Translations of the Qur'an, Chapter 68:
AL-QALAM (THE PEN)
Total Verses: 52
Revealed At: MAKKA
Order in which revealed: 2
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Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

068.001
Noon waalqalami wama yasturoona
YUSUFALI: Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-
PICKTHAL: Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith),
SHAKIR: Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,
KHALIFA: NuN, the pen, and what they (the people) write.

068.002
Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoonin
YUSUFALI: Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.
PICKTHAL: Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.
SHAKIR: By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.
KHALIFA: You have attained a great blessing from your Lord; you are not crazy.

068.003
Wa-inna laka laajran ghayra mamnoonin
YUSUFALI: Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:
PICKTHAL: And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.
SHAKIR: And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.
KHALIFA: You have attained a recompense that is well deserved.

068.004
Wa-innaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheemin
YUSUFALI: And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
PICKTHAL: And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.
SHAKIR: And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.
KHALIFA: You are blessed with a great moral character.

068.005
Fasatubsiru wayubsiroona
YUSUFALI: Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,
PICKTHAL: And thou wilt see and they will see
SHAKIR: So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,
KHALIFA: You will see, and they will see.

068.006
Bi-ayyikumu almaftoonu
YUSUFALI: Which of you is afflicted with madness.
PICKTHAL: Which of you is the demented.
SHAKIR: Which of you is afflicted with madness.
KHALIFA: Which of you are condemned

068.007
Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dalla AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bialmuhtadeena
YUSUFALI: Verily it is thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He knoweth best those who receive (true) Guidance.
PICKTHAL: Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.
SHAKIR: Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right course.
KHALIFA: Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed off His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.

068.008
Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeena
YUSUFALI: So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).
PICKTHAL: Therefor obey not thou the rejecters
SHAKIR: So do not yield to the rejecters.
KHALIFA: Do not obey the rejectors.

068.009
Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoona
YUSUFALI: Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.
PICKTHAL: Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.
SHAKIR: They wish that you should be pliant so they (too) would be pliant.
KHALIFA: They wish that you compromise, so they too can compromise.

068.010
Wala tutiAA kulla hallafin maheenin
YUSUFALI: Heed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,
PICKTHAL: Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger,
SHAKIR: And yield not to any mean swearer
KHALIFA: Do not obey every lowly swearer.

068.011
Hammazin mashsha-in binameemin
YUSUFALI: A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
PICKTHAL: Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,
SHAKIR: Defamer, going about with slander
KHALIFA: A slanderer, a backbiter.

068.012
MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheemin
YUSUFALI: (Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,
PICKTHAL: Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor
SHAKIR: Forbidder of good, outstepping the limits, sinful,
KHALIFA: Forbidder of charity, a transgressor, a sinner.

068.013
AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneemin
YUSUFALI: Violent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,-
PICKTHAL: Greedy therewithal, intrusive.
SHAKIR: Ignoble, besides all that, base-born;
KHALIFA: Unappreciative, and greedy.

068.014
An kana tha malin wabaneena
YUSUFALI: Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.
PICKTHAL: It is because he is possessed of wealth and children
SHAKIR: Because he possesses wealth and sons.
KHALIFA: Even though he possessed enough money and children.

068.015
Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna qala asateeru al-awwaleena
YUSUFALI: When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!
PICKTHAL: That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.
SHAKIR: When Our communications are recited to him, he says: Stories of those of yore.
KHALIFA: When our revelations are recited to him, he says, "Tales from the past!"

068.016
Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoomi
YUSUFALI: Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!
PICKTHAL: We shall brand him on the nose.
SHAKIR: We will brand him on the nose.
KHALIFA: We will mark his face.

068.017
Inna balawnahum kama balawna as-haba aljannati ith aqsamoo layasrimunnaha musbiheena
YUSUFALI: Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.
PICKTHAL: Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning,
SHAKIR: 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,
KHALIFA: We have tested them like we tested the owners of the garden who swore that they will harvest it in the morning.

068.018
Wala yastathnoona
YUSUFALI: But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah's Will").
PICKTHAL: And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);
SHAKIR: And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).
KHALIFA: They were so absolutely sure.

068.019
Fatafa AAalayha ta-ifun min rabbika wahum na-imoona
YUSUFALI: Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.
PICKTHAL: Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept
SHAKIR: Then there encompassed it a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.
KHALIFA: A passing (storm) from your Lord passed by it while they were asleep.

068.020
Faasbahat kaalssareemi
YUSUFALI: So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).
PICKTHAL: And in the morning it was as if plucked.
SHAKIR: So it became as black, barren land.
KHALIFA: By morning, it was barren.

068.021
Fatanadaw musbiheena
YUSUFALI: As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-
PICKTHAL: And they cried out one unto another in the morning,
SHAKIR: And they called out to each other in the morning,
KHALIFA: They called on each other in the morning.

068.022
Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum in kuntum sarimeena
YUSUFALI: "Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."
PICKTHAL: Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).
SHAKIR: Saying: Go early to your tilth if you would cut (the produce).
KHALIFA: "Let us harvest the crop."

068.023
Faintalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoona
YUSUFALI: So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-
PICKTHAL: So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:
SHAKIR: So they went, while they consulted together secretly,
KHALIFA: On their way, they confided to each other.

068.024
An la yadkhulannaha alyawma AAalaykum miskeenun
YUSUFALI: "Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."
PICKTHAL: No needy man shall enter it to-day against you.
SHAKIR: Saying: No poor man shall enter it today upon you.
KHALIFA: That from then on, none of them would be poor.

068.025
Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireena
YUSUFALI: And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.
PICKTHAL: They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.
SHAKIR: And in the morning they went, having the power to prevent.
KHALIFA: They were so absolutely sure of their harvest.

068.026
Falamma raawha qaloo inna ladalloona
YUSUFALI: But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:
PICKTHAL: But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!
SHAKIR: But when they saw it, they said: Most surely we have gone astray
KHALIFA: But when they saw it, they said, "We were so wrong!

068.027
Bal nahnu mahroomoona
YUSUFALI: "Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"
PICKTHAL: Nay, but we are desolate!
SHAKIR: Nay! we are made to suffer privation.
KHALIFA: "Now, we have nothing!"

068.028
Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawla tusabbihoona
YUSUFALI: Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify (Allah)?'"
PICKTHAL: The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah)?
SHAKIR: The best of them said: Did I not say to you, Why do you not glorify (Allah)?
KHALIFA: The righteous among them said, "If only you had glorified (God)!"

068.029
Qaloo subhana rabbina inna kunna thalimeena
YUSUFALI: They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"
PICKTHAL: They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: They said: Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust.
KHALIFA: They said, "Glory be to our Lord. We have transgressed."

068.030
Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatalawamoona
YUSUFALI: Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.
PICKTHAL: Then some of them drew near unto others, self-reproaching.
SHAKIR: Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.
KHALIFA: They started to blame each other.

068.031
Qaloo ya waylana inna kunna tagheena
YUSUFALI: They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!
PICKTHAL: They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.
SHAKIR: Said they: O woe to us! surely we were inordinate:
KHALIFA: They said, "Woe to us. We sinned.

068.032
AAasa rabbuna an yubdilana khayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboona
YUSUFALI: "It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!"
PICKTHAL: It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.
SHAKIR: Maybe, our Lord will give us instead one better than it; surely to our Lord do we make our humble petition.
KHALIFA: "May our Lord grant us a better one. We repent to our Lord."

068.033
Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu al-akhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona
YUSUFALI: Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!
PICKTHAL: Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.
SHAKIR: Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the hereafter is greater, did they but know!
KHALIFA: Such was the requital. But the retribution of the Hereafter is far worse, if they only knew.

068.034
Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannati alnnaAAeemi
YUSUFALI: Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.
PICKTHAL: Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.
SHAKIR: Surely those who guard (against evil) shall have with their Lord gardens of bliss.
KHALIFA: The righteous have deserved, at their Lord, gardens of bliss.

068.035
AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kaalmujrimeena
YUSUFALI: Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?
PICKTHAL: Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty?
SHAKIR: What! shall We then make (that is, treat) those who submit as the guilty?
KHALIFA: Shall we treat the Submitters like the criminals?

068.036
Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoona
YUSUFALI: What is the matter with you? How judge ye?
PICKTHAL: What aileth you? How foolishly ye judge!
SHAKIR: What has happened to you? How do you judge?
KHALIFA: What is wrong with your logic?

068.037
Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoona
YUSUFALI: Or have ye a book through which ye learn-
PICKTHAL: Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn
SHAKIR: Or have you a book wherein you read,
KHALIFA: Do you have another book to uphold?

068.038
Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroona
YUSUFALI: That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?
PICKTHAL: That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose?
SHAKIR: That you have surely therein what you choose?
KHALIFA: In it, do you find anything you want?

068.039
Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatun ila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoona
YUSUFALI: Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?
PICKTHAL: Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain?
SHAKIR: 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?
KHALIFA: Or, have you received solemn assurances from us that grant you whatever you wish on the Day of Resurrection?

068.040
Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeemun
YUSUFALI: Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!
PICKTHAL: Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!
SHAKIR: Ask them which of them will vouch for that,
KHALIFA: Ask them, "Who guarantees this for you?"

068.041
Am lahum shurakao falya/too bishuraka-ihim in kanoo sadiqeena
YUSUFALI: Or have they some "Partners" (in Allahhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!
PICKTHAL: Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful
SHAKIR: Or have they associates if they are truthful.
KHALIFA: Do they have idols? Let their idols help them, if they are truthful.

068.042
Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawna ila alssujoodi fala yastateeAAoona
YUSUFALI: The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able,-
PICKTHAL: On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,
SHAKIR: 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,
KHALIFA: The day will come when they will be exposed, and they will be required to fall prostrate, but they will be unable to.

068.043
KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ila alssujoodi wahum salimoona
YUSUFALI: Their eyes will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).
PICKTHAL: With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.
SHAKIR: Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them; and they were called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.
KHALIFA: With their eyes subdued, humiliation will cover them. They were invited to fall prostrate when they were whole and able.

068.044
Fatharnee waman yukaththibu bihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythu la yaAAlamoona
YUSUFALI: Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.
PICKTHAL: Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.
SHAKIR: So leave Me and him who rejects this announcement; We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not:
KHALIFA: Therefore, let Me deal with those who reject this Hadith; we will lead them on whence they never perceive.

068.045
Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateenun
YUSUFALI: A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.
PICKTHAL: Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.
SHAKIR: And I do bear with them, surely My plan is firm.
KHALIFA: I will give them enough rope; My scheming is formidable.

068.046
Am tas-aluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqaloona
YUSUFALI: Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt?-
PICKTHAL: Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed?
SHAKIR: Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?
KHALIFA: Are you asking them for money, so they are burdened by the fine?

068.047
Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboona
YUSUFALI: Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
PICKTHAL: Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof)?
SHAKIR: Or have they (the knowledge of) the unseen, so that they write (it) down?
KHALIFA: Do they know the future? Do they have it recorded?

068.048
Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nada wahuwa makthoomun
YUSUFALI: So wait with patience for the Command of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish,- when he cried out in agony.
PICKTHAL: But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.
SHAKIR: 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.
KHALIFA: You shall steadfastly persevere in carrying out the commands of your Lord. Do not be like (Jonah) who called from inside the fish.

068.049
Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatun min rabbihi lanubitha bialAAara-i wahuwa mathmoomun
YUSUFALI: Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.
PICKTHAL: Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.
SHAKIR: 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.
KHALIFA: If it were not for his Lord's grace, he would have been ejected into the desert as a sinner.

068.050
Faijtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahu mina alssaliheena
YUSUFALI: Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.
PICKTHAL: But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.
SHAKIR: Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the good.
KHALIFA: But his Lord blessed him, and made him righteous.

068.051
Wa-in yakadu allatheena kafaroo layuzliqoonaka bi-absarihim lamma samiAAoo alththikra wayaqooloona innahu lamajnoonun
YUSUFALI: And the Unbelievers would almost trip thee up with their eyes when they hear the Message; and they say: "Surely he is possessed!"
PICKTHAL: And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;
SHAKIR: And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the reminder, and they say: Most surely he is mad. Those who disbelieved show their ridicule in their eyes when they hear the message and say, "He is crazy!"
KHALIFA: Those who disbelieved show their ridicule in their eyes when they hear the message and say, "He is crazy!"

068.052
Wama huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena
YUSUFALI: But it is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds.
PICKTHAL: When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.
SHAKIR: And it is naught but a reminder to the nations. It is in fact a message to the world.
KHALIFA: It is in fact a message to the world.