| | Hamid S. Aziz rendition of Surah The Pen(al-Qalam)
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| 68:1 | | NUN. I swear by the Pen and by that which they write |
| 68:2 | | By the grace of your Lord you (Muhammad) are not mad (or stupid, deluded or possessed) |
| 68:3 | | And most surely you shall have a reward unfailing |
| 68:4 | | And most surely you have the most sublime (or exalted) character |
| 68:5 | | Soon will you see, and they too shall see |
| 68:6 | | Which of you is afflicted with madness (stupidity or delusion) |
| 68:7 | | Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right guidance |
| 68:8 | | So do not yield to the rejecters |
| 68:9 | | They desire that you should be pliant (or compromise) so they too would be pliant (compromise) |
| 68:10 | | And yield not to any mean sweare |
| 68:11 | | Defamer, going about with slande |
| 68:12 | | Hinderer (obstructer) of good, transgressor beyond limits, malefactor |
| 68:13 | | Ignoble (violent, cruel and greedy), besides all that, base-born (inherently degenerate) |
| 68:14 | | Because he possesses wealth and sons |
| 68:15 | | When Our communications are recited to him, he says, "Stories of those of old" |
| 68:16 | | We will brand him on the snout |
| 68:17 | | Surely We will try them as We tried the people of the garden, when they resolved to cut the produce in the morning |
| 68:18 | | And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor) |
| 68:19 | | Then there encompassed it (the garden) a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping |
| 68:20 | | So it became as black, barren land |
| 68:21 | | And they called out to each other in the morning (unaware of what had happened) |
| 68:22 | | Saying, "Go early to your tilth if you would cut the produce." |
| 68:23 | | So they went, while they murmured to each other secretly |
| 68:24 | | Saying, "Let no poor man enter it today besides you." |
| 68:25 | | And in the morning they went, strong in this (evil) resolve |
| 68:26 | | But when they saw it (the garden), they said, "Most surely we have gone astray |
| 68:27 | | "Nay! We are made to suffer privation." |
| 68:28 | | The best of them said, "Did I not say to you, ´Why not glorify (Allah)?´" |
| 68:29 | | They said, "Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust." |
| 68:30 | | Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other |
| 68:31 | | Said they, "O woe to us! Surely we were outrageous transgressors |
| 68:32 | | "Maybe, our Lord will give us instead a garden better than this; lo! We beseech (or turn in repentance to) our Lord." |
| 68:33 | | Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter is even greater, did they but know |
| 68:34 | | Surely those who guard against evil shall have with their Lord Gardens of Delight |
| 68:35 | | What! Shall We then treat those who have Surrendered (in Islam) as those who are guilty |
| 68:36 | | What ails you? How do you judge |
| 68:37 | | Or have you a Book wherein you learn |
| 68:38 | | That you shall have through it whatever you choose |
| 68:39 | | Or have you received from Us an agreement, confirmed by an oath, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that you shall have what you demand |
| 68:40 | | Ask them which of them will vouch for that |
| 68:41 | | Or have they associates (in the Godhead); then let them produce them if they are truthful |
| 68:42 | | On the day when the Shin (the Hidden Mystery or Truth) shall be laid bare, and they shall be called upon to make obeisance, but they shall not be able |
| 68:43 | | Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them seeing that they had been called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe |
| 68:44 | | So leave Me and him who rejects this Announcement (The Message of Muhammad); We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not |
| 68:45 | | Yet I do bear with them, for lo! My plan is firm |
| 68:46 | | Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt |
| 68:47 | | Or have they the knowledge of the unseen, so that they write it down |
| 68:48 | | So wait patiently for the judgment of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish (Jonah), when he cried while he was in distress |
| 68:49 | | Were it not that favour from his Lord had reached him, he would certainly have been cast down upon the naked shore while he was blameworthy |
| 68:50 | | Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the righteous |
| 68:51 | | And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the Reminder (Quran), and they say, "Most surely he is mad (or possessed) |
| 68:52 | | And it is naught but a reminder to creation (or all the worlds) |
