القلم
Surah Al-Qalam (القلم) - Transliteration, Translation and Audio
Chapter 68 of the Quran, 52 verses, "The Pen"
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Al-Qalam Transliteration and English Translation
- 1
نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon
Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,
- 2
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍۢ
Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoon
You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.
- 3
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍۢ
Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon
And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.
- 4
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍۢ
Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeem
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
- 5
فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ
Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon
So you will see and they will see
- 6
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ
Bi ayyikumul maftoon
Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].
- 7
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen
Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
- 8
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeen
Then do not obey the deniers.
- 9
وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ
Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon
They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].
- 10
وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍۢ مَّهِينٍ
Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheen
And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer
- 11
هَمَّازٍۢ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍۢ
Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameem
[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -
- 12
مَّنَّاعٍۢ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem
A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,
- 13
عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
'Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneem
Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.
- 14
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍۢ وَبَنِينَ
An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen
Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,
- 15
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."
- 16
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ
Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoom
We will brand him upon the snout.
- 17
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ
Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen
Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning
- 18
وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ
Wa laa yastasnoon
Without making exception.
- 19
فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ
Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoon
So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.
- 20
فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
Fa asbahat kassareem
And it became as though reaped.
- 21
فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ
Fatanaadaw musbiheen
And they called one another at morning,
- 22
أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ
Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."
- 23
فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
- 24
أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌۭ
Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."
- 25
وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍۢ قَٰدِرِينَ
Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireen
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.
- 26
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;
- 27
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
Rather, we have been deprived."
- 28
قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]?' "
- 29
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
- 30
فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoon
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
- 31
قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.
- 32
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
'Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon
Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."
- 33
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon
Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
- 34
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eem
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.
- 35
أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?
- 36
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?
- 37
أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌۭ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ
Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
- 38
إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon
That indeed for you is whatever you choose?
- 39
أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ
Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon
Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?
- 40
سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eem
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.
- 41
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ
Am lahum shurakaaa'u falyaatoo bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen
Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.
- 42
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍۢ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
Yawma yukshafu 'am saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oon
The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,
- 43
خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ
Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon
Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.
- 44
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoon
So leave Me, [O Muhammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies the Qur'an. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.
- 45
وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ
Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen
And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.
- 46
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًۭا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍۢ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon
Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?
- 47
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?
- 48
فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌۭ
Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom
Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed.
- 49
لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌۭ
Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoom
If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.
- 50
فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheen
And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
- 51
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌۭ
Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon
And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad."
- 52
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ
Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen
But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.
About Surah Al-Qalam
Surah Al-Qalam (Arabic: القلم), meaning "The Pen", is the 68th chapter of the Quran and has 52 verses. It was revealed in Makkah and is counted by many commentators among the early revelations, from a time when the Quraysh were calling the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) a madman. The surah defends the character of Allah's Messenger and warns those who reject the truth out of arrogance.
It opens with the letter Nun and an oath by the pen and what is written, which is why it is also called Surah Nun. Verse 4 declares, "And indeed, you are of a great moral character", one of the Quran's most honored statements about the Prophet. The surah then warns against obeying the slanderer and the arrogant, and tells the story of the owners of a garden who resolved to harvest at dawn without giving anything to the poor, only to find it destroyed overnight, after which they turned to their Lord in regret. It challenges the deniers, describes the Day when they will be called to prostrate and will be unable, and urges patience, telling the Prophet not to be like the companion of the fish, Yunus, who called out in distress. It ends with the disbelievers almost making the Prophet slip with their glares when they hear the message.
Main Themes of Surah Al-Qalam
- The oath by the pen and what is written
- The noble character of the Prophet
- The owners of the garden and the sin of stinginess
- Warning against obeying the slanderer and the arrogant
- Patience, and the lesson of Yunus
Listen to Surah Al-Qalam with Audio-Synced Transliteration
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Frequently Asked Questions About Surah Al-Qalam
- What is meant by "you are of a great moral character"?
- Verse 4 is Allah's own testimony to the character of the Prophet (peace be upon him), given at a time when his enemies were calling him insane. When Aisha was asked about his character, she replied that his character was the Quran, as reported in Sahih Muslim.
- Who are the people of the garden in Surah Al-Qalam?
- Verses 17 to 33 tell of garden owners who swore to harvest their crop early in the morning so that no poor person could enter and ask for a share. The garden was struck during the night, and they came to recognize their wrongdoing and turned to their Lord in hope. The story warns against greed and withholding the rights of the poor.
- Why does Surah Al-Qalam begin with the letter Nun?
- Nun is one of the disconnected letters (al-huruf al-muqatta'at) that open several surahs of the Quran. Scholars have offered various explanations, and many hold that their full meaning is known only to Allah, while noting that they point to the miracle of a Book composed of the same letters the Arabs themselves used.