The Pen

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

[68.1] Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,

[68.2] By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.

[68.3] And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.

[68.4] And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.

[68.5] So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,

[68.6] Which of you is afflicted with madness.

[68.7] Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right course.

[68.8] So do not yield to the rejecters.

[68.9] They wish that you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.

[68.10] And yield not to any mean swearer

[68.11] Defamer, going about with slander

[68.12] Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,

[68.13] Ignoble, besides all that, base-born;

[68.14] Because he possesses wealth and sons.

[68.15] When Our communications are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore.

[68.16] We will brand him on the nose.

[68.17] Surely We will try them as We tried the owners of the garden, when they swore that they would certainly cut off the produce in the morning,

[68.18] And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).

[68.19] Then there encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.

[68.20] So it became as black, barren land.

[68.21] And they called out to each other in the morning,

[68.22] Saying: Go early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).

[68.23] So they went, while they consulted together secretly,

[68.24] Saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you.

[68.25] And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.

[68.26] But when they saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray

[68.27] Nay! we are made to suffer privation.

[68.28] The best of them said: Did I not say to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?

[68.29] They said: Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.

[68.30] Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.

[68.31] Said they: O woe to us! surely we were inordinate:

[68.32] Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our humble petition.

[68.33] Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did they but know!

[68.34] Surely those who guard (against evil) shall have with their Lord gardens of bliss.

[68.35] What! shall We then make (i.e. treat) those who submit as the guilty?

[68.36] What has happened to you? How do you judge?

[68.37] Or have you a book wherein you read,

[68.38] That you have surely therein what you choose?

[68.39] Or have you received from Us an agreement confirmed by an oath extending to the day of resurrection that you shall surely have what you demand?

[68.40] Ask them which of them will vouch for that,

[68.41] Or have.they associates if they are truthful.

[68.42] On the day when there shall be a severe affliction, and they shall be called upon to make obeisance, but they shall not be able,

[68.43] Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them; and they were called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.

[68.44] So leave Me and him who rejects this announcement; We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not:

[68.45] And I do bear with them, surely My plan is firm.

[68.46] Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?

[68.47] Or have they (the knowledge of) the unseen, so that they write (it) down?

[68.48] So wait patiently for the judgment of your Lord, and be not like the companion of the fish, when he cried while he was in distress.

[68.49] Were it not that favor from his Lord had overtaken him, he would certainly have been cast down upon the naked Found while he was blamed.

[68.50] Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the good.

[68.51] And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: Most surely he is mad.

[68.52] And it is naught but a reminder to the nations.