The Pen

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

[68:1]

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

[68:2]

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

[68:3]

And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.

[68:4]

And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.

[68:5]

And thou wilt see and they will see

[68:6]

Which of you is the demented.

[68:7]

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

[68:8]

Therefor obey not thou the rejecters

[68:9]

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

[68:10]

Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger,

[68:11]

Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,

[68:12]

Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor

[68:13]

Greedy therewithal, intrusive.

[68:14]

It is because he is possessed of wealth and children

[68:15]

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

[68:16]

We shall brand him on the nose.

[68:17]

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

[68:18]

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

[68:19]

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

[68:20]

And in the morning it was as if plucked.

[68:21]

And they cried out one unto another in the morning,

[68:22]

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

[68:23]

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

[68:24]

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

[68:25]

They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.

[68:26]

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

[68:27]

Nay, but we are desolate!

[68:28]

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

[68:29]

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

[68:30]

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

[68:31]

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

[68:32]

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

[68:33]

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

[68:34]

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

[68:35]

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

[68:36]

What aileth you ? How foolishly ye judge!

[68:37]

Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn

[68:38]

That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose ?

[68:39]

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

[68:40]

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

[68:41]

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

[68:42]

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

[68:43]

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

[68:44]

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.

[68:45]

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

[68:46]

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

[68:47]

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

[68:48]

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

[68:49]

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

[68:50]

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

[68:51]

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;

[68:52]

When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.