Al-Qalam
The Scorched Garden
In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Nun.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم نBy the pen and what they inscribe in lines! You are not, by the blessing of your Guardian, deranged. And you shall have a reward never interrupted. And you are indeed of an immense character.
والقلم وما يسطرون ما انت بنعمه ربك بمجنون وان لك لاجرا غير ممنون وانك لعلي خلق عظيمYou will see, and they will see, which of you is the one put to trial.
فستبصر ويبصرون باييكم المفتونYour Guardian indeed knows best who has strayed from His path,
ان ربك هو اعلم بمن ضل عن سبيلهand He knows best those who let themselves be guided.
وهو اعلم بالمهتدينSo do not obey the deniers.
فلا تطع المكذبينThey would like you to be complaisant: then they would be complaisant.
ودوا لو تدهن فيدهنونAnd do not obey every contemptible swearer of oaths, stinging slanderer, spreader of slander, hinderer of good, crosser of limits, transgressor, coarse and, moreover, a social parasite — because he has goods and sons. When Our signs are recited to him, he says: "Legends of the ancients!"
ولا تطع كل حلاف مهين هماز مشا بنميم مناع للخير معتد اثيم عتل بعد ذلك زنيم ان كان ذا مال وبنين اذا تتلي عليه ايتنا قال اسطير الاولينWe will brand him on the snout.
سنسمه علي الخرطومWe tested them as We tested the companions of the garden, when they swore they would harvest it in the morning, without exception,
انا بلونهم كما بلونا اصحب الجنه اذ اقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين ولا يستثنونand a round from your Guardian went over it while they slept, so that it became like scorched land.
فطاف عليها طايف من ربك وهم نايمون فاصبحت كالصريمThey called one another in the morning: 'Go out early to your crop, if you mean to harvest it.'
فتنادوا مصبحين ان اغدوا علي حرثكم ان كنتم صرمينSo they set out, whispering to one another: 'Let no destitute person enter it upon you today.'
فانطلقوا وهم يتخفتون ان لا يدخلنها اليوم عليكم مسكينAnd they went early, determined, [deeming themselves] capable.
وغدوا علي حرد قدرينBut when they saw it, they said: "We are surely astray; rather, we are deprived!"
فلما راوها قالوا انا لضالون بل نحن محرومونThe most just among them said: 'Did I not tell you: why do you not glorify [God]?'
قال اوسطهم الم اقل لكم لولا تسبحونThey said: 'Glory be to our Guardian! We have indeed been wrongdoers.'
قالوا سبحن ربنا انا كنا ظلمينAnd they turned to one another, blaming each other.
فاقبل بعضهم علي بعض يتلومونThey said: "Woe to us! We have indeed exceeded all measure. It may be that our Guardian will give us a better one in exchange; to our Guardian we turn in desire."
قالوا يويلنا انا كنا طغين عسي ربنا ان يبدلنا خيرا منها انا الي ربنا رغبونSuch is the punishment [of this world].
كذلك العذابBut the punishment of the last life is greater, if only they knew.
ولعذاب الاخره اكبر لو كانوا يعلمونFor those who guard themselves [before God], there are, with their Guardian, the gardens of bliss.
ان للمتقين عند ربهم جنت النعيمShall We then treat those true to God alone like the severed?
افنجعل المسلمين كالمجرمينWhat is the matter with you?
ما لكمHow do you judge?
كيف تحكمونOr do you have a scripture in which you study, wherein you would find whatever you choose?
ام لكم كتب فيه تدرسون ان لكم فيه لما تخيرونOr do you have oaths upon Us, reaching to the Day of Appearance: that you shall have whatever you judge?
ام لكم ايمن علينا بلغه الي يوم القيمه ان لكم لما تحكمونAsk them which of them stands guarantor for that.
سلهم ايهم بذلك زعيمOr do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they are truthful.
ام لهم شركا فلياتوا بشركايهم ان كانوا صدقينOn the day when a shin is uncovered, and they are called to prostrate, they will not be able,
يوم يكشف عن ساق ويدعون الي السجود فلا يستطيعونtheir eyes humble, humiliation covering them,
خشعه ابصرهم ترهقهم ذلهthough they used to be called to prostrate while they were sound [and fully able].
وقد كانوا يدعون الي السجود وهم سلمونSo leave Me with whoever denies this discourse.
فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا الحديثWe will gradually lead them [to ruin], from where they do not know, and I grant them a delay.
سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون واملي لهمMy scheme is indeed solid.
ان كيدي متينOr do you ask them for a reward, so that they are weighed down by debt?
ام تسلهم اجرا فهم من مغرم مثقلونOr do they possess what escapes the senses, so that they write it down?
ام عندهم الغيب فهم يكتبونSo be patient with the judgment of your Guardian, and do not be like the companion of the fish, when he called out while suppressing [his sorrow].
فاصبر لحكم ربك ولا تكن كصاحب الحوت اذ نادي وهو مكظومHad a blessing from his Guardian not reached him, he would have been cast onto bare ground, blamed.
لولا ان تدركه نعمه من ربه لنبذ بالعرا وهو مذمومBut his Guardian chose him and made him one of the righteous.
فاجتبه ربه فجعله من الصلحينThose who disown would almost make you slip with their glances when they hear the Reminder, and they say: 'He is certainly deranged.'
وان يكاد الذين كفروا ليزلقونك بابصرهم لما سمعوا الذكر ويقولون انه لمجنونYet it is nothing but a reminder for all beings.
وما هو الا ذكر للعلمين