68: Al-Qalam

In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
68:1 N, the pen, and what they write.
68:2 You are not, by the blessing of your Lord, crazy.
68:3 And you will have a reward that will not end.
68:4 And you are of a high moral character.
68:5 So you will see, and they will see.
68:6 Which of you are condemned.
68:7 Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed off His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.
68:8 So do not obey those who deny.
68:9 They wish that you compromise, so they too can compromise.
68:10 And do not obey every lowly swearer.
68:11 A slanderer, a backbiter.
68:12 Forbidder of charity, a transgressor, a sinner.
68:13 Unappreciative, and greedy.
68:14 Because he possessed money and sons.
68:15 When Our revelations are recited to him, he says: "Fictional tales of old!"
68:16 We will mark him on the path.
68:17 We have tested them like We tested those who owned the farm, when they swore that they will harvest it in the morning.
68:18 They were without doubt.
68:19 So a passing sent from your Lord came to it while they all were asleep.
68:20 Thus, it became barren.
68:21 They called on one another when they awoke.
68:22 "Let us go this morning to harvest the crop."
68:23 So they went, while conversing.
68:24 That from today, none of them would ever be poor.
68:25 And they went, ready to harvest.
68:26 But when they saw it, they said: "We have gone astray!"
68:27 "Now, we have nothing!"
68:28 The best among them said: "If only you had glorified!"
68:29 They said: "Glory be to our Lord. We have transgressed."
68:30 Then they started to blame each other.
68:31 They said: "Woe to us. We sinned."
68:32 "Perhaps our Lord will grant us better than it. We repent to our Lord."
68:33 Such was the punishment. But the retribution of the Hereafter is far worse, if only they knew.
68:34 The righteous have deserved, at their Lord, gardens of bliss.
68:35 Should We treat those who submitted the same as those who are criminals?
68:36 What is wrong with you, how do you judge?
68:37 Or do you have a book which you study?
68:38 In it, you can find what you wish?
68:39 Or do you have an oath from Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that you can judge as you please?
68:40 Ask them: "Who of them will make such a claim?"
68:41 Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they are truthful.
68:42 The Day will come when they will be exposed, and they will be required to prostrate, but they will be unable to.
68:43 With their eyes subdued, humiliation will cover them. They were invited to prostrate when they were whole and able.
68:44 Therefore, let Me deal with those who reject this narrative; We will entice them from where they do not perceive.
68:45 And I will lead them on; for My planning is formidable.
68:46 Or do you ask them for a wage, so they are burdened by the fine?
68:47 Or do they know the future? So they have it recorded?
68:48 You shall be patient for the judgment of your Lord. And do not be like the companion of the whale who called out while he was in sorrow.
68:49 Had it not been for the grace of his Lord, he would have remained trapped, while he was to be blamed.
68:50 But his Lord blessed him, and made him righteous.
68:51 And those who have rejected almost attack you with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: "He is crazy!"
68:52 And it is but a reminder for the worlds.

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

Nun. By the pen, and what they write. You are not, by the blessing of your Lord, a madman. You will have a reward that is well deserved, and you are of a high moral character. So you will see, and they will see, which of you are condemned. Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed off His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided. So do not obey the contraveners. (1-8 )

They wish to have you shift about so they too may shift around. Do not obey every lowly swearer, a gossiper who delights in idle talk, a slanderer who fans the flow of discord. Obstructive to all that is good and commendable, a transgressor who goes beyond the limits prescribed by Allah and justifies the forbidden. Moreover, cruel, hurtful and callous. Because of his riches and party. When Our revelations are recited to him, he says: "Tales from the past!" We shall brand him with indelible disgrace. (9-16)

We have tested them like We tested those who owned the farms, when they swore on oath that they will harvest it in the morning to escape notice and evade paying the poor their due. No one did they except and the decision was irrevocable. So a disaster from your Lord struck the garden as they slept. Thus, it became barren. They called on one another when they awoke. Let us go this morning to harvest the crop. So they went, while conversing, "That from today, none of them would ever be poor". And they went, ready to harvest. But when they saw it, they said: "We have suffered a big loss!" Now, we have nothing! The best among them said: "Did I not tell you - why did you not work aright?" They said:  "Glorified is our Lord! Verily, it is we who have been offenders." Then they started to blame each other. They said: "Woe to us. We were trespassers of goodness." Perhaps our Lord will grant us better than it. We repent to our Lord. (17-32)

Such was the punishment. But the retribution of the Hereafter is far worse, if they only knew. The righteous have deserved, at their Lord, paradises of bliss. Should We treat those who entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah, the same as We treat those who do not regard His divine law? What is the matter with you? On what basis do you judge? Or do you have another book which you use it as a valid reference and you apply the rules which bear upon it? And you choose from it what suits you and make use of it as a convenient aid to your intentions? Or do you have an oath from Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, and you are then judged according to your desire and expected satisfaction? Ask them: "Who of them will make such a claim?" Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they are truthful. The Day will come when they will be exposed, and they will be required to prostrate, but they will be unable to. With their eyes subdued, humiliation will cover them. They were invited to prostrate when they were whole and able. (33-43)

Therefore, let Me deal with those who contravene this narration; We will entice them from where they do not perceive. And I will lead them on; for My scheming is formidable. Or did you ask them for a wage, so they are charged with a debt that burdens them or brings them under such liability? Or do they know the future? So they have it recorded? (44-47)

You shall be patient for the judgement of your Lord. And do not be like the companion of the whale who fled his people because of their hostility and neglected his responsibility toward Allah. He went to the sea only to be swallowed by the fish. And in distress and utter darkness, he invoked Allah’s forgiveness and mercy. Had it not been for his Lord's grace, he would have remained trapped, while he was to be blamed. But his Lord blessed him, and made him righteous. And those who have contravened almost attack you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: "He is crazy!" And it is but a reminder for the worlds. (48-52)