القلم
Surah Al-Qalam
The Pen · Surah 68 · Meccan · 52 verses
1نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ ١Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Nun is one of the disjointed letters, like those at the start of al-Baqarah; the oath is by the pen and what is written with it.2مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ٢Thou art not, for thy Lord’s favour unto thee, a madman.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the answer to the oath: by the right of your Lord’s favour, or thanks to it, you are not mad.3وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ٣And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.4وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمࣲ ٤And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is a set of great traits that, through effort and deeds, lead to the highest goal of good: a disposition and inner habit truly worthy of honour.5فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ ٥And thou wilt see and they will see.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, character requires moving towards a goal through deeds; this verse promises that this character will later be realised in action and seen even by its enemies.6بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ٦Which of you is the demented.InsightElmalılı explains “maftun” as one struck by trial and madness, or as trial and madness itself; the commentators preferred the latter meaning here.7إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ ٧Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this conveys Allah’s lordship free of partners, the height of His knowledge and power, and so the need to believe in and rely on Him.8فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٨Therefor obey not thou the rejecters.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means not heeding or following the deniers who reject the truths, try to prove them false, and will in the end be proven false themselves.9وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ ٩Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.InsightElmalılı explains “mudahanah” as flattering, not touching their wrongs, greasing their lies; the deniers wanted this, and so set about denying.10وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِينٍ ١٠Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is one used to swearing about everything true or false; yet an oath is only to support the truth in necessity and real need.11هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمࣲ ١١Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is one who finds fault, backbites, needles and prods others, goes about carrying tales and lives by idle talk.12مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ ١٢Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this person is of no good at all; being very stingy, he also hinders the good others would do.13عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ ١٣Greedy therewithal, intrusive.InsightElmalılı explains “‘utull” as coarse, disrespectful, tyrannical, gluttonous, foul-mouthed and cruel; “zanim” is one attached falsely, branded by evil.14أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِينَ ١٤It is because he is possessed of wealth and children.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, do not obey him because he has gained wealth and power, hoping for benefit or fearing his harm; still less for any other reason.15إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٥That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.16سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ١٦We shall brand him on the nose.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, saying “snout” instead of nose points to pride and arrogance, as in the expressions “big-nosed” and “turning up one’s nose”.17إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ ١٧Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, those who relied on their wealth and sons were put to a test; that wealth and those children became a trial and affliction for them.18وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ١٨And made no exception (for the Will of Allah).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they set no condition like “inshallah” or “if we reach morning safely”; they thought themselves very strong and determined.19فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ ١٩Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this was a divine calamity that swept round the garden; by one report a fire came out of the valley and burned it to the roots.20فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ٢٠And in the morning it was as if plucked.InsightElmalılı explains “sarim” as completely cut: a vineyard with its fruit cut, a harvested field, a part of the night, or sand that grows nothing.21فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ ٢١And they cried out one unto another in the morning.22أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ ٢٢Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there were two errors in this: they said “your crop” as if they alone had grown it, and then they resolved to deprive the poor.23فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ٢٣So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones.24أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينࣱ ٢٤No needy man shall enter it to-day against you.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they never thought that they could trust one another only by oaths, or what they deprived themselves of by excluding the poor.25وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَٰدِرِينَ ٢٥They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they went able only to prevent swiftly, driven by greed and anger; collective greed and oppression are stronger and worse than an individual’s.26فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ ٢٦But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they first judged that they had lost their way, then realised that they were more deprived than the poor they had meant to keep out.27بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ٢٧Nay, but we are desolate.28قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ٢٨The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “awsat” here does not mean the middle in age but, as Ibn ‘Abbas and Mujahid said, the most just and sensible of them.29قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ٢٩They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong-doers.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they glorified Allah and confessed that by rash oaths, failing to say inshallah and resolving to neglect the poor, they had wronged themselves.30فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ ٣٠Then some of them drew near unto others, self-reproaching.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, each said “I made this fault, you did that”, both blaming himself and expressing regret to the others.31قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ ٣١They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.32عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرࣰا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ ٣٢It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the truly better is the Garden of the Hereafter, free of grief and affliction; what serves good in this world and leads to it is its beginning.33كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٣Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, worldly punishment awakens those able to understand, sets them right and leads them to avoid greater danger and attain greater good.34إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ٣٤Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is a divine promise declaring the greatness of the reward, set against the greatness of the punishment of the Hereafter.35أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ٣٥Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the submitters have turned their faces to Allah alone; they seek safety, avoid crime, work well and have clean hearts. The two ends are never the same.36مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ٣٦What aileth you? How foolishly ye judge.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means: “What happened to your minds, what proof do you rely on, that you hold criminals better than or equal to the submitters?”37أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبࣱ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ٣٧Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn.38إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ ٣٨That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means: “Is it written in a book above you that whatever you like and think good is your right?”39أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ ٣٩Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means: “Because you were given some power today, did you receive a guarantee from Us that whatever you decide will be so until the Resurrection?”40سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ ٤٠Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this asks which of them would guarantee the truth of a judgement that no rational or revealed proof could accept.41أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ ٤١Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this asks whether they have partners who share in that judgement, whom they imitate or worship.42يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ ٤٢On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able.InsightElmalılı explains “saq” as the shin, from heel to calf; it also means the trunk or root of a thing. Here it conveys the severity of the matter.43خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةࣱۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ ٤٣With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, that day their eyes will be downcast, unable even to gesture, covered in humiliation; yet in the world, while safe and sound, they were called to prostrate.44فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٤٤Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is one who disbelieves the Qur’an, calls it “tales of the ancients”, does not accept the need for prostration and obedience, and denies the punishment of the Hereafter.45وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ ٤٥Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah extends their rope and gives respite as if leaving them to their wishes; they think it a gain, plunge into sin and rejoice, “We are free”.46أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ٤٦Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet conveyed Allah’s commands free of charge; their turning away was not because of any burden of debt.47أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ ٤٧Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means: “Is knowledge of the unseen, which belongs to Allah, and the pen that writes the Preserved Tablet in their hands, so they write the fate of the universe?”48فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومࣱ ٤٨But wait thou for thy Lord’s decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, if Allah gives them respite instead of destroying them at once, bear the mission of prophethood with great character and steadfastness; do not hasten in anger like Jonah.49لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومࣱ ٤٩Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this favour was inspiring Jonah to repent, regret and glorify Allah, and answering his prayer.50فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ٥٠But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah did not leave him in that state; by His care He shielded him from blame, freed him from anger and grief, honoured him again with revelation and made him righteous.51وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونࣱ ٥١And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these were the disbelievers of Mecca who were ungrateful for Allah’s favour and denied His signs; when the Qur’an was recited they glared at it in hatred.52وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٥٢When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an is not only for them but a reminder for all beings with awareness and understanding; only those of unclear mind fail to benefit from it.