| | Musharraf Hussain rendition of Surah The Pen(al-Qalam)
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| 68:1 | | Noon. By the pen and everything they write. |
| 68:2 | | By the grace of your Lord, Prophet, you aren’t possessed. |
| 68:3 | | Indeed, you shall have an everlasting reward, |
| 68:4 | | and you have a strong character |
| 68:5 | | Soon you will see, and so will they, |
| 68:6 | | who is really demented. |
| 68:7 | | Your Lord knows best who strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided. |
| 68:8 | | So don’t compromise with the deniers; |
| 68:9 | | they would love to see you compromise with them so that they may compromise. |
| 68:10 | | Don’t yield to every despicable swearer of oaths – |
| 68:11 | | a fault-finder, dashing around backbiting, |
| 68:12 | | obstructing the common good, an aggressor, a sinner, |
| 68:13 | | an oppressor, and moreover of doubtful birth. |
| 68:14 | | He has plenty of wealth and children. |
| 68:15 | | When Our verses are recited to him he says, “These are ancient stories.” |
| 68:16 | | We shall soon put a mark on his nose |
| 68:17 | | We test them as We tested the owners of the orchard, when they promised they would pick the fruits early in the morning |
| 68:18 | | and they made no exceptions. |
| 68:19 | | While they slept, a disaster from your Lord struck the orchard, |
| 68:20 | | so by the morning it was a desolate place. |
| 68:21 | | They woke up in the morning and called out to each other, |
| 68:22 | | “Hurry to your harvest, if you are going to pick its fruits.” |
| 68:23 | | So off they went, whispering to each other, |
| 68:24 | | “Absolutely no needy person will enter it today and bother you.” |
| 68:25 | | They went early, purposefully and determined. |
| 68:26 | | However, when they reached there they saw it utterly desolate, they said, “We are lost, |
| 68:27 | | rather we are prevented from picking the fruit! |
| 68:28 | | The middle one said, “Didn’t I tell you to glorify Allah?” |
| 68:29 | | They replied, “Glory be to Our Lord, we were wicked!” |
| 68:30 | | So they turned to one other and began blaming each other. |
| 68:31 | | They cried, “Woe to us! We were shamelessly disobedient, |
| 68:32 | | perhaps Our Lord will give us something better in exchange for the orchard; we turn genuinely in hope to Our Lord.” |
| 68:33 | | Such was the punishment, but the punishment of the Hereafter is even greater. If only they knew |
| 68:34 | | The righteous will have attractive Gardens near their Lord. |
| 68:35 | | So are We to treat those who have submitted themselves like the sinners? |
| 68:36 | | What is the matter with you; what makes you judge in this way? |
| 68:37 | | Or do you have a book from where you have learnt |
| 68:38 | | that you will get whatever you choose? |
| 68:39 | | Or do you have solemn oaths with Us that are binding till Judgement Day – you will have whatever you decide? |
| 68:40 | | Ask them: “Who will guarantee this? |
| 68:41 | | Or do they have partners beside Allah?” So let them bring their partners if they are truthful. |
| 68:42 | | The Day things will be extremely difficult, they will be invited to prostrate, but they won’t be able to do so, |
| 68:43 | | their eyes lowered and faces covered with humiliation. They were invited to prostrate when they were safe and sound. |
| 68:44 | | So leave those to Me who deny this Revelation. So gradually We shall lead them to their ruin, and they will not know it, |
| 68:45 | | and We shall give them more time. My plan will work |
| 68:46 | | Or do you ask them for a wage, which will burden them heavily with debt |
| 68:47 | | Or do they have knowledge of the unseen that they write down |
| 68:48 | | So wait patiently for your Lord’s judgement and do not be like the companion in the belly of the whale who prayed whilst in distress. |
| 68:49 | | Hadn’t a blessing from His Lord reached him, he would have been abandoned on the barren shore, condemned forever. |
| 68:50 | | So His Lord accepted his plea and selected him, and He made him among the righteous. |
| 68:51 | | They wish to strike you down with their evil eyes; when the disbelievers hear the Reminder they say, “He is mad!” |
| 68:52 | | This is a clear Reminder for all people |
