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Tafsir of Surah Al-Qalam (68) — The Pen · القلم
Meccan surah, 52 ayat. Read the whole surah
Al-Mukhtasar in Interpreting the Noble Quran — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies. QuranEnc.com (english_mokhtasar), 2026-10-30.
Al-Qalam 68:1
نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ
Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe
Tafsir 68:1
The discussion on similar letters has already passed in Sūrah Al-Baqarah. Allah takes an oath on the Pen and whatever the people write with their pens.
Al-Qalam 68:2
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٖ
You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman
Tafsir 68:2
O Messenger! You are not a madman, due to the messengership Allah has blessed you with. Rather, you are free of the insanity the idolaters accuse you with.
Al-Qalam 68:3
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٖ
And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted
Tafsir 68:3
Indeed, there is definitely a great, everlasting reward for you for your conveying the message to the people, without there being a favour outstanding upon you for anyone.
Al-Qalam 68:4
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ
And indeed, you are of a great moral character
Tafsir 68:4
And indeed, you are definitely on the greatest of character that the Qur’ān has brought; you are embodied with it to the most perfect degree.
Al-Qalam 68:5
فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ
So you will see and they will see
Tafsir 68:5
So you will soon see, and these rejectors will also see.
Al-Qalam 68:6
بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ
Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil]
Tafsir 68:6
When the truth is revealed, who from amongst you was actually a madman.
Al-Qalam 68:7
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ
Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided
Tafsir 68:7
O Messenger! Indeed, your Lord knows of whoever deviates from His path, and He is best aware of those who are guided to it. Therefore, He knows that they are the ones who have deviated from it, and that you have been guided to it.
Al-Qalam 68:8
فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ
Then do not obey the deniers
Tafsir 68:8
So, O Messenger, do not follow the rejectors in what you have brought.
Al-Qalam 68:9
وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ
They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you]
Tafsir 68:9
They wish that you were soft and compromising towards them in matters of religion, so they can be soft and kind to you in return.
Al-Qalam 68:10
وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافٖ مَّهِينٍ
And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer
Tafsir 68:10
And do not follow anyone who frequently takes false oaths, and is vulgar.
Al-Qalam 68:11
هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمٖ
[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip
Tafsir 68:11
Who frequently backbites the people, and bears tales between them to cause division between them.
Al-Qalam 68:12
مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful
Tafsir 68:12
Who often prevents goodness and oppresses the people in their wealth, their dignity and their lives; who is a habitual sinner and disobeyer.
Al-Qalam 68:13
عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ
Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender
Tafsir 68:13
Who is stubborn and rude, one residing among his people without being related to them.
Al-Qalam 68:14
أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٖ وَبَنِينَ
Because he is a possessor of wealth and children
Tafsir 68:14
Just because he is a person of wealth and many sons, he is too arrogant to have faith in Allah and in His Messenger.
Al-Qalam 68:15
إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples
Tafsir 68:15
When My verses are read to him, he says, “This are the tales written of the people of the past.”
Al-Qalam 68:16
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ
We will brand him upon the snout
Tafsir 68:16
I will place a mark on his nose which will stick with him and disfigure him.
Al-Qalam 68:17
إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ
Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning
Tafsir 68:17
Indeed, I have tested these idolaters with drought and hunger, just as I tested the people of the garden when they swore that they will quickly harvest its fruits in the morning, so that the poor cannot eat from them.
Al-Qalam 68:18
وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ
Without making exception
Tafsir 68:18
They did not attribute the matter to Allah among themselves, by saying: “If Allah wills”.
Al-Qalam 68:19
فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ
So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep
Tafsir 68:19
So I sent a fire to the garden which consumed it while its owners were asleep, unable to defend it.
Al-Qalam 68:20
فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ
And it became as though reaped
Tafsir 68:20
It became black, like a dark night.
Al-Qalam 68:21
فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ
And they called one another at morning
Tafsir 68:21
In the morning, its owners called on each other.
Al-Qalam 68:22
أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit
Tafsir 68:22
Saying, “Leave early towards your crop before the poor people arrive, if indeed, you wish to harvest your crops.”
Al-Qalam 68:23
فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ
So they set out, while lowering their voices
Tafsir 68:23
So they made their way towards their crop quickly, talking among themselves in hushed tones.
Al-Qalam 68:24
أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person
Tafsir 68:24
They were saying to one another: “No poor person should come to you at the garden today.”
Al-Qalam 68:25
وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able
Tafsir 68:25
They left in the early morning, determined not to let anyone get to their crops.
Al-Qalam 68:26
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost
Tafsir 68:26
Then, when they saw their crops having been burnt, they said to each other, “Surely, we have lost our way?!”
Al-Qalam 68:27
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ
Rather, we have been deprived
Tafsir 68:27
“Nay! We have been deprived of harvesting our crops because of us having been determined to prevent the poor from eating them.”
Al-Qalam 68:28
قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]
Tafsir 68:28
The most virtuous among them said, “Did I not tell you when you made up your mind to prevent the poor from your crops: “Why do you not glorify Allah and repent to Him?””
Al-Qalam 68:29
قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers
Tafsir 68:29
They said, “Glory be to our Lord; indeed, we wronged ourselves when we decided to prevent the poor from the crops of our garden.”
Al-Qalam 68:30
فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ
Then they approached one another, blaming each other
Tafsir 68:30
So they began to go back on their words out of regret.
Al-Qalam 68:31
قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors
Tafsir 68:31
They said, regretfully, “How much we have lost! Indeed, we transgressed the limits by depriving the poor of their rights.”
Al-Qalam 68:32
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ
Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous
Tafsir 68:32
“It is hoped from our Lord that He gives us better than our garden in return. Indeed, we are desirous towards Him; we hope for forgiveness from Him and seek goodness from Him.”
Al-Qalam 68:33
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ
Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew
Tafsir 68:33
I punish those who disobey Me just like I punished these people with the punishment of depravation. And indeed, the punishment of the afterlife is greater, if only they were to know its severity and permanence.
Al-Qalam 68:34
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure
Tafsir 68:34
Indeed, those who are mindful of Allah by fulfilling His commands and refraining from the things He has not allowed, will have gardens of pleasure by their Lord, wherein they will live in permanent luxury.
Al-Qalam 68:35
أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals
Tafsir 68:35
Should I make the Muslims the same as the disbelievers in terms of requital, as the idolaters of Makkah claim?
Al-Qalam 68:36
مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge
Tafsir 68:36
O idolaters! What is wrong with you; how can you come to this oppressive, warped conclusion?
Al-Qalam 68:37
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبٞ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
Tafsir 68:37
Do you have a book in which you read that there should be equality between the obedient and disobedient?
Al-Qalam 68:38
إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
That indeed for you is whatever you choose
Tafsir 68:38
Indeed, in that book you would then have whatever you choose in the afterlife.
Al-Qalam 68:39
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ
Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge
Tafsir 68:39
Or, do you have covenants with Me weighted with oaths, that you will get whatever you decide for yourselves?
Al-Qalam 68:40
سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible
Tafsir 68:40
O Messenger! Ask those making these statement: “Who is their guarantor for this?”
Al-Qalam 68:41
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ
Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful
Tafsir 68:41
Or do they have associates other than Allah who make them equal in requital with the believers? If so, they should bring forth these associates of theirs if they are true in their claim that they have made them equal in requital with the believers.
Al-Qalam 68:42
يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ
The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able
Tafsir 68:42
On the Day of Judgement, the horror will become clear and our Lord will expose a part of His Shin. The people will be invited to prostrate, so the believers will prostrate, but the disbelievers and hypocrites will remain standing, unable to prostrate.
Al-Qalam 68:43
خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةٞۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ
Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound
Tafsir 68:43
Their eyesight will be humiliated; humiliation and regret will overcome them. Yet in the world, they were asked to prostrate to Allah while they were in safety from what they will be facing on that day.
Al-Qalam 68:44
فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ
So leave Me, [O Muhammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies the Qur'an. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know
Tafsir 68:44
O Messenger! Leave me to deal with whoever denies this Qur’ān that has been revealed to you. I will drive them to the punishment gradually, in a way they do not realise that it is a method of leading them gradually into destruction.
Al-Qalam 68:45
وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ
And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm
Tafsir 68:45
And I give them respite for a short while so that they go to extremes in their sin. Indeed, My plan regarding the people of disbelief and rejection is firm; they will not escape Me nor be safe from My punishment.
Al-Qalam 68:46
أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ
Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down
Tafsir 68:46
O Messenger! Do you seek a reward from them for what you invite them towards, due to which they are greatly burdened, being the cause of their turning away from you? The reality is the opposite: you do not seek any reward from them; so what stops them from following you?
Al-Qalam 68:47
أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down
Tafsir 68:47
Or do they have knowledge of the Ghaib from which they write whatever proof appeal to them, that they then use to argue against you?
Al-Qalam 68:48
فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومٞ
Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed
Tafsir 68:48
O Messenger! So wait for the decision of your Lord to give them respite and gradually lead them into destruction. And do not be like the companion of the whale i.e. Jonah (peace be upon him) who became annoyed with his people, and then called out to his Lord while distressed in the darkness of the sea and the darkness of the stomach of the whale.
Al-Qalam 68:49
لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومٞ
If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured
Tafsir 68:49
Had it not been for the mercy of Allah reaching him, the whale would have thrown him on a barren land, rebuked.
Al-Qalam 68:50
فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous
Tafsir 68:50
But his Lord chose him and made him one of His pious servants.
Al-Qalam 68:51
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونٞ
And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad
Tafsir 68:51
And indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and reject his Messengers could almost bring you to the ground with their eyes due to their extremely sharp glances towards you when they hear this Qur’ān that was revealed to you. While following their desires and turning away from the truth, they say, “Indeed, the Messenger who has brought it is a madman.”
Al-Qalam 68:52
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
But it is not except a reminder to the worlds
Tafsir 68:52
Yet the Qur’ān that has been revealed to you is only a reminder and admonition for the humans and the Jinn.
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Arabic: Uthmani text, Tanzil Project (tanzil.net) · English: Saheeh International · Bosnian: Besim Korkut