| | Ahmed Ali rendition of Surah The Pen(al-Qalam)
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| 68:1 | | NUN. I CALL to witness the pen and what they inscribe |
| 68:2 | | You are not demented by the grace of your Lord |
| 68:3 | | There is surely reward unending for you |
| 68:4 | | For you are verily born of sublime nature |
| 68:5 | | So you will see, and they will realise |
| 68:6 | | Who is distracted |
| 68:7 | | Verily your Lord knows those who have gone astray from His path, and He knows those who are guided on the way |
| 68:8 | | So do not comply with those who deny |
| 68:9 | | They only want that you should relent, so that they may come to terms |
| 68:10 | | Do not heed a contemptible swearer |
| 68:11 | | Or backbiter, calumniator, slanderer |
| 68:12 | | Who hinders men from (doing) good, the transgressor, the iniquitous |
| 68:13 | | Crude, and above all, mean and infamous |
| 68:14 | | Simply because he possesses wealth and children |
| 68:15 | | When you recite Our revelations to him, he says: "These are fables of long ago." |
| 68:16 | | We shall brand him on the muzzle |
| 68:17 | | We have tried you as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed to gather the fruits in the mornin |
| 68:18 | | But did not add: "If God may please." |
| 68:19 | | Then a calamity from your Lord fell upon it, but they remained fast asleep |
| 68:20 | | So by the morning it seemed as though picked clean |
| 68:21 | | At daybreak they called to each other |
| 68:22 | | "If you want to gather the fruits, let us go early to the plantation." |
| 68:23 | | So they departed, talking in low voices |
| 68:24 | | "Let no needy person come to you within it today." |
| 68:25 | | They left early in the morning bent on this purpose |
| 68:26 | | When they saw (and did not recognise it) they said: "Surely we have lost the way |
| 68:27 | | No. In fact we have been deprived of it." |
| 68:28 | | One who was temperate among them, said: "Did I not say: 'Why don't you priase God?'" |
| 68:29 | | "Glory to our Lord," they said; we were really in the wrong." |
| 68:30 | | Then they started blaming one another |
| 68:31 | | Saying: "Alas the woe, we were iniquitous |
| 68:32 | | Maybe our Lord will give us better than this. We turn to our Lord in supplication." |
| 68:33 | | Such is Our chastisement; and the punishment of the Hereafter will be greater, if only they knew |
| 68:34 | | For those who fear God there are pleasure gardens with their Lord |
| 68:35 | | Should We treat those who submit and obey in the same way as those who are culpable |
| 68:36 | | What has come upon you that you judge in such a wise |
| 68:37 | | Or have you a Book in which you rea |
| 68:38 | | That you can surely have whatever you choose |
| 68:39 | | Or have you taken a binding promise from Us which would hold till the Day of Judgement, that you will get whatever you demand |
| 68:40 | | Ask them: "Which of you is able to vouch for this?" |
| 68:41 | | Or have they any partners? Let them bring their partners then, if what they say is true |
| 68:42 | | On the day the great calamity befalls, and they are called to bow in homage, they will not be able to do so |
| 68:43 | | Lowered will be their eyes, disgrace overwhelming them. They had indeed been called to bow in homage when they were free of blame |
| 68:44 | | So leave those who deny this Discourse to Me. We shall lead them step by step to (ruin) in a way they will not know |
| 68:45 | | Yet I will give them respite: Surely My plan is compact |
| 68:46 | | Do you ask for any compensation from them that they are burdened with want |
| 68:47 | | Or do they have knowledge of the unknown which they copy down |
| 68:48 | | So wait with patience for the judgement of your Lord, and do not be like (onah) of the fish who called (to his Lord) when he was choked with anger |
| 68:49 | | Had it not been for a favour from his Lord he would have been cast blame-worthy on a barren plain |
| 68:50 | | Then his Lord chose him and placed him among the upright |
| 68:51 | | But the unbelievers would like to stare you out of balance when they hear the warning, and say: "Surely he is possessed;" |
| 68:52 | | Whilst it is no more than reminder for the people of the world |
