The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/68. The Pen

68. The Pen (Al-Qalam)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.l (By) the inkstand and the pen and that which they write!

By the grace of thy Lord thou art not mad. 

And surely thine is a reward never to be cut off. 

And surely thou hast sublime morals. 

So thou wilt see, and they (too) will see, 

Which of you is mad. 

Surely thy Lord knows best who is erring from His way, and He knows best those who go aright. 

So obey not the rejectors. 

They wish that thou shouldst be pliant, so they (too) would be pliant. 

<section begin="68:10"/>And obey not any mean swearer, <section end="68:10"/>

<section begin="68:11"/>Defamer, going about with slander, <section end="68:11"/>

<section begin="68:12"/>Hinderer of good, out-stepping the limits, sinful, <section end="68:12"/>

<section begin="68:13"/>Ignoble, besides all that, notoriously mischievous -- <section end="68:13"/>

<section begin="68:14"/>Because he possesses wealth and sons. <section end="68:14"/>

<section begin="68:15"/>When Our messages are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore! <section end="68:15"/>

<section begin="68:16"/>We shall brand him on the snout. <section end="68:16"/>

<section begin="68:17"/>We shall try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore to pluck its fruits in the morning, <section end="68:17"/>

<section begin="68:18"/>And would not set aside a portion (for the poor). <section end="68:18"/>

<section begin="68:19"/>But a visitation from thy Lord came on it, While they slept. <section end="68:19"/>

<section begin="68:20"/>So it became as black, barren land -- <section end="68:20"/>

<section begin="68:21"/>Then they called out one to another in the morning, <section end="68:21"/>

<section begin="68:22"/>Saying: Go early to your tilth, if you would pluck (the fruit). <section end="68:22"/>

<section begin="68:23"/>So they went, while they said one to another in low tones: <section end="68:23"/>

<section begin="68:24"/>No poor man shall enter it to-day to you -- <section end="68:24"/>

<section begin="68:25"/>And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent. <section end="68:25"/>

<section begin="68:26"/>But when they saw it, they said: Surely we are in error; <section end="68:26"/>

<section begin="68:27"/>Nay, we are made to suffer privation. <section end="68:27"/>

<section begin="68:28"/>The best of them said: Said I not to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)? <section end="68:28"/>

<section begin="68:29"/>They said: Glory be to our Lord! surely we were unjust. <section end="68:29"/>

<section begin="68:30"/>Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other. <section end="68:30"/>

<section begin="68:31"/>Said they: O woe to us! Surely we were inordinate -- <section end="68:31"/>

<section begin="68:32"/>Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it surely to our Lord we make petition. <section end="68:32"/>

<section begin="68:33"/>Such is the chastisement. And certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter is greater, did they but know! <section end="68:33"/>

<section begin="68:34"/>Surely the dutiful have with their Lord Gardens of bliss. <section end="68:34"/>

<section begin="68:35"/>Shall We then make those who submit as the guilty? <section end="68:35"/>

<section begin="68:36"/>What is the matter with you? How do you judge? <section end="68:36"/>

<section begin="68:37"/>Or have you a book wherein you read <section end="68:37"/>

<section begin="68:38"/>That you shall surely have therein what you choose? <section end="68:38"/>

<section begin="68:39"/>Or have you covenants from Us on oath, extending to the day of Resurrection, that yours is surely what you judge? <section end="68:39"/>

<section begin="68:40"/>Ask them which of them will vouch for that. <section end="68:40"/>

<section begin="68:41"/>Or have they associate-gods? Then let them bring their associates, if they are truthful. <section end="68:41"/>

<section begin="68:42"/>On the day when there is a severe affliction, and they are called upon to prostrate themselves, but they are not able -- <section end="68:42"/>

<section begin="68:43"/>Their looks cast down, abasement will cover them. And they were indeed called upon to prostrate themselves, while yet they were safe. <section end="68:43"/>

<section begin="68:44"/>So leave Me alone with him who rejects this announcement. We shall overtake them by degrees, from whence they know not. <section end="68:44"/>

<section begin="68:45"/>And I bear with them, surely My plan is firm. <section end="68:45"/>

<section begin="68:46"/>Or dost thou ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt? <section end="68:46"/>

<section begin="68:47"/>Or is the unseen with them so that they write (it) down? <section end="68:47"/>

<section begin="68:48"/>So wait patiently for the judgment of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the fish, when he cried while he was in distress. <section end="68:48"/>

<section begin="68:49"/>Had not favour from his Lord reached him, he would certainly have been cast down on naked ground, while he was blamed. <section end="68:49"/>

<section begin="68:50"/>Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the righteous. <section end="68:50"/>

<section begin="68:51"/>And those who disbelieve would almost smite thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Surely he is mad! <section end="68:51"/>

<section begin="68:52"/>And it is naught but a Reminder for the nations. <section end="68:52"/>