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Surah Al-Qalam, Ayah 21-40 — Word by Word

القلم

The Pen

MeccanJuz 2952 ayahs

Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.

21
٢١

fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīna

And they called one another at morning,

22
٢٢

ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīna

[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."

23
٢٣

fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūna

So they set out, while lowering their voices,

24
٢٤

an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnun

[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."

25
٢٥

waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīna

And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.

26
٢٦

falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūna

But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;

27
٢٧

bal naḥnu maḥrūmūna

Rather, we have been deprived."

28
٢٨

qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūna

The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allāh]?'"

29
٢٩

qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīna

They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

30
٣٠

fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūna

Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

31
٣١

qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīna

They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.

32
٣٢

ʿasā rabbunā an yub'dilanā khayran min'hā innā ilā rabbinā rāghibūna

Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."

33
٣٣

kadhālika l-ʿadhābu walaʿadhābu l-ākhirati akbaru law kānū yaʿlamūna

Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.

34
٣٤

inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīmi

Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.

35
٣٥

afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīna

Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

36
٣٦

mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūna

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

37
٣٧

am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūna

Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

38
٣٨

inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūna

That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

39
٣٩

am lakum aymānun ʿalaynā bālighatun ilā yawmi l-qiyāmati inna lakum lamā taḥkumūna

Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?

40
٤٠

salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmun

Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.