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Surah Al-Qalam

The Pen

Chapter 68 of 114

Beautiful Quran Recitation

Surah Al-Qalam

Recited by Salaah Bukhaatir

Overview

About this Surah

The Surah has been titled after the word al-ma'un occurring at the end of the last verse.

At a glance

Surah 68 of 114

Translation
English
Recitation
Salaah Bukhaatir

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Commentary

Tafsir

<h2>Name</h2><p>The Surah has been titled so after the word <em>al-ma'un</em> occurring at the end of the <a href="/107/7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">last verse</a>.</p><h2>Period of Revelation</h2><p>Ibn Marduyah has cited Ibn Abbas (may Allah bless them both) as saying that this Surah is Makki, and the same is also the view of Ata and Jabir but Abu Hayyan in <em>Al-Bahr al-Muhit</em> has cited Ibn Abbas, Qatadah and Dahhak as saying that this Surah was revealed in Madinah. In our opinion there is an internal piece of evidence in the Surah itself which points to it being a Madani Revelation. It holds out a threat of destruction to those praying ones who are unmindful of their Prayers and who pray only to be seen. This kind of hypocrites were found only at Madinah, for it was there that Islam and the Muslims gained such strength that many people were compelled to believe from expedience, had to visit the Mosque, join the congregational Prayer and prayed only to be seen of others, so as to be counted among the Muslims.</p><p>Contrary to this is, in Makkah, conditions were altogether different. No one had to pray to be seen. There, it was difficult even for the believers to pray in congregation; they prayed secretly and if a person prayed openly he did so at the risk of his life. The kind of hypocrites found in Makkah did not comprise of those who believed and prayed to be seen but those who in their hearts had known and acknowledged the Holy Messenger of Allah (upon whom be peace) to be on the true path, but were avoiding accepting Islam in order to maintain their position of leadership and authority, or were not prepared to take the risk of being afflicted with the kind of hardships with which they found the believers afflicted in the society around them. This condition of the hypocrites at Makkah has been described in verses <a href="/29/10-11" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10-11 of Surah Al- Ankabut</a>. (For explanation, see <a href="/29:10-11?font=v2&translations=95" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">footnotes 13 to 16 of Surah Al-'Ankabut</a>).</p><h2>Theme and Subject Matter</h2><p>Its theme is to point out what kind of morals a man develops when he refuses to believe in the Hereafter. In verses <a href="/107/2-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2-3</a>, the condition of the disbelievers who openly belie the Hereafter has been described, and in the last four verses the state of those hypocrites who apparently are Muslims but have no idea of the Hereafter, its judgment, and the meting out of rewards and punishments accordingly has been described. On the whole, the object of depicting the attitude and conduct of two kinds of people is to impress the point that man cannot develop a strong, stable and pure character in himself unless he believes in the Hereafter.</p>

Verse by verse

Surah Al-Qalam · The Pen

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. Ayah 1

    بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ

    Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-

  2. Ayah 2

    مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ

    Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.

  3. Ayah 3

    وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ

    Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:

  4. Ayah 4

    وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

    And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.

  5. Ayah 5

    فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ

    Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,

  6. Ayah 6

    بِأَييِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ

    Which of you is afflicted with madness.

  7. Ayah 7

    إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

    Verily it is thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He knoweth best those who receive (true) Guidance.

  8. Ayah 8

    فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ

    So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).

  9. Ayah 9

    وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ

    Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.

  10. Ayah 10

    وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ

    Heed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,

  11. Ayah 11

    هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ

    A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

  12. Ayah 12

    مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ

    (Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,

  13. Ayah 13

    عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ

    Violent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,-

  14. Ayah 14

    أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ

    Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.

  15. Ayah 15

    إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

    When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!

  16. Ayah 16

    سَنَسِمُهُ عَلَى الْخُرْطُومِ

    Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!

  17. Ayah 17

    إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ

    Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.

  18. Ayah 18

    وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

    But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").

  19. Ayah 19

    فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ

    Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.

  20. Ayah 20

    فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ

    So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).

  21. Ayah 21

    فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ

    As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-

  22. Ayah 22

    أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ

    "Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."

  23. Ayah 23

    فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ

    So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-

  24. Ayah 24

    أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

    "Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."

  25. Ayah 25

    وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ

    And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.

  26. Ayah 26

    فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ

    But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:

  27. Ayah 27

    بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

    "Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"

  28. Ayah 28

    قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

    Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify (Allah)?'"

  29. Ayah 29

    قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ

    They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"

  30. Ayah 30

    فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ

    Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.

  31. Ayah 31

    قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ

    They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!

  32. Ayah 32

    عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَا أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ

    "It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!"

  33. Ayah 33

    كَذَٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

    Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!

  34. Ayah 34

    إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ

    Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.

  35. Ayah 35

    أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ

    Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?

  36. Ayah 36

    مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

    What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

  37. Ayah 37

    أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ

    Or have ye a book through which ye learn-

  38. Ayah 38

    إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

    That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

  39. Ayah 39

    أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ

    Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?

  40. Ayah 40

    سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

    Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!

  41. Ayah 41

    أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ

    Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!

  42. Ayah 42

    يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

    The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able,-

  43. Ayah 43

    خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ

    Their eyes will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).

  44. Ayah 44

    فَذَرْنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

    Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.

  45. Ayah 45

    وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ

    A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.

  46. Ayah 46

    أَمْ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ

    Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt?-

  47. Ayah 47

    أَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

    Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?

  48. Ayah 48

    فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

    So wait with patience for the Command of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish,- when he cried out in agony.

  49. Ayah 49

    لَّوْلَا أَن تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

    Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.

  50. Ayah 50

    فَاجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

    Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.

  51. Ayah 51

    وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ

    And the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"

  52. Ayah 52

    وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

    But it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.

About the Quran

The Quran

The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam. Muslims believe that it is the literal word of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) over a period of 23 years. The Quran is composed of 114 Surahs (chapters) and contains 6,236 Ayat (verses). Muslim beliefs and practices are based on the Quran and the Sunnah, the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

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Meccan Surahs

The Meccan Surahs are the earliest revelations sent down to the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). They were revealed in Mecca, hence their name. These revelations form the foundation of the Islamic faith and contain guidance for Muslims on how to live their lives. The Meccan Surahs are also notable for their poetic beauty and lyrical prose.

Medinan Surahs

The Medinan Surahs are the later Surahs that, according to Islamic tradition, were revealed in Medina after the Prophet Muhammad's (صلى الله عليه وسلم) hijra from Mecca. They were revealed by Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) when the Muslim community was larger and more developed, as opposed to their minority position in Mecca.

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