Surah Al-Qalam (68): Arabic, Transliteration and English

Full text of Surah Al-Qalam, verse by verse

Every verse is given in Arabic (Uthmani script), in transliteration and in English. To hear it recited, open our Quran audio page and choose this surah; the rules of recitation are explained on our tajweed page.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ ﴿١﴾

Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon

1 Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,

مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍۢ ﴿٢﴾

Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoon

2 You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman.

وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍۢ ﴿٣﴾

Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon

3 And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted.

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍۢ ﴿٤﴾

Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeem

4 And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٥﴾

Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon

5 So you will see and they will see

بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ ﴿٦﴾

Bi ayyikumul maftoon

6 Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil].

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿٧﴾

Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen

7 Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ﴿٨﴾

Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeen

8 Then do not obey the deniers.

وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ ﴿٩﴾

Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon

9 They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you].

وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍۢ مَّهِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾

Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheen

10 And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

هَمَّازٍۢ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍۢ ﴿١١﴾

Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameem

11 [And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip -

مَّنَّاعٍۢ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ ﴿١٢﴾

Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem

12 A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful,

عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ ﴿١٣﴾

'Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneem

13 Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.

أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍۢ وَبَنِينَ ﴿١٤﴾

An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen

14 Because he is a possessor of wealth and children,

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٥﴾

Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen

15 When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."

سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ ﴿١٦﴾

Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoom

16 We will brand him upon the snout.

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ ﴿١٧﴾

Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen

17 Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ ﴿١٨﴾

Wa laa yastasnoon

18 Without making exception.

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ ﴿١٩﴾

Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoon

19 So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ﴿٢٠﴾

Fa asbahat kassareem

20 And it became as though reaped.

فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ ﴿٢١﴾

Fatanaadaw musbiheen

21 And they called one another at morning,

أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰرِمِينَ ﴿٢٢﴾

Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen

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

فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾

Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon

23 So they set out, while lowering their voices,

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌۭ ﴿٢٤﴾

Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen

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

وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍۢ قَٰدِرِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾

Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireen

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

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ ﴿٢٦﴾

Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon

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

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾

Bal nahnu mahroomoon

27 Rather, we have been deprived."

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾

Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon

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

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾

Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen

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

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾

Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoon

30 Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

قَالُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ ﴿٣١﴾

Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen

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

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾

'Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon

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

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٣﴾

Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon

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

إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ﴿٣٤﴾

Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eem

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

أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٣٥﴾

Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen

35 Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾

Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon

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

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَٰبٌۭ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾

Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon

37 Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾

Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon

38 That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾

Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon

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

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eem

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

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ ﴿٤١﴾

Am lahum shurakaaa'u falyaatoo bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen

41 Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.

يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍۢ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ﴿٤٢﴾

Yawma yukshafu 'am saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oon

42 The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,

خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ ﴿٤٣﴾

Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon

43 Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.

فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾

Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoon

44 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.

وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ ﴿٤٥﴾

Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen

45 And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.

أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًۭا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍۢ مُّثْقَلُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾

Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon

46 Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?

أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾

Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon

47 Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌۭ ﴿٤٨﴾

Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom

48 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.

لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌۭ ﴿٤٩﴾

Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoom

49 If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.

فَٱجْتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ﴿٥٠﴾

Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheen

50 And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌۭ ﴿٥١﴾

Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon

51 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."

وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٥٢﴾

Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen

52 But it is not except a reminder to the worlds.

Sources: Arabic text in Uthmani script (Tanzil edition); English translation: Saheeh International; transliteration in standard Latin letters. Transliteration helps with pronunciation but cannot render every Arabic letter.