القلم
The Pen
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
fatanādaw muṣ'biḥīna
And they called one another at morning,
ani igh'dū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīna
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."
fa-inṭalaqū wahum yatakhāfatūna
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
an lā yadkhulannahā l-yawma ʿalaykum mis'kīnun
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."
waghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīna
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.
falammā ra-awhā qālū innā laḍāllūna
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;
bal naḥnu maḥrūmūna
Rather, we have been deprived."
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]?'"
qālū sub'ḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīna
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
fa-aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin yatalāwamūna
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīna
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.
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."
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.
inna lil'muttaqīna ʿinda rabbihim jannāti l-naʿīmi
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.
afanajʿalu l-mus'limīna kal-muj'rimīna
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?
mā lakum kayfa taḥkumūna
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?
am lakum kitābun fīhi tadrusūna
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
inna lakum fīhi lamā takhayyarūna
That indeed for you is whatever you choose?
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?
salhum ayyuhum bidhālika zaʿīmun
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.