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Surah Al-Qalam transliteration

سورة القلم

Surah 6852 versesMeccan

Here is Surah Al-Qalam (“The Pen”) in transliteration: each of its 52 verses in Arabic, then in Latin letters (one Latin word for each Arabic word) and translated into English. Start the recitation: each word lights up as it is pronounced.

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Letters with a bar (ā, ī, ū) are long, ʿ marks the letter ʿayn, ḥ, ṣ, ḍ, ṭ, ẓ the emphatic letters. Hover over or tap an Arabic word to see its meaning.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

bis'mi l-lahi l-raḥmāni l-raḥīmi

نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ ۝١

noon wal-qalami wamā yasṭurūna

1. Nūn.¹⁷²⁴ By the pen and what they inscribe,

Notes

[1724] See footnote to 2:1.

مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ ۝٢

mā anta biniʿ'mati rabbika bimajnūnin

2. You are not, [O Muḥammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ ۝٣

wa-inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnūnin

3. And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ۝٤

wa-innaka laʿalā khuluqin ʿaẓīmin

4. And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ ۝٥

fasatub'ṣiru wayub'ṣirūna

5. So you will see and they will see

بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ ۝٦

bi-ayyikumu l-maftūnu

6. Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ۝٧

inna rabbaka huwa aʿlamu biman ḍalla ʿan sabīlihi wahuwa aʿlamu bil-muh'tadīna

7. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ۝٨

falā tuṭiʿi l-mukadhibīna

8. Then do not obey the deniers.

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ ۝٩

waddū law tud'hinu fayud'hinūna

9. They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ ۝١٠

walā tuṭiʿ kulla ḥallāfin mahīnin

10. And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ ۝١١

hammāzin mashāin binamīmin

11. [And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -

مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ ۝١٢

mannāʿin lil'khayri muʿ'tadin athīmin

12. A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ ۝١٣

ʿutullin baʿda dhālika zanīmin

13. Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.¹⁷²⁵

Notes

[1725] i.e., claiming a particular lineage falsely. The description given in these verses is of al-Waleed bin al-Mugheerah (see also 74:11-25) or possibly, as asserted by Ibn Katheer, al-Akhnas bin Shurayq.

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ ۝١٤

an kāna dhā mālin wabanīna

14. Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ۝١٥

idhā tut'lā ʿalayhi āyātunā qāla asāṭīru l-awalīna

15. When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ ۝١٦

sanasimuhu ʿalā l-khur'ṭūmi

16. We will brand him upon the snout.¹⁷²⁶

Notes

[1726] Literally, "trunk," meaning the nose of an elephant or pig.

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ ۝١٧

innā balawnāhum kamā balawnā aṣḥāba l-janati idh aqsamū layaṣrimunnahā muṣ'biḥīna

17. Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ ۝١٨

walā yastathnūna

18. Without making exception.¹⁷²⁷

Notes

[1727] i.e., without conceding that nothing can be accomplished unless Allāh wills, saying, "...if Allāh wills" ("in-shā’-Allāh"). See 18:23-24.

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ ۝١٩

faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāifun min rabbika wahum nāimūna

19. So there came upon it [i.e., the garden] an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ۝٢٠

fa-aṣbaḥat kal-ṣarīmi

20. And it became as though reaped.

فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ ۝٢١

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīna

21. And they called one another at morning,

أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ ۝٢٢

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīna

22. [Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūna

23. So they set out, while lowering their voices,

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ ۝٢٤

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnun

24. [Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."

وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَٰدِرِينَ ۝٢٥

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīna

25. And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.¹⁷²⁸

Notes

[1728] To carry out their plan, confident of their ability.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ ۝٢٦

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūna

26. But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūna

27. Rather, we have been deprived."

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūna

28. The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allāh]?'"¹⁷²⁹

Notes

[1729] i.e., remember or mention Him by saying, "...if Allāh wills." An additional meaning is "praise" or "thank" Him for His bounty.

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ۝٢٩

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīna

29. They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūna

30. Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ ۝٣١

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīna

31. They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ ۝٣٢

ʿasā rabbunā an yub'dilanā khayran min'hā innā ilā rabbinā rāghibūna

32. Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."¹⁷³⁰

Notes

[1730] Of His mercy, forgiveness and bounty.

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

kadhālika l-ʿadhābu walaʿadhābu l-ākhirati akbaru law kānū yaʿlamūna

33. Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ۝٣٤

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīmi

34. Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.

أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ ۝٣٥

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīna

35. Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūna

36. What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūna

37. Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūna

38. That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ ۝٣٩

am lakum aymānun ʿalaynā bālighatun ilā yawmi l-qiyāmati inna lakum lamā taḥkumūna

39. Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ ۝٤٠

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmun

40. Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ ۝٤١

am lahum shurakāu falyatū bishurakāihim in kānū ṣādiqīna

41. Or do they have partners?¹⁷³¹ Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.

Notes

[1731] i.e., those to whom they attribute divinity other than Allāh or partners from among themselves.

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ۝٤٢

yawma yuk'shafu ʿan sāqin wayud'ʿawna ilā l-sujūdi falā yastaṭīʿūna

42. The Day the shin will be uncovered¹⁷³² and they are invited to prostration but they [i.e., the disbelievers] will not be able,

Notes

[1732] i.e., when everyone will find before him great difficulty. In accordance with authentic ḥadīths, "the shin" might also refer to that of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā), before which every believer will prostrate on the Day of Judgement. See footnote to 2:19.

خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ ۝٤٣

khāshiʿatan abṣāruhum tarhaquhum dhillatun waqad kānū yud'ʿawna ilā l-sujūdi wahum sālimūna

43. Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.¹⁷³³

Notes

[1733] During worldly life.

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۝٤٤

fadharnī waman yukadhibu bihādhā l-ḥadīthi sanastadrijuhum min ḥaythu lā yaʿlamūna

44. So leave Me, [O Muḥammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies this statement [i.e., the Qur’ān]. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know.¹⁷³⁴

Notes

[1734] Allāh will increase His favors to them in this world by way of trial, whereby they will sink deeper into sin and thus into destruction.

وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ ۝٤٥

wa-um'lī lahum inna kaydī matīnun

45. And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.

أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muth'qalūna

46. Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?

أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

am ʿindahumu l-ghaybu fahum yaktubūna

47. Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ ۝٤٨

fa-iṣ'bir liḥuk'mi rabbika walā takun kaṣāḥibi l-ḥūti idh nādā wahuwa makẓūmun

48. Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muḥammad], and be not like the companion of the fish [i.e., Jonah] when he called out while he was distressed.

لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ ۝٤٩

lawlā an tadārakahu niʿ'matun min rabbihi lanubidha bil-ʿarāi wahuwa madhmūmun

49. If not that a favor [i.e., mercy] from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.¹⁷³⁵

Notes

[1735] But instead, Allāh accepted his repentance and provided means for his recovery. See 37:139-148.

فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ۝٥٠

fa-ij'tabāhu rabbuhu fajaʿalahu mina l-ṣāliḥīna

50. And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ ۝٥١

wa-in yakādu alladhīna kafarū layuz'liqūnaka bi-abṣārihim lammā samiʿū l-dhik'ra wayaqūlūna innahu lamajnūnun

51. And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes [i.e., looks] when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad."

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ ۝٥٢

wamā huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīna

52. But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.