Section 1: Verses 1–33
Thematic progression across verses 1–33
نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ 1
Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon
Noon. By the pen, and by what they inscribe
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ 2
Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoon
By the grace of your Lord, you are not insane
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ 3
Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon
In fact, you will have a reward that will never end
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمࣲ 4
Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeem
And you are of a great moral character
فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ 5
Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon
You will see, and they will see
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ 6
Bi ayyikumul maftoon
Which of you is the afflicted
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ 7
Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen
Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best the well-guided
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ 8
Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeen
So do not obey the deniers
وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ 9
Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon
They would like you to compromise, so they would compromise
وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِينٍ 10
Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheen
And do not obey any vile swearer
هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمࣲ 11
Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameem
Backbiter, spreader of slander
مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ 12
Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem
Preventer of good, transgressor, sinner
عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ 13
Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneem
Rude and fake besides
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِينَ 14
An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen
Just because he has money and children
إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ 15
Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen
When Our Verses are recited to him, he says, “Myths of the ancients!”
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ 16
Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoom
We will brand him on the muzzle
إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ 17
Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen
We tested them, as We tested the owners of the garden, when they vowed to harvest it in the morning
وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ 18
Wa laa yastasnoon
Without any reservation
فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ 19
Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoon
But a calamity from your Lord went around it while they slept
فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ 20
Fa asbahat kassareem
And in the morning it was as if picked
فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ 21
Fatanaadaw musbiheen
In the morning, they called to one another
أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ 22
Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen
“Go early to your plantation, if you are going to harvest.”
فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ 23
Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon
So off they went, murmuring to one another
أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينࣱ 24
Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen
“No poor person is to enter it upon you today.”
وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَٰدِرِينَ 25
Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireen
And early they went, resolved in intent
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ 26
Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon
But when they saw it, they said, “We were wrong
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ 27
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
We are now deprived.”
قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ 28
Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon
The most reasonable of them said, “Did I not say to you, ‘if only you would glorify?’”
قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ 29
Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen
They said, “Glory to our Lord—We were indeed in the wrong.”
فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ 30
Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoon
Then they turned to one another, blaming one another
قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ 31
Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen
They said, “Woe to us—we were indeed domineering
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرࣰ ا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ 32
Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon
Perhaps our Lord will give us a better substitute for it. We are turning to our Lord.”
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ 33
Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon
Such is the punishment; but the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew
Section 2: Verses 34–52
Thematic progression across verses 34–52
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ 34
Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eem
For the righteous are Gardens of Delight with their Lord
أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ 35
Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen
Shall We treat the Muslims like the villains
مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ 36
Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon
What is the matter with you? How do you judge
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبࣱ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ 37
Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon
Or do you have a scripture in which you study
إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ 38
Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon
Wherein there is whatever you choose
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ 39
Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon
Or do you have oaths from Us, binding until the Day of Resurrection, that you will have whatever you demand
سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ 40
Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eem
Ask them, which of them will guarantee that
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ 41
Am lahum shurakaaa'u falyaatoo bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen
Or do they have partners? Then let them produce their partners, if they are truthful
يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ 42
Yawma yukshafu 'am saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oon
On the Day when the Shin will be exposed, and they will be called to bow down, but they will be unable
خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةࣱۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ 43
Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon
Their eyes subdued, shame will cover them. They were invited to bow down when they were sound
فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ 44
Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoon
So leave Me to those who reject this discourse; We will proceed against them gradually, from where they do not know
وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ 45
Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen
And I will give them respite. My plan is firm
أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰ ا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ 46
Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon
Or do you ask them for a fee, so they are burdened with debt
أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ 47
Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon
Or do they know the future, and so they write it down
فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومࣱ 48
Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom
So wait patiently for the Decision of your Lord, and do not be like the Fellow of the Fish who cried out in despair
لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومࣱ 49
Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoom
Were it not for his Lord’s favor that reached him, he would have been thrown into the wilderness, fully despised
فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ 50
Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheen
But his Lord chose him, and made him one of the righteous
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونࣱ 51
Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon
Those who disbelieve almost stab you with their glances when they hear the message, and say, “He is crazy!”
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 52
Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen
But it is no less than a reminder to all the Worlds
Quran-Anchored Prophetic Context
Authentic narrations in the active corpus that explicitly cite, name, or explain verses in Surah Al-Qalam.
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ {عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ زَنِيمٍ} قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ لَهُ زَنَمَةٌ مِثْلُ زَنَمَةِ الشَّاةِ.
(regarding the Verse):-- 'Cruel after all that, base-born (of illegitimate birth).' (68.13) It was revealed in connection with a man from Quaraish who had a notable sign (Zanamah) similar to the notable sign which usually-hung on the neck of a sheep (to recognize it).