Surah Qalam

Verse by verse

1. بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   Bismi Allahi ar‑Rahmani ar‑Rahim

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

2. 1

   نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ

   Nun wa‑al‑qalami wa ma yasturun

   Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith),

3. 2

   مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ

   Ma anta bini'mati rabbika bimajnun

   Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.

4. 3

   وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ

   Wa inna laka la'ajran ghayra mamnun

   And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.

5. 4

   وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

   Wa innaka la'ala khuluqin 'azim

   And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.

6. 5

   فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ

   Fasatubsiru wa yubsirun

   And thou wilt see and they will see

7. 6

   بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ

   Bi'ayyikumu al‑maftun

   Which of you is the demented.

8. 7

   إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ

   Inna rabbaka huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabilihi wa huwa a'lamu bi‑al‑muhtadin

   Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.

9. 8

   فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

   Fala tuti'i al‑mukadhdhibin

   Therefor obey not thou the rejecters

10. 9

    وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ

    Waddu law tudhinu fayudhinun

    Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.

11. 10

    وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ

    Wa la tuti' kulla hallafin mahin

    Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger,

12. 11

    هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ

    Hammazin mashsha'in binamim

    Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,

13. 12

    مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ

    Manna'in lil‑khayri mu'tadin athim

    Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor

14. 13

    عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ

    'Utullin ba'da dhalika zanim

    Greedy therewithal, intrusive.

15. 14

    أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ

    An kana dha malin wa banin

    It is because he is possessed of wealth and children

16. 15

    إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

    Idha tutla 'alayhi ayatuna qala asatiru al‑awwalin

    That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.

17. 16

    سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ

    Sanasimuhu 'ala al‑khurtum

    We shall brand him on the nose.

18. 17

    إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ

    Inna balawnahum kama balawna ashaba al‑jannati idh aqsamu layasrimunnaha musbihin

    Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning,

19. 18

    وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

    Wa la yastathnun

    And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);

20. 19

    فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ

    Fatafa 'alayha ta'ifun min rabbika wa hum na'imun

    Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept

21. 20

    فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ

    Fa'asbahat ka‑as‑sarim

    And in the morning it was as if plucked.

22. 21

    فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ

    Fatanadaw musbihin

    And they cried out one unto another in the morning,

23. 22

    أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ

    Ani ghdu 'ala harthikum in kuntum sarimin

    Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).

24. 23

    فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ

    Fantalaqu wa hum yatakhafatun

    So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:

25. 24

    أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

    An la yadkhulannaha al‑yawma 'alaykum miskin

    No needy man shall enter it to-day against you.

26. 25

    وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَٰدِرِينَ

    Wa ghadaw 'ala hardin qadirin

    They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.

27. 26

    فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ

    Falamma ra'awha qalu inna ladallun

    But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!

28. 27

    بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

    Bal nahnu mahrumun

    Nay, but we are desolate!

29. 28

    قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

    Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawla tusabbihun

    The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah)?

30. 29

    قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ

    Qalu subhana Rabbina inna kunna zalimin

    They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong-doers.

31. 30

    فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ

    Fa'aqbala ba'duhum 'ala ba'din yatalawamun

    Then some of them drew near unto others, self-reproaching.

32. 31

    قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ

    Qalu ya waylana inna kunna taghin

    They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.

33. 32

    عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ

    'Asa Rabbuna an yubdilana khayran minha inna ila Rabbina raghibun

    It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.

34. 33

    كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

    Kadhalika al-'adhabu wa la'adhabu al‑akhirati akbaru law kanu ya'lamun

    Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.

35. 34

    إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

    Inna lil‑muttaqina 'inda Rabbihim jannati an‑na'im

    Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.

36. 35

    أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

    Afanaj'alu al‑muslimina kal‑mujrimin

    Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty?

37. 36

    مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

    Ma lakum kayfa tahkumun

    What aileth you? How foolishly ye judge!

38. 37

    أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ

    Am lakum kitabun fihi tadrusun

    Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn

39. 38

    إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

    Inna lakum fihi lama takhayyarun

    That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose?

40. 39

    أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ

    Am lakum aymanun 'alayna balighatun ila yawmi al‑qiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumun

    Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain?

41. 40

    سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

    Salhum ayyuhum bidhalika za'im

    Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!

42. 41

    أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ

    Am lahum shuraka'u falya'tu bishuraka'ihim in kanu sadiqin

    Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful

43. 42

    يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

    Yawma yukshafu 'an saqin wa yud'awna ila as‑sujudi fala yastati'un

    On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,

44. 43

    خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ

    Khashi'atan absaruhum tarhaquhum dhillatun wa qad kanu yud'awna ila as‑sujudi wa hum salimun

    With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.

45. 44

    فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

    Fadharni wa man yukadhdhibu bihadha al‑hadithi sanastadrijuhum min haythu la ya'lamun

    Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.

46. 45

    وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ

    Wa umli lahum inna kaydi matin

    Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.

47. 46

    أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ

    Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqalun

    Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed?

48. 47

    أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

    Am 'indahumu al‑ghaybu fahum yaktubun

    Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof)?

49. 48

    فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

    Fasbir lihukmi Rabbika wa la takun kasahibi al‑huti idh nada wa huwa makzum

    But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.

50. 49

    لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

    Lawla an tadarakahu ni'matun min Rabbihi lanubidha bil-'ara'i wa huwa madhmum

    Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.

51. 50

    فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

    Fajtabahu Rabbuhu faja'alahu mina as‑salihin

    But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.

52. 51

    وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ

    Wa in yakadu alladhina kafaru layuzliqunaka bi'absarihim lamma sami'u adh‑dhikra wa yaquluna innahu lamajnun

    And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;

53. 52

    وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ

    Wa ma huwa illa dhikrun lil-'alamin

    When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.

Text: The Qur'an, Arabic text in the Uthmani script (reading of Hafs from Asim). Meaning: The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, translated by Marmaduke Pickthall, 1930. Copied word for word from the edition named here

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