Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen)

القلم

52 Verses

In the Name of Almighty Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
52 آية

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Surah Al-Qalam is the 68th chapter of the Quran, containing 52 verses. Revealed in Makkah among the earliest chapters, it opens with an oath by the pen and what is written, defending the Prophet against his detractors’ accusations and affirming his exalted character. The surah relates the parable of the owners of a garden who vowed to harvest it without leaving a share for the poor and were punished by its destruction, warns the disbelievers of their fate, and closes by counselling the Prophet to patience, recalling the trial of Yunus (Jonah). Below you can read the full Surah Al-Qalam in Arabic with a clear English translation and a verse-by-verse tafsir (explanation of the meaning) from Aysar al-Tafaseer, with the option to jump to any specific verse.

Tafsir of the Verses

{ نۤ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ }
{ نۤ }

(1) – يُقْسِمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى بِحَرْفِ النُّونِ، وَبِالقَلَمِ وَمَا يَكْتُبُ النَّاسُ.

(وَقِيلَ إِنَّ المَقْصُودَ بـ (نۤ) هِيَ الدَّوَاةُ لأَِنَّهَا عَلَى شَكْلِ حَرْفِ النُّونِ، وَقِيلَ إِنَّ المَقْصُودَ بِالقَلَمِ القَلَمُ الذِي أَجْرَاهُ اللهُ بِالقَدَرِ).

(وَجَاءَ فِي الحَدِيثِ الشَّرِيفِ: ” إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ القَلَمَ فَقَالَ لَهُ اكْتُبْ.

فَقَالَ: يَا رَبِّ وَمَا أَكْتُبُ.

قَالَ: اكْتُبِ القَدَرَ وَمَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ إِلَى الأَبَدِ ” ). (رَوَاهُ التِّرْمَذيُّ وَأَحْمَدُ).

وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ – وَالذِي يَكْتُبُونَ بِالقَلَمِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 1
1. Allah Almighty swears by the letter N and by the pen and by what people write. (Some commentators said the letter N represents the ink well because it is shaped like the letter N in Arabic. It was also said that the “pen” refers to the pen that wrote the destiny determined by Allah.) ( In a Hadith the Prophet says: “When Allah first created the pen, He said to it: ‘Write!’ It replied: ‘What should I write, O Lord?’ Allah said: ‘Write down destiny and what will be forever.’” (Reported by Al-Tirmizi and Ahmad).
{ مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ }
(2) – لَسْتَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، بِنِعْمَةِ اللهِ وَفَضْلِهِ عَلَيكَ، بِمَجْنُونٍ، كَمَا يَقُولُ الجَهَلَةُ المُشْرِكُونَ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ، الذِينَ جِئْتَهُمْ بِالهُدَى فَاتَّهَمُوكَ بِالجُنُونِ.

و(مَا أَنْتَ بِمَجْنُونٍ) – جَوَابُ القَسَمِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 2
2. You are not, O Mohammad, by the grace and blessings of your Lord, mad as the ignorant polytheists among your people say, those to whom you brought guidance and who accused you of madness.
{ وَإِنَّ لَكَ لأَجْراً غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ }
(3) – وَإِنَّ لَكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ أَجْراً عَظِيماً، وَثَوَاباً جَزِيلاً لاَ يَنْقَطِعُ وَلاَ يُبِيدُ، عَلَى قِيَامِكَ بِإِبْلاَغِ رِسَالَةِ رَبِّكَ إِلَى الخَلْقِ، وَعَلَى صَبْرِكَ عَلَى أَذَاهُمْ.

غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ – غَيْرَ مَقْطُوعٍ أَوْ غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 3
3. Your Lord will give you a generous unlimited reward for communicating His message to the creatures, and for your endurance of their harm.
{ وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ }
(4) – وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ، وَلَعَلَى دِينٍ عَظِيمٍ، فَقَدْ كَانَ صَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَيهِ كَمَا رَوَتْ عَائِشَةُ أُمُّ المُؤْمِنينَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا (خُلُقُهُ القُرْآنُ).
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 4
4. You have noble morals and religion; for the holy Prophet (peace be upon him), as Aisha, the mother of believers, said, followed the teachings of the Quran in his morality.
{ فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ }
(5) – فَسَتَعْلَمُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، وَسَيَعْلَمُ مُخَالِفُوكَ وَمُكَذِّبُوكَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 5
5. And you will know, O Mohammad, as will those who oppose you and accuse you of lying
{ بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ }
(6) – مَنْ هُوَ المَفْتُونُ الضَّالُّ عَنِ الهُدَى: أَنْتَ أَمْ هُمْ؟.

المَفْتُونُ – الضَّالُّ عَنِ الحَقِّ وَالهُدَى.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 6
6. who is he who is misguided and has strayed from the straight path, you or they?
{ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ }
(7) – إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ حَادَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ السَّوِيِّ المُؤَدِّي إِلَى سَعَادَةِ الدَّارَينِ، وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدَى إِلَى سَبِيلِهِ القَوِيمِ، وَطَرِيقِهِ المُسْتَقِيمِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 7
7. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from the straight path, the one leading to happiness in both this life on earth and the Hereafter. And He knows best who has been guided to the straight path.
{ فَلاَ تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ }
(8) – وَكَمَا أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْكَ بِالخُلُقِ العَظِيمِ، وَالشَّرْعِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، فَأَقِمْ عَلَى طَاعَةِ رَبِّكَ، وَلاَ تُطِعِ المُكَذِّبِينَ، وَلاَ تُدَارِهِمْ، وَلاَ تلاَيِنْهُمْ، طَمَعاً فِي أَنْ يَتَّبِعُوكَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 8
8. Since We have bestowed upon you noble morals and the fair law, obey your Lord and do not listen to those who deny the truth, or be gentle and indulgent with them hoping that they will follow you.
{ وَدُّواْ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ }
(9) – وَدَّ المُشْرِكُونَ لَوْ تَتْرُكُ بَعْضَ مَا أَنْتَ عَلَيهِ مِمَّا لاَ يَرْضَوْنَهُ، مُصَانَعَةً لَهُمْ، فَتَلِينُ لَهُمْ وَيَلِينُونَ لَكَ.

(وَهَذَا شَيءٌ غَيرُ جَائِزٍ لأَِنَّ تَرْكَ بَعْضِ الدِّينِ كُفْرٌ).

وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ – أَحَبُّوا لَوْ تُلاَينُهُمْ وَتُصَانِعُهُمْ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 9
9. The polytheists wished that you would abandon some of what you follow which they do not accept in order to flatter them. Thus you would be indulgent to them and they to you. (This is not possible because abandoning part of one’s religion is to apostatize.)
{ وَلاَ تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلاَّفٍ مَّهِينٍ }
(10) – وَلاَ تُطِعِ المِكْثَارَ مِنَ الحَلْفِ بِاللهِ، الذِي يُكْثِرُ مِنَ الحَلْفِ فِي الحَقِّ وَفِي البَاطِلِ، وَهُوَ فِي نَفْسِهِ مَهِينٌ وَمَحْتَقَرُ الرَّأْيِ.

حَلاَّفٍ – كَثِيرِ الحَلْفِ فِي الحَقِّ وَالبَاطِلِ.

مَهِينٍ – حَقِيرٍ فِي الرَّأْيَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 10
10. Do not obey he who swears frequently in both right and wrong while he himself is contemptible and his opinion despised.
{ هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ }
(11) – كَثِيرُ الهَمْزِ وَالاغْتِيَابِ وَالطَّعْنِ فِي النَّاسِ، كَثِيرُ السَّعْيِ فِي النَّمِيمَةِ، وَنَقْلِ الأَحَادِيثِ المُؤْذِيَةِ، التِي تَقْطَعُ الأَوَاصِرَ، وَتُسِيءُ إِلَى العَلاَئِقِ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ.

هَمَّازٍ – عَيَّابٍ للنَّاسِ أَوْ مُغْتَابٍ لَهُمْ.

مَشاءٍ بِنَمَيمٍ – يَمْشِي بِالسَّعَايَةِ وَالإِفْسَادِ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 11
11. He is also a slanderer who backbites and often seeks to calumniate and convey harmful speeches which break ties and injure the relationships which exist between people.
{ مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ }
(12) – كَثِيرُ البُخْلِ، مُفْرِطٌ فِي إِمْسَاكِ مَالِهِ عَنْ أَنْ يَجُودَ بِهِ عَلَى الفُقَرَاءِ وَالمُحْتَاجِينَ، وَعَنْ أَنْ يَبْذُلَ فِي وُجُوهِ الخَيْرِ وَمَصَالِحِ الأُمَّةِ، وَهُوَ فَوْقَ ذَلِكَ مُتَجَاوِزٌ حُدُودَ مَا شَرَعَ اللهُ، كَثِيرُ الارْتِكَابِ لِلآْثَامِ، لاَ يُبَالِي بِمَا ارْتَكَبَ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتٍ، وَلاَ بِمَا اجْتَرَحَ مِنْ إِجْرَامٍ.

الأَثِيمُ – الذِي مِنْ طَبْعِهِ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ الآثَامَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 12
12. He is excessively stingy and he is immoderate in his holding back from giving to the poor and needy and from spending in the cause of good and that of the welfare of the state. Moreover, he transgresses the bounds of Allah’s laws and commits many sins. He is not troubled by the offences and crimes he commits.
{ عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ زَنِيمٍ }
(13) – وَهُوَ فَوْقَ ذَلِكَ فَظٌّ غَلِيظُ القَلْبِ، مُتَمَيِّزٌ بِالشُّرُورِ وَالآثَامِ، فَلاَ يَمُرُّ بِقَوْمٍ إِلاَّ عَرَفُوا أَنَّهُ رَجُلُ سُوءٍ، (كَمَا قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فِي تَعْرِيفِ زَنِيمٍ).

زَنِيمٍ – مَعْرُوفٍ بِالشُّرُورِ وَالآثَامِ – وَهُوَ المُلْتَصِقُ بِنسَبِ غَيْرِهِ وَهُوَ أَيْضاً ابْنُ الزِّنَى.

عُتُلٍّ – فَاحِشٍ لَئِيمٍ – أَوْ غَلِيظٍ جَافٍ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 13
13. Furthermore, he is coarse, distinguished by his vice and sins. Thus, when he passes by a people they will recognize that he is an evil man (as Ibn Abbas said in interpreting zaneem).
{ أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ }
(14) – وَإِذَا أَنْعَمَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ بِالكَثِيرِ مِنَ المَالِ وَالبَنِين.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 14
14. When Allah bestows wealth and children upon him
{ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ ٱلأَوَّلِينَ }
{ آيَاتُنَا } { أَسَاطِيرُ }

(15) – فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَشْكُرُ اللهَ عَلَى أَنْعُمِهِ وَآلائِهِ، وَلَكِنَّهُ يَكْفُرُ وَيَعْتُو عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ، فَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيهِ آيَاتُ اللهِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ عَنْهَا: إِنَّهَا مِنْ قَصَصِ الأَقْدَمِينَ وَأَسَاطِيرِهِمْ.

أَسَاطِيرُ الأَوَّلِينَ – أَبَاطِيلُهُم المَسْطُورَةُ فِي كُتُبِهِمْ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 15
15. he does not thank Him for His favours but disbelieves in Him and disobeys Him. And when Allah’s verses are recited to him he says: “They are tales of the nations of old.”
{ سَنَسِمُهُ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ }
(16) – وَيَتَهَدَّدُ اللهُ تَعَالَى هَذَا العتُلَّ الزَّنِيمَ الذِي لاَ يَشْكُرُ اللهُ عَلَى مَا أَنْعَمَ بِهِ عَلَيهِ مِنْ أَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ، بِأَنَّهُ سَيُبَيِّنُ أَمْرَهُ لِلنَّاسِ حَتَّى يَعْرِفُوهُ، كَمَا يَعْرَفُ الفِيلُ بِالسِّمَةِ عَلَى الخُرْطُومِ.

(وَقِيلَ إِنَّ السَّيْفَ حَطَّمَ أَنْفَهُ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ فَعَرَفَ النَّاسُ مَنْ هُوَ هَذَا العَبْدُ الكَافِرُ بِأَنْعُمُ اللهِ، الذِي أَرَادَ اللهُ تَعَالَى إِذْلاَلَهُ وَتَحْقِيرَهُ، جََزَاءً لَهُ عَلَى عُتُوِّهِ، وَتَكَبُّرِهِ عَلَى اللهِ، وَهُوَ الوَلِيدُ بْنُ المُغِيرَةِ).

سَنَسِمُهُ – سَنُلْحِقُ بِهِ عَاراً لاَ يُمْحَى كَالوَسْمِ عَلَى الأَنْفِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 16
16. Allah Almighty threatens this disobedient person who is ungrateful to Him and says that He will expose him to people so that they can recognize him just as an elephant is recognized by the mark on his trunk. (It was said that the meaning is as follows: Al-Walid ibn Mugheera had his nose cut off by a sword at the battle of Badr and was thus recognized by all as the one who was ungrateful for the blessings of Allah. Allah wanted to humiliate him as a punishment for his arrogance and tyranny.)
{ إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَابَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُواْ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ }
{ بَلَوْنَاهُمْ } { أَصْحَابَ }

(17) – رُوِي أَنَّ أَبَا جَهْلٍ طَلَبَ مِنْ قُرَيشٍ، حِينَ خُرُوجِهِمْ إِلَى قِتَالِ المُسْلِمِينَ فِي بَدْرٍ، أَنْ يَأْخُذُوا مَعَهُمْ حِبَالاً لِيَشُدُّوا بِهَا وَثَاقَ الأَسْرَى مِنَ المُسْلِمِينَ، الذِينَ سَيَقَعُونَ فِي أَسْرِهِمْ، لأَِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا لاَ يَشَكُّونَ فِي أَنَّهُمْ هُمُ الغَالِبُونَ.

وَيُبَيِّنُ تَعَالَى أَنَّهُ اخْتَبَرَ كُفَّارَ مَكَّةَ بِمَا أَنْعَمَ بِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّعَمِ الوَاسِعَةِ، وَبِمَا رَحِمَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ وَاسِعِ العَطَاءِ، لِيَنْظُرَ حَالَهُمْ أَيَشْكُرُونَ النِّعَمَ، وَيُؤَدُّونَ حَقَّهَا، وَيَتَّبِعُونَ دَاعِيَ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، أَمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللهِ، وَيُكَذِّبُونَ رَسُولَهُ، فَيَصُبُّ اللهُ عَلَيهِم العَذَابَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ، كَمَا اخْتَبَرَ أَصْحَابَ البُسْتَانِ الذِينَ مَنَعُوا حَقَّ اللهِ فِيهِ، وَعَزَمُوا عَلَى أَلاَّ يُؤَدُّوا زَكَاتَهُ لِلْبُؤَسَاءِ وَالفُقَرَاءِ، فَعَاقَبَهُمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى فِعْلِهِمْ بِأَنْ دَمَّرَ بُسْتَانَهُمْ شَرَّ تَدْمِيرٍ، فَقَدْ حََلَفَ أَصْحَابُ البُسْتَانِ ليَقْطِفُنَّ ثِمَارَهُ فِي غُدْوَةِ اليَوْمِ التَّالِي، حَتَّى لاَ يَعْلَمَ بِهِمْ سَائِلٌ وَلاَ فَقِيرٌ.

بَلَوْنَاهُمْ – امْتَحَنَّاهُمْ.

الجَنَّةِ – البُسْتَانِ.

مُصْبِحِينَ – دَاخِلِينَ فِي وَقْتِ الصَّبَاحِ.

الصَّرْمُ – قَطْفُ الثَّمَارِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 17
17. It was said that Abu Jahl asked the people of Quraish, when they went out to fight the Muslims at Badr, to take ropes with them to tie up the Muslim prisoners, for they did not doubt that they would be victorious. Allah almighty says that He tried the unbelievers of Makkah by bestowing on them many blessings and generous gifts to determine whether they would thank Him for these favours by following the Messenger of Allah, or would they disbelieve in Allah and deny His Messenger thus incurring the punishment of Allah, just as He tried the owners of the orchard who denied Allah’s beneficence to them and therefore decided not to pay alms to the poor. Allah Almighty punished them and destroyed their orchard most frightfully. For they had sworn to pick the fruit of the orchard on the next day so that no poor or needy person would know about it .
{ وَلاَ يَسْتَثْنُونَ }
(18) – وَلَمْ يَسْتَثْنُوا فِي حَلْفِهِمْ، وَلَمْ يَقُولُوا: إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ (أَوْ إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَسْتَثْنُوا حِصَّةَ المَسَاكِينِ كَمَا أَوْصَاهُمْ أَبُوهُمْ).
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 18
18. They did not exclude any mishaps in their oath by saying, “If Allah wills” (or they did not save the portion of the needy as their father had asked them to do).
{ فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ }
{ طَآئِفٌ } { نَآئِمُونَ }

(19) – فَأَحَاطَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ بِتِلْكَ الجَنَّةِ لَيْلاً، وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ.

طَافَ – أَحَاطَ بِهَا نَازلاً.

طَائِفٌ – بلاَءٌ عَظِيمٌ أَوْ نَارٌ مُحْرِقَةٌ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 19
19. Then their Lord’s command encompassed the orchard while they slept at night.
{ فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ }
(20) – فَأَصْبَحَتْ تُشْبِهُ فِي سَوَادِهَا اللَّيْلَ البَهِيمَ المُظْلِمَ (أَوْ أَنَّهَا أَصْبَحَتْ كَالبُسْتَانِ الذِي تَمَّ قِطَافُ ثِمَارِهِ).

الصَّرِيمُ – اللَّيْلُ الشَّدِيدُ السَّوَادِ – أَوِ البُسْتَانُ المَقْطُوفُ ثَمَرُهُ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 20
20. By morning, the orchard became in its duskiness like the dark pitch-black night (or like a garden whose fruit had been gathered).
{ فَتَنَادَوْاْ مُصْبِحِينَ }
(21) – وَنَادَى بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً فِي الغَدَاةِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 21
21. They called out to one another as the morning broke.
{ أَنِ ٱغْدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ }
{ صَارِمِينَ }

(22) – وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: اذْهَبُوا غُدْوَةً لِقَطْفِ ثِمَارِ بُسْتَانِكُمْ، إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُصِرِّينَ عَلَى قَطْفِهَا.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 22
22. They said to each other: “Go and pick the fruit of your orchard in the morning, if you insist on picking them.”
{ فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ }
{ يَتَخَافَتُونَ }

(23) – فَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى بُسْتَانِهِمْ، وَهُمْ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ بِصَوْتِ خَافِتٍ، لِكَيلاَ يَسْمَعَ الفُقَرَاءُ وَالبُؤَسَاءُ مَا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ بِهِ.

يَتَخَافَتُونَ – يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِصَوْتٍ مُنْخَفِضٍ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 23
23. They went to their orchard, talking in low voices lest the poor and indigent should hear them.
{ أَن لاَّ يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّسْكِينٌ }
(24) – وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضِ: لاَ تُمَكِّنُوا اليَوْمَ مِسْكِيناً مِنَ الدُّخُولِ إِلَى بُسْتَانِكُمْ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 24
24. They told one another: “Do not allow any of the poor to come into your orchard.”
{ وَغَدَوْاْ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ }
{ قَادِرِينَ }

(25) – وَغَدَوْا إِلَى بُسْتَانِهِمْ، وَهُمْ مُصَمِّمُونَ عَلَى مَنْعِ المَسَاكِين مِنَ الدُّخُولِ إِلَى البُسْتَانِ، وَعَلَى حِرْمَانِهِمْ مِنْ حَقِّهِمْ، وَهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ قَادِرُونَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

عَلَى حَرْدٍ – عَلَى مَنْعٍ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 25
25. They headed for their orchard, determined to prevent the poor from entering it, and to deprive them of their right, thinking that they were capable of that.
{ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوۤاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ }
(26) – فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا بُسْتَانَهُمْ مُحْتَرِقاً، وَمَعَالِمَهُ مُتَغَيِّرَةً، وَلاَ أَثَرَ فِيهِ لِلْخُضْرَةِ وَالنُّضْرَةِ ظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ ضَلُّوا الطَّرِيقَ إِليهِ، وَأَنَّهُمْ سَلَكُوا طَرِيقاً آخَرَ.

إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ – الطَّرِيقَ وَمَا هَذِهِ جَنَّتنَا.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 26
26. But when they saw that their orchard had all been burnt and that the scenery had changed and there was no sign of any green or bloom in it, they thought that they had lost their way, and that they had taken a wrong path.
{ بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ }
(27) – وَلَمَّا تَأَكَّدَ لَهُمْ أَنَّ البُسْتَانَ هُوَ بُسْتَانُهُمْ، وَقَدْ هَلَكَ فِيهِ كُلُّ شَيءٍ، قَالُوا إِنَّهُ بُسْتَانُهُمْ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ لاَ حَظَّ لَهُمْ وَلاَ نَصِيبَ (مَحْرُومُونَ).
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 27
27. When they were sure that the orchard was theirs and that everything in it had been destroyed, they said that it was their orchard but that they were unfortunate people.
{ قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَّكُمْ لَوْلاَ تُسَبِّحُونَ }
(28) – فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَعْدَلُهُمْ وَأَفْضَلُهُمْ (أَوْسَطُهُمْ): أَلَمْ يَكُنِ الأَفْضَلُ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَشْكُرُوا اللهَ عَلَى أَنْعُمِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ، فَتُسَبِّحُوهُ، وَتُنَزِّهُوهُ؟..

أَوْسَطُهُمْ – أَرْجَحُهُمْ عَقَلاً وَأَحْسَنُهُمْ رَأْياً.

لَوْلاَ تُسَبِّحُونَ – هَلاَّ تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللهَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 28
28. The one who was more moderate and just than the rest of them told them: “Would it not have been best for you to thank Allah for His favours, and to glorify Him?”
{ قَالُواْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ }
{ سُبْحَانَ } { ظَالِمِينَ }

(29) – فَنَدِمُوا عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْهُمْ بَعْدَ فَوَاتِ الأَوَانِ، وَسَبَّحُوا رَبَّهُمْ، وَاعْتَرَفُوا بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ، حِينَمَا أَرَادُوا مَنْعَ المَسَاكِينَ حَقَّهُمْ مِنْ ثَمَرِ البُسْتَانِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 29
29. They repented for what they had done after it was too late. They glorified their Lord and confessed that they had been wrong in wanting to hold back the orchard fruit from the poor people.
{ فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلاَوَمُونَ }
{ يَتَلاَوَمُونَ }

(30) – فََأَخَذَ بَعْضُهُمْ يَلُومُ بَعْضاً عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْهُمْ، وَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ يَتَّهِمُ الآخَرِينَ بِأَنَّهُم السَّبَبُ فِيمَا كَانَ.

يَتَلاَوَمُونَ – يَلُومُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 30
30. They turned to one another in reproach and each blamed the other for what had happened.
{ قَالُواْ يٰوَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ }
{ يٰوَيْلَنَا } { طَاغِينَ }

(31) – وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ بَعْضِهِمْ إِلاَّ أَنِ اعْتَرَفُوا بِالخَطِيئَةِ وَالذَّنْبِ، وَقَالُوا: إِنَّا اعْتَدَيْنا وَجَاوَزْنَا الحَدَّ حَتَّى أَصَابَنَا مَا أَصَابَنَا.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 31
31. They had no choice but to admit their error and guilt and said: “We have committed an aggression and transgressed all bounds; therefore we were struck with misfortune.
{ عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْراً مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ }
{ رَاغِبُونَ }

(32) – لَعَلَّ اللهَ أَنْ يُعْطِينَا خَيْراً مِنْهَا بَدَلاً بِتَوْبِتَنَا وَاعْتِرَافِنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا وَتَكْفِيرِنَا عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِنَا، وَإِنَّنَا رَاجُونَ عَفْوَهُ، وَطَالِبُونَ الخَيْرَ مِنْهُ.

رَاغِبُونَ – طَالِبُونَ مِنْهُ الخَيْرَ وَالعَفْوَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 32
32. “Perhaps our Lord will give us a better orchard in its stead for our repentance, the admission of our sins and the offer of atonement for our evil deeds. We hope for His forgiveness and ask for all good from Him.”
{ كَذَلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ }
(33) – وَهَكَذَا يَكُونُ عَذَابُ الدُّنْيَا الذِي يُنْزِلُهُ اللهُ بِمَنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرَهُ، وَبَخِلَ بِمَا آتَاهُ اللهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ، وَأَنْعَمَ بِهِ عَلَيهِ وَمَنَعَ المَسَاكِينَ حَقَّهُمْ، وَعَذَابُ الآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ وَأَشَقُّ، لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيئاً عَنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ والعَذَابِ فِيهَا.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 33
33. This is the punishment in this life below which Allah inflicts upon he who disobeys Him and is mean with what He bestowed upon him and denies the poor their right. The punishment of the Hereafter is far greater and more severe, if only they knew something of Hellfire and the torture in it.
{ إِنَّ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ }
{ جَنَّاتِ }

(34) – وَلِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ رَبَّهُمْ، فَيُؤَدُّونَ مَا أَوْجَبَهُ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ طَاعَاتٍ، وَيَجْتَنِبُونَ مَا نَهَاهُمْ عَنْهُ، جَنَّاتٌ يَنْعَمُونَ فيهَا بِمَا لاَ عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلاَ أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ وَلاَ خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 34
34. For those who fear their Lord and obey Him in all that He commands and refrain from all that He forbids, there will be Gardens that no eye has ever seen, and no ear ever heard of, and no mind ever imagined, for them to enjoy.
{ أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ }
(35) – قَالَ كُفَّارُ مَكَّةَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ سَاخِرِينَ: إِنَّ اللهَ فَضَّلَنَا عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَلاَ بُدَّ أَنْ يُفَضِّلَنَا عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَحْصلِ التَّفْضِيلُ فَلاَ أَقَلَّ مِنَ المُسَاوَاةِ. فَرَدَّ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَائِلاً: أَنُسَاوِي بَيْنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ المُطِيعِينَ رَبَّهُمْ وَبَينَ المُجْرِمِينَ الذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِاللهِ، وَكَذَّبُوا رَسُولَهُ، وَأَقَامُوا عَلَى المَعَاصِي وَالآثَامِ؟ كَلاَّ، لاَ يُمْكِنُ أَن تَقَعَ هَذِهِ المُسَاوَاةُ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 35
35. The unbelievers of Makkah told the Muslims sarcastically: “Allah has favoured us over you in this life, therefore surely He will also favour us over you in the Hereafter. If He does not favour us, at least we shall be equal.” Allah Almighty answered them saying: “Would We make those believers who obeyed Allah equal to those criminals who disbelieved in Allah, denied His messenger, and committed disobedience and sins? No indeed! This equality could never be.
{ مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ }
(36) – مَاذَا حَصَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ فَسَادِ الرَّأْيِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُمْ هَذَا الظَّنَّ، وَحَكَمْتُمْ مِثْلَ هَذَا الحُكْمِ؟.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 36
36. “What ill judgement made you believe such a thing and come to such a conclusion?
{ أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ }
{ كِتَابٌ }

(37) – أَمْ إِنَّكُمْ تَسْتَنِدُونَ فِي ظَنِّكُمْ هَذَا إِلَى كِتَابٍ نَزَلَ إِليكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَدْرُسُونَهُ وَتَتَدَاوَلُونَهُ؟..
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 37
37. “Or do you rely in your belief on a book that was sent down to you from heaven which you could study and circulate?
{ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ }
(38) – وَهَذَا الكِتَابُ يَتَضَمَّنُ حُكْماً مُؤَكَّداً بِأَنَّ لَكُمْ مَا تَخْتَارُونَ وَمَا تَشْتَهُونَ، وَأَنَّ الأَمْرَ مُفَوَّضٌ إِليكُمْ لاَ إِلَى غَيْرِكُمْ؟..

لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ – الذِي تَخْتَارُونَهُ وَتَشْتَهُونَهُ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 38
38. “Does this book contain a certain decree that you will have whatever you choose and desire, and that all matters are relegated to you and to no other?
{ أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ }
{ أَيْمَانٌ } { بَالِغَةٌ } { ٱلْقِيَامَةِ }

(39) – أَمْ مَعَكُمْ عُهُودٌ مُؤَكَّدَةٌ مِنَّا، لاَ نَخْرُجُ مِنْ عَهْدَتِهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ، أَنَّكُمْ سَتَصِلُونَ إِلَى كُلِّ مَا تَشْتَهُونَ وَتَطْلُبُونَ وَتَحْكُمُونَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 39
39. “Or do you have confirmed covenants from Us which are kept in trust until the Day of Resurrection that you shall attain all that you desire, ask for and judge?”
{ سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَلِكَ زَعِيمٌ }
(40) – سَلْهُمْ مَنِ الضَّامِنُ وَالكَفِيلُ بِتَنْفِيذِ هَذَا الوَعْدِ؟

زَعِيمٌ – كَفِيلٌ أَوْ ضَامِنٌ بِأَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمْ ذَلِكَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 40
40. Ask them: “Who is the warrantor to execute this oath?”
{ أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُواْ صَادِقِينَ }
{ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ } { صَادِقِينَ }

(41) – أَمْ لَهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يُشَارِكُونَهُمْ هَذَا الرَّأْيَ، وَيَقُولُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ بِالتَّسْوِيَةِ بَيْنَ المُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُجرِمِينَ، فَإِنْ كَانَ الأَمْرُ كَذَلِكَ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِهَؤُلاَءِ الشُّرَكَاءِ إِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ فِيمَا يَقُولُونَ؟.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 41
41. Or are there those who share their opinion and say as they themselves do that the Muslims and the criminals are equal? If that is the case, then let them bring forth their partners if they are truthful in what they say.
{ يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ }
(42) – فَلْيَأْتُوا بَهَؤُلاَءِ الشُّرَكَاءِ لِيُعَاوِنُوهُمْ حِينَمَا يَشْتَدُّ الهَوْلُ، وَيَعْظُمُ الخَطْبُ، يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ، وَحِينَئِذٍ يُدْعَى هَؤُلاَءِ المُشْرِكُونَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ، تَوْبِيخاً لَهُمْ عَلَى تَرْكِهِم الصَّلاَةَ فِي الحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا، فَلاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ، فَتَزْدَادُ حَسْرَتُهُمْ وَنَدَامَتُهُمْ.

يُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ – تَعْبِيرٌ يَعْنِي اشْتِدَادَ الأَمْرِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 42
42. Let them bring forth their partners to help them when the terrors become extreme and the misfortunes are greater on Judgement Day. Then these polytheists are summoned to prostrate themselves as a reprimand to them for abandoning their prayers in their life on earth. But they will not be able to do so. This increases their sorrow and repentance.
{ خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُواْ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ }
{ خَاشِعَةً } { أَبْصَارُهُمْ } { سَالِمُونَ }

(43) – وَحِينَ يُدْعَى هَؤُلاَءِ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ذَلِكَ، تَكُونُ أَبْصَارُهُمْ خَاشِعَةً ذَلِيلَةً، وَتَعْلُوهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ فِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ، وَقَدْ كَانُوا فِي الحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مُتَكَبِّرِينَ مُتَجَبِّرِينَ. وَلَمَّا دُعُوا إِلَى السُّجُودِ فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَهُمْ أَصِحَّاءِ سَالِمُونَ فِي أَبْدَانِهِمْ، وَامْتَنَعُوا عَاقَبَهُمْ اللهُ بِأَن جَعَلَهُمْ غَيْرَ قَادِرِينَ عَلَى السُّجُودِ حِينَمَا يَتَجَلَّى الرَّبُّ سُبْحَانَهُ، وَيَسْجُدُ المُؤْمِنُونَ تَعْظِيماً لِجَلاَلِهِ الكَرِيمِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 43
43. When they are summoned to prostrate themselves but are unable to do so, their eyes will be cast down in humiliation on that day, although during their life on earth they were arrogant and tyrannical. They were summoned to prostrate themselves in their earthly life when they were sound of body and full of health, yet they refused. For this Allah will punish them by making them incapable of prostrating themselves before the Almighty when He appears in His Glory and when all the believers will glorify Him by prostrating themselves before His majestic Self.
{ فَذَرْنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ }
(44) – كِلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ إِلَيِّ أَمْرَ هَؤُلاَءِ المُكَذِّبِينَ بِالقُرْآنِ، وَلاَ تَشْغَلْ قَلْبَكَ بِشَأْنِهِمْ فَأَنَا أَكْفِيكَ أمْرَهُمْ، وَسَأَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ إِلَى العَذَابِ دَرَجَةً فَدَرَجَةً بِالإِمْهَالِ، وَبِإِدَامَةِ الصّحَةِ، وَزِيَادَةِ النِّعْمَةِ، مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ اسْتِدْرَاجٌ، فَيَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُ إِيثَارٌ لَهُمْ مِنَ اللهِ، وَتَفْضِيلُ لَهُمْ عَلَى المُؤْمِنِينَ.

سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ – فَنُمِدُّهُمْ بِالأَمْوَالِ وَالأَوْلاَدِ وَنُمِدُّهُمْ فِي الأَرْزَاق والأَعْمالِ لِيَغْتَرُّوا وَيَسْتَمِرُّوا عَلَى مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَهَذَا مِنْ كَيْدِ اللهِ لَهُمْ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 44
44. Commit to Me, O Messenger, the affairs of those who deny the Quran and do not worry about them, for I will release you from their concerns. I will draw them on gradually and at a leisurely pace to punishment by granting them health and increasing the blessings on them. Thus, they will not know that they are being lured, but will believe that Allah has preferred them to the believers.
{ وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ }
(45) – وَأُؤخِّرُهُمْ وَأُنْسِيءُ لَهُمْ فِي آجَالِهِمْ، لِيَزْدَادُوا عِصْيَاناً وَطُغْيَاناً، لِتَقُومَ عَلَيهِم الحُجَّةُ، وَإِنَّ كَيْدِي لأَِهْلِ الكُفْرِ لَقَوِي شَدِيدٌ مُحْكَمٌ.

(وَجَاءَ فِي الحَدِيثِ الشَّرِيفِ: ” إِنَّ اللهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ ” ). (وَرَدَ فِي الصِّحِيحَيْنِ).

أُمْلِي لَهُمْ – أُمْهِلُهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِثماً.

إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ – أَيْ عَظِيمٌ لِمَنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرِي، وَكَذَّبَ رُسُلِي، وَاجْتَرَأَ عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِي.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 45
45. I will grant them a respite and a long life so they may increase their rebellion and tyranny. Thus, the argument will be established against them. My design against the unbelievers is powerful and sound. In a Hadith the Prophet said: “Allah grants respite to the unjust, but when He seizes him He will not let him go.” (Cited in Al-Sahihain.)
{ أَمْ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْراً فَهُمْ مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ }
{ تَسْأَلُهُمْ }

(46) – إِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْراً يَا مُحَمَّدُ عَلَى مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِليهِ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ بِاللهِ، وَإِلَى الطَّاعَةِ وَالعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ، لِيَرْفُضُوا نَصِيحَتَكَ، مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَلْحَقَهُمْ غُرْمٌ مِنْ دُخُولِهِمْ فِي الدِّينِ الذِي دَعَوْتَهُمْ إِليهِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 46
46. You, O Mohammad, do not ask them for a wage in return for your call to them to believe in Allah, to obey Him and to do righteous deeds that they should refuse your advice for fear that they would be burdened with debt if they follow the religion you call them to.
{ أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ }
(47) – أَمْ عِنْدَهُم اللَّوْحُ المَحْفُوظُ الذِي فِيهِ أَنْبَاءُ الغَيْبِ، فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ فِيهِ مَا يُرِيدُونَ مِنَ الحُجَجِ التِي تَدْعَمُ صِحّةَ قَوْلِهِمْ، وَيُخَاصِمُونَكَ فِيمَا يَكْتُبُونَ فِيهِ، وَيَسْتَغْنُونَ بِذَلِكَ عَنِ الاسْتِجَابَةِ لَكَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 47
47. Or do they have the preserved tablet which contains all the news of the unseen and in which they write all the arguments that confirm the veracity of their speech and then dispute with you concerning what they have written? Thus they dispense with responding to you.
{ فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلاَ تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ }
(48) – فَاصْبِرْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ عَلَى أَذَى قَوْمِكَ، وَتَكْذِيبِهِمْ إِيَّاكَ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ سَيَحْكُمُ لَكَ، وَسَيَجْعَلُ العَاقِبَةَ لَكَ وَلأَِتْبَاعِكَ، فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، وَلاَ تَكُنْ كَنَبِيِّ اللهِ يُونُسَ، عَلَيهِ السَّلاَمُ (صَاحِبِ الحُوتِ) حِينَ ذَهَبَ مُغَاضِباً قَوْمَهُ فَرَكِبَ السَّفِينَةَ، ثُمَّ اقْتَرَعَ أَهْلُ السَّفِينَةِ فَأُلْقِيَ فِي البَحْرِ، فَالتَقَمَهُ الحُوتُ، وَطَافَ بِهِ الحُوتُ أَرْجَاءَ المُحِيطَاتِ فَحِينَئِذٍ نَادَى فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ، وَهُوَ مُمْتَلِئٌ غَيْظَاً مِنْ قَوْمِهِ إِذْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا لَهُ حِينَ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الإِيمَانِ: لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ.

صَاحِبِ الحُوتِ – يُونُسَ، عَلَيهِ السَّلاَمُ.

مَكْظُومٌ – مُمْتَلِئُ القَلْبِ غَيْظاً عَلَى قَوْمِهِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 48
48. Endure patiently, O Mohammed, the harm of your people and their treating you as a liar, for Allah is on your side and He will let you and your followers have the happy ending in both life here below and the Hereafter. Do not be like the prophet Jonah (the companion of the whale) who left his people angrily and boarded the ship. The people of the ship cast lots and he was thrown into the sea and was swallowed up by a whale. The whale took him across oceans. Then, filled with anger with his people for not believing him when he called them to have faith in Allah, he cried out in the depths of the darkness: “There is no Allah but You. Glory be to You, I have done wrong.”
{ لَّوْلاَ أَن تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ }
{ تَدَارَكَهُ }

(49) – وَلَوْلاَ أَنْ تَدَارَكَتْهُ رَحَمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالَى وَنِعْمَتُهُ، بِتَوْفِيقِهِ لِلْتَّوْبَةِ، وَقَبُولِهَا مِنْهُ، لَطُرِحَ فِي الفَضَاءِ مِنْ بَطْنِ الحُوتِ، وَهُوَ مَلُومٌ مَطْرُودٌ مِنْ الرَّحْمَةِ وَالكَرَامَةِ.

لَنُبِذَ – لًطُرِحَ.

العَرَاءِ – الأَرْضِ الفَضَاءِ المُهْلِكَةِ.

مَذْمُومٌ – مَلُومٌ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 49
49. Had not Allah’s blessing and grace reached him to inspire him to repent, and had his repentance not been accepted by Allah, he would have been cast in disgrace into space from the whale’s belly and expelled from Allah’s mercy.
{ فَٱجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ }
{ فَٱجْتَبَاهُ } { ٱلصَّالِحِينَ }

(50) – وَلَكِنَّ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّهِ تَدَارَكَتْهُ، فَاصْطَفَاهُ رَبُّهُ، وََأَوْحَى إِليهِ، وَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ المُرْسَلِينَ العَامِلِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَهُمْ بِهِ رَبُّهُمْ.

اجْتَبَاهُ – اصْطَفَاهُ بِعَوْدَةِ الوَحْيِ إِليهِ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 50
50. But your Lord’s blessing reached him and He was chosen by Allah Who sent him His revelation and made him a messenger to carry out His Lord’s commands.
{ وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ }
{ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ }

(51) – وَهَؤُلاَءِ المُشْرِكُونَ يَنْظُرُونَ إِليكَ شَذَراً مِنْ شِدَّةِ عَدَاوَتِهِمْ، وَكُرْهِهِمْ لَكَ، حَتَّى لَيَكَادُونَ أَنْ يُزْلِقُوا قَدَمَكَ حَسَداً وَبُغْضاً، حَينَ سَمِعُوكَ تَتْلُو القُرْآنَ. وَيَقُولُونَ لِحيرَتِهِمْ فِي أَمْرِ هَذَا القُرْآنِ، وَجَهْلِهِمْ بِمَا فِيهِ: إِنَّ مُحَمَداً لَمَجْنُونٌ.

لَيُزلِقُونَكَ – لَيُزِلُّونَ قَدَمَكَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 51
51. Those polytheists look at you with hatred because of their immense animosity and aggressiveness to the extent that they make you almost stumble out of their envy and loathing when they heard you recite the Quran. Their confusion concerning the Quran and their ignorance of what it contains drive them to say that Mohammad is insane.
{ وَمَا هُوَ إِلاَّ ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ }
{ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ }

(52) – وَالقُرْآنُ لَيْسَ إِلاَّ عِظَةً وَتَذْكِرَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ.
Surah Al-Qalam: Verse 52
52. The Quran is only an admonition and a reminder to the universe.

Tafsir by Dr. Assaad Homad (1917–2011), Syrian scholar and jurist, author of Aysar al-Tafaseer, an accessible interpretation of the Quran reviewed by Sheikh Muhammad Mutwally Al-Shaarawi and certified by the Ministries of Awqaf in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. English translation by the Homad family. Read more about the author and this tafsir →

Source: This series of Tafsir books has been made available online by the family of Dr. Assaad Homad (may Allah have mercy on him). These volumes were entirely digitized to provide an accessible and easy format for todays digital age. Please keep Dr. Assaad and his family in your sincere prayers.
تم إتاحة هذه السلسلة من كتب التفسير عبر الإنترنت من قبل عائلة الدكتور أسعد حومد (رحمه الله). لقد قمنا برقمنة هذه المجلدات بالكامل لتوفير تنسيق يسهل الوصول إليه واستخدامه في عصرنا الرقمي الحالي. نرجو منكم ألا تنسوا الدكتور أسعد وعائلته من صالح دعائكم.