The Pen

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.