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Surah Al-Qalam

القلم

Surah Al-Qalam is a Meccan surah of 52 verses that opens with an oath by the pen, defends the Prophet's character against his critics, and tells the story of the owners of a garden.

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Meaning
The Pen
Surah
68 of 114
Verses
52
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 29

What Surah Al-Qalam is about

Al-Qalam is the 68th surah of the Quran, revealed in Mecca, with 52 verses. It is named The Pen after its opening oath, and it is also known as Surah Nun, after the single Arabic letter it begins with. Many scholars count it among the earliest surahs revealed, though they differ on its exact order.

Verses 1 to 7 swear by the pen and what people write that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is not mad, as his opponents claimed, that he will have an unending reward, and in verse 4 that he is of a great moral character. Verses 8 to 16 then tell him not to give in to the deniers who want him to compromise, and describe one kind of opponent in a string of short verses: a swearer of oaths, a slanderer, one who blocks good and is proud because of his wealth and sons.

Verses 17 to 33 tell the parable of the owners of a garden. They swore to harvest it early in the morning so that no poor person could come in and ask, and they did not say if Allah wills. During the night their garden was destroyed. When they saw it they first thought they had lost their way, then admitted they had done wrong, blamed one another, and finally turned to their Lord in hope of something better. The surah says the punishment of the Hereafter is greater still.

Verses 34 to 47 challenge those who think they will be treated the same as the righteous, asking what book or promise they rely on. Verses 48 to 50 tell the Prophet ﷺ to wait patiently and not be like the Companion of the Fish, Jonah (Yunus), whom his Lord then chose and made one of the righteous. The surah ends with his opponents nearly tripping him up with their stares, and the reminder that the Quran is for all the worlds.

Main themes

  1. By the pen

    The surah opens with an oath by the pen and what is written, then defends the Prophet ﷺ against the charge of madness. Verse 4 praises his great moral character.

    Verses 1–7

  2. Do not compromise with the deniers

    The Prophet ﷺ is told not to obey those who want him to water down his message. Verses 10 to 15 describe a type of opponent whose wealth and children make him arrogant and who calls the verses old tales.

    Verses 8–16

  3. The owners of the garden

    A group of brothers plan to harvest their garden secretly so the poor get nothing, and wake to find it destroyed. Their slow realization, from denial to blame to repentance, is told in detail.

    Verses 17–33

  4. Patience like Jonah's, without despair

    Verse 48 asks the Prophet ﷺ to be patient and not like the Companion of the Fish, who called out in distress. Verses 49 and 50 add that Allah's favor reached Jonah and He made him one of the righteous.

    Verses 48–52

Verses to know

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ ﴿٤﴾

And you are of a great moral character.
Al-Qalam 68:4

Allah's own description of the Prophet ﷺ as having great moral character. When asked about his character, Aisha said it was the Quran, as reported in Sahih Muslim.

إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ ﴿١٧﴾ وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ﴿١٨﴾ فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ﴿٢٠﴾

17We tested them, as We tested the owners of the garden, when they vowed to harvest it in the morning. 18Without any reservation. 19But a calamity from your Lord went around it while they slept. 20And in the morning it was as if picked.
Al-Qalam 68:17–20

The start of the story of the garden owners, who planned to keep the poor away and found their harvest destroyed overnight.

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾ قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾

28The most reasonable of them said, “Did I not say to you, ‘If only you would glorify’?” 29They said, “Glory to our Lord—we were indeed in the wrong.”
Al-Qalam 68:28–29

The most sensible of the brothers reminds them that he had urged them to glorify Allah, and they admit their wrong. The turning point of the story is honest self-reproach.

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونࣱ ﴿٥١﴾ وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٥٢﴾

51Those who disbelieve almost stab you with their glances when they hear the message, and say, “He is crazy!” 52But it is no less than a reminder to all the Worlds.
Al-Qalam 68:51–52

The closing verses describe hostile stares aimed at the Prophet ﷺ and end by calling the Quran a reminder for all the worlds.

When Surah Al-Qalam is recited

Some Muslims recite the last two verses of Al-Qalam as protection from the evil eye, since a number of classical commentators read verse 51 as describing it. This is a common custom rather than a practice set by a specific narration about this surah.

Surah Al-Qalam in Arabic and English

All 52 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ

    Noon waalqalami wama yasturoona

    Noon. By the pen, and by what they inscribe.

  2. 2

    مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٖ

    Ma anta biniAAmati rabbika bimajnoonin

    By the grace of your Lord, you are not insane.

  3. 3

    وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٖ

    Wainna laka laajran ghayra mamnoonin

    In fact, you will have a reward that will never end.

  4. 4

    وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٖ

    Wainnaka laAAala khuluqin AAatheemin

    And you are of a great moral character.

  5. 5

    فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ

    Fasatubsiru wayubsiroona

    You will see, and they will see.

  6. 6

    بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ

    Biayyikumu almaftoonu

    Which of you is the afflicted.

  7. 7

    إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ

    Inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dalla AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bialmuhtadeena

    Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best the well-guided.

  8. 8

    فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ

    Fala tutiAAi almukaththibeena

    So do not obey the deniers.

  9. 9

    وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ

    Waddoo law tudhinu fayudhinoona

    They would like you to compromise, so they would compromise.

  10. 10

    وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافٖ مَّهِينٍ

    Wala tutiAA kulla hallafin maheenin

    And do not obey any vile swearer.

  11. 11

    هَمَّازٖ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمٖ

    Hammazin mashshain binameemin

    Backbiter, spreader of slander.

  12. 12

    مَّنَّاعٖ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ

    MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin atheemin

    Preventer of good, transgressor, sinner.

  13. 13

    عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ

    AAutullin baAAda thalika zaneemin

    Rude and fake besides.

  14. 14

    أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٖ وَبَنِينَ

    An kana tha malin wabaneena

    Just because he has money and children.

  15. 15

    إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

    Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna qala asateeru alawwaleena

    When Our Verses are recited to him, he says, “Myths of the ancients!”

  16. 16

    سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ

    Sanasimuhu AAala alkhurtoomi

    We will brand him on the muzzle.

  17. 17

    إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ

    Inna balawnahum kama balawna ashaba aljannati ith aqsamoo layasrimunnaha musbiheena

    We tested them, as We tested the owners of the garden, when they vowed to harvest it in the morning.

  18. 18

    وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ

    Wala yastathnoona

    Without any reservation.

  19. 19

    فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ

    Fatafa AAalayha taifun min rabbika wahum naimoona

    But a calamity from your Lord went around it while they slept.

  20. 20

    فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ

    Faasbahat kaalssareemi

    And in the morning it was as if picked.

  21. 21

    فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ

    Fatanadaw musbiheena

    In the morning, they called to one another.

  22. 22

    أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ

    Ani ighdoo AAala harthikum in kuntum sarimeena

    “Go early to your plantation, if you are going to harvest.”

  23. 23

    فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ

    Faintalaqoo wahum yatakhafatoona

    So off they went, murmuring to one another.

  24. 24

    أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينࣱ

    An la yadkhulannaha alyawma AAalaykum miskeenun

    “No poor person is to enter it upon you today.”

  25. 25

    وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ

    Waghadaw AAala hardin qadireena

    And early they went, resolved in intent.

  26. 26

    فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ

    Falamma raawha qaloo inna ladalloona

    But when they saw it, they said, “We were wrong.

  27. 27

    بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ

    Bal nahnu mahroomoona

    We are now deprived.”

  28. 28

    قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

    Qala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum lawla tusabbihoona

    The most reasonable of them said, “Did I not say to you, ‘If only you would glorify’?”

  29. 29

    قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ

    Qaloo subhana rabbina inna kunna thalimeena

    They said, “Glory to our Lord—we were indeed in the wrong.”

  30. 30

    فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ

    Faaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatalawamoona

    Then they turned to one another, blaming one another.

  31. 31

    قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ

    Qaloo ya waylana inna kunna tagheena

    They said, “Woe to us—we were indeed domineering.

  32. 32

    عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ

    AAasa rabbuna an yubdilana khayran minha inna ila rabbina raghiboona

    Perhaps our Lord will give us a better substitute for it. We are turning to our Lord.”

  33. 33

    كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ

    Kathalika alAAathabu walaAAathabu alakhirati akbaru law kanoo yaAAlamoona

    Such is the punishment; but the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.

  34. 34

    إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

    Inna lilmuttaqeena AAinda rabbihim jannati alnnaAAeemi

    For the righteous are Gardens of Delight with their Lord.

  35. 35

    أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

    AfanajAAalu almuslimeena kaalmujrimeena

    Shall We treat the Muslims like the villains?

  36. 36

    مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ

    Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoona

    What is the matter with you? How do you judge?

  37. 37

    أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبࣱ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ

    Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoona

    Or do you have a scripture in which you study.

  38. 38

    إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

    Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroona

    Wherein there is whatever you choose?

  39. 39

    أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ

    Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatun ila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoona

    Or do you have oaths from Us, binding until the Day of Resurrection, that you will have whatever you demand?

  40. 40

    سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

    Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeemun

    Ask them, which of them will guarantee that.

  41. 41

    أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ

    Am lahum shurakao falyatoo bishurakaihim in kanoo sadiqeena

    Or do they have partners? Then let them produce their partners, if they are truthful.

  42. 42

    يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ

    Yawma yukshafu AAan saqin wayudAAawna ila alssujoodi fala yastateeAAoona

    On the Day when the Shin will be exposed, and they will be called to bow down, but they will be unable.

  43. 43

    خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةࣱۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ

    KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun waqad kanoo yudAAawna ila alssujoodi wahum salimoona

    Their eyes subdued, shame will cover them. They were invited to bow down when they were sound.

  44. 44

    فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

    Fatharnee waman yukaththibu bihatha alhadeethi sanastadrijuhum min haythu la yaAAlamoona

    So leave Me to those who reject this discourse; We will proceed against them gradually, from where they do not know.

  45. 45

    وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ

    Waomlee lahum inna kaydee mateenun

    And I will give them respite. My plan is firm.

  46. 46

    أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ

    Am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqaloona

    Or do you ask them for a fee, so they are burdened with debt?

  47. 47

    أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ

    Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboona

    Or do they know the future, and so they write it down?

  48. 48

    فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومࣱ

    Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala takun kasahibi alhooti ith nada wahuwa makthoomun

    So wait patiently for the decision of your Lord, and do not be like the Fellow of the Fish who cried out in despair.

  49. 49

    لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومࣱ

    Lawla an tadarakahu niAAmatun min rabbihi lanubitha bialAAarai wahuwa mathmoomun

    Were it not for his Lord’s favor that reached him, he would have been thrown into the wilderness, fully despised.

  50. 50

    فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

    Faijtabahu rabbuhu fajaAAalahu mina alssaliheena

    But his Lord chose him, and made him one of the righteous.

  51. 51

    وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونࣱ

    Wain yakadu allatheena kafaroo layuzliqoonaka biabsarihim lamma samiAAoo alththikra wayaqooloona innahu lamajnoonun

    Those who disbelieve almost stab you with their glances when they hear the message, and say, “He is crazy!”

  52. 52

    وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

    Wama huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena

    But it is no less than a reminder to all the Worlds.

Surah Al-Qalam PDF

The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.

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Questions about Surah Al-Qalam

Why is Surah Al-Qalam also called Surah Nun?

It begins with the Arabic letter Nun, followed by an oath by the pen. Both names are used for it.

How many verses are in Surah Al-Qalam?

Surah Al-Qalam has 52 verses. It is a Meccan surah and the 68th in the Quran.

Which verse says the Prophet has great character?

Verse 4 of Surah Al-Qalam tells the Prophet ﷺ that he is of a great moral character.

What is the story in Surah Al-Qalam?

Verses 17 to 33 tell the story of the owners of a garden who planned to harvest it without letting the poor in. Their garden was destroyed overnight, and they came to admit their wrong and turn back to Allah.