun wa-qad kānū yudʿawna ilā l-sujūdi wa-hum sālimūn.
"Their eyes cast down, humiliation overwhelming them — and they had been called to prostrate when they were whole and sound." (al-Qalam 68:43)
Khāshiʿatan abṣāruhum — their eyes cast down, filled with shame and abasement. Tarhaquhum dhillat — humiliation will overwhelm them. Wa-qad kānū yudʿawna ilā l-sujūd — and in the era of sound health they were summoned to prostrate. Wa-hum sālimūn — and at that time they were sound and healthy — what will they do now? In the Hereafter this is a single form — in the world when they did nothing, they will be unable in the Hereafter.
Translation: "Their eyes will be downcast with shame — humiliation will overwhelm them — in the time when they were sound and healthy they were called to prostrate (but they did not)."
فَذَرْنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
fa-dharnī wa-man yukadhdhibu bi-hādhā l-ḥadīthi sa-nastadrijuhum min ḥaythu lā yaʿlamūn.
"Leave Me with whoever denies this discourse — We shall draw them on gradually from a direction they know not." (al-Qalam 68:44)
Fa-dharnī — then leave Me, stop. Wa-man yukadhdhibu bi-hādhā l-ḥadīth — and those who deny this discourse. Sa-nastadrijuhum — We shall draw them in step by step, degree by degree — gradually, We shall bring them down. Min ḥaythu lā yaʿlamūna — from a direction they do not know — it will be such that they will not even know from where they have arrived at their doom.
Translation: "Leave Me with those who deny this discourse — I shall draw them in gradually in such a way that they will not even realize from where they have arrived."
وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ
wa-umlī lahum inna kaydī matīn.
"And I shall grant them respite — indeed My plan is firm." (al-Qalam 68:45)
Wa-umlī lahum — and I shall grant them respite, I shall delay them. Inna kaydī matīnun — without doubt My plan is firm — undoubtedly My strategy is strong.
Translation: "And I shall grant them further respite — beyond any doubt, My strategy is firmly sound."
أَمْ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
am tasʾaluhum ajran fa-hum min maghramim muthqalūn.
"Or do you ask of them a wage, such that they are weighed down with a fine?" (al-Qalam 68:46)
Am tasʾaluhum ajrā — O Prophet ﷺ! do you ask them for your tablīgh a recompense? Some recompense. Fa-hum min maghram — so they — that word — meaning from a loss, a fine. Muthqalūna — they are weighed down, burdened, they are crushed with a heavy load.
Translation: "O Prophet ﷺ! do you ask them a recompense for your tablīgh (preaching) — that (bearing this unbearable fee) they are crushed under a heavy burden?"
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fa-hum yaktubūn.
"Or is the Unseen with them, such that they write it down?" (al-Qalam 68:47)
Am ʿindahumu l-ghayb — or is knowledge of the Unseen with them — some knowledge of the Unseen is also known to them. Fa-hum yaktubūna — and they write it down — they keep a record of it — the future events coming upon them, this too they know.
Translation: "Or do they have some knowledge of the Unseen, that they write it down?"
فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
fa-ṣbir li-ḥukmi rabbika wa-lā takun ka-ṣāḥibi l-ḥūti idh nādā wa-huwa maẓūm.
"So be patient for the ruling of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Whale — when he called out while he was distressed." (al-Qalam 68:48)
Fa-ṣbir li-ḥukm rabbik — O Prophet ﷺ! wait for your Lord's ruling, be patient. Wa-lā takun ka-ṣāḥibi l-ḥūt — and do not be like Yūnus ﷺ who was like a fish — be not. Idh nādā — when he called. Wa-huwa maẓūm — he was distressed — the prayer of Dūʿāʾ — because when he turned his back on his community in anger and departed, leaving them, and called upon Allah in distress.
Translation: "O Prophet ﷺ! wait for your Lord's ruling — and (in terms of hastening) do not be like the Companion of the Fish (Yūnus ﷺ) — when he (in anger at his community) departed (abandoning them) and called upon Allah in distress."
لَّوْلَا أَن تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ
lawlā an tadārakahu niʿmatun min rabbihi la-nubidha bi-l-ʿarāʾi wa-huwa madhmūm.
"Had it not been that a grace from his Lord reached him, he would have been cast upon the barren shore while he was blameworthy." (al-Qalam 68:49)
Lawlā an tadārakahu niʿmatum min rabbih — if the grace and mercy of Allah had not caught up with him — if Allah's grace and mercy did not come to his rescue. La-nubidha bi-l-ʿarāʾ — he would have been cast upon the barren plain — the empty wilderness — cast upon a barren, desolate desert, an empty ground without any good shelter and comfort. Wa-huwa madhdhūm — while he was blameworthy — and in the Hereafter he would have arrived in the state of being blameworthy. That is, when Yūnus ﷺ turned to Allah while in the belly of the fish lying in an empty, dark and desolate state — and there was no shelter in that desolate place worthy of praise, and the jungle was desolate and there was tranquility and rest in no direction — when Yūnus ﷺ turned toward Allah, what a state he came to.
Translation: "If the grace and mercy of Allah had not reached him, he would have been cast upon the barren plain in a state of blame — (or that plain was desolate — there was nothing worthy of praise there)."
Mubidha bi-l-ʿarāʾ — from the fish's belly, cast upon an empty desert. Wa-huwa madhdhūm — he was in a state of being blameworthy — meaning: what a situation that was! A jungle desolate as the wilderness — no settlement, no shelter worthy of praise — when Yūnus ﷺ turned toward Allah and His mercy reached him.
فَاجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
fa-jtabāhu rabbuhu fa-jaʿalahu min al-ṣāliḥīn.
"Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous." (al-Qalam 68:50)
Fa-jtabāhu rabbuh — then his Lord chose him, selected him — made him His elect. Fa-jaʿalahu min al-ṣāliḥīn — then He made him of the righteous — then He made him among the accepted and the good.
Translation: "Then his Lord chose him and accepted him — and made him of the good and accepted ones."
وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ
wa-in yakādu l-ladhīna kafarū la-yuzliqūnaka bi-abṣārihim lammā samiʿū l-dhikra wa-yaqūlūna innahu la-majnūn.
"And indeed those who disbelieve all but trip you with their glances — when they hear the Reminder — and they say: he is surely mad." (al-Qalam 68:51)
Wa-in yakādu l-ladhīna kafarū — and it is close that these disbelievers and unbelievers. La-yuzliqūnaka — they are slipping you — zalaqa — to make slip. Bi-abṣārihim — with their eyes — with their sharp hostile glances, with envious eyes, fling you — set you aside. Lammā samiʿū l-dhikr — when they hear the Qurʾān; and wa-yaqūlūna — and with hostility they say. Innahu la-majnūnun — he is utterly mad — he is truly insane.
Translation: "It is close that the unbelievers, with their sharp glances of hostility (with their envious eyes, looking aside and then looking away), would make you slip — when they hear Quran and counsel (they hear it) and they say: this one is mad."
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
wa-mā huwa illā dhikrun li-l-ʿālamīn.
"And it is nothing but a reminder for all the worlds." (al-Qalam 68:52)
Wa-mā huwa — and he (this Qurʾān) is not. Illā dhikr — except a counsel, a reminder, a memorandum. Li-l-ʿālamīn — for all worlds — all creation, for all people.
Translation: "This (Qurʾān) is nothing but a reminder and counsel for all peoples."
Here ends Sūrat al-Qalam — may Allah's blessing be upon our Master the Prophet ﷺ, upon his family, upon his Companions, and upon all who follow them.