Al-Qalam
The Scorched Garden
In the name of God, the All-Benevolent, the Benevolent. Nun.
بسم ٱلله ٱلرحمن ٱلرحيم 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.
وٱلقلم وما يسطرون مآ أنت بنعمة ربك بمجنون وإن لك لأجرا غير ممنون وإنك لعلى خلق عظيمYou will see, and they will see, which of you is the one put to trial.
فستبصر ويبصرون بأييكم ٱلمفتونYour Guardian indeed knows best who has strayed from His path,
إن ربك هو أعلم بمن ضل عن سبيلهand He knows best those who let themselves be guided.
وهو أعلم بٱلمهتدينSo do not obey the deniers.
فلا تطع ٱلمكذبينThey 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 مشآء بنميم مناع للخير معتد أثيم عتل بعد ذلك زنيم أن كان ذا مال وبنين إذا تتلى عليه ءايتنا قال أسطير ٱلأولينWe will brand him on the snout.
سنسمه على ٱلخرطومWe tested them as We tested the companions of the garden, when they swore they would harvest it in the morning, without exception,
إنا بلونهم كما بلونآ أصحب ٱلجنة إذ أقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين ولا يستثنونand a round from your Guardian went over it while they slept, so that it became like scorched land.
فطاف عليها طآئف من ربك وهم نآئمون فأصبحت كٱلصريمThey called one another in the morning: 'Go out early to your crop, if you mean to harvest it.'
فتنادوا مصبحين أن ٱغدوا على حرثكم إن كنتم صرمينSo they set out, whispering to one another: 'Let no destitute person enter it upon you today.'
فٱنطلقوا وهم يتخفتون أن لا يدخلنها ٱليوم عليكم مسكينAnd they went early, determined, [deeming themselves] capable.
وغدوا على حرد قدرينBut when they saw it, they said: "We are surely astray; rather, we are deprived!"
فلما رأوها قالوا إنا لضآلون بل نحن محرومونThe most just among them said: 'Did I not tell you: why do you not glorify [God]?'
قال أوسطهم ألم أقل لكم لولا تسبحونThey said: 'Glory be to our Guardian! We have indeed been wrongdoers.'
قالوا سبحن ربنآ إنا كنا ظلمينAnd they turned to one another, blaming each other.
فأقبل بعضهم على 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 يويلنآ إنا كنا طغين عسى ربنآ أن يبدلنا خيرا منهآ إنآ إلى ربنا رغبونSuch is the punishment [of this world].
كذلك ٱلعذابBut the punishment of the last life is greater, if only they knew.
ولعذاب ٱلءاخرة أكبر لو كانوا يعلمونFor those who guard themselves [before God], there are, with their Guardian, the gardens of bliss.
إن للمتقين عند ربهم جنت ٱلنعيمShall We then treat those true to God alone like the severed?
أفنجعل ٱلمسلمين كٱلمجرمينWhat 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?
أم لكم كتب فيه تدرسون إن لكم فيه لما تخيرونOr do you have oaths upon Us, reaching to the Day of Appearance: that you shall have whatever you judge?
أم لكم أيمن علينا بلغة إلى يوم ٱلقيمة إن لكم لما تحكمونAsk them which of them stands guarantor for that.
سلهم أيهم بذلك زعيمOr do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they are truthful.
أم لهم شركآء فليأتوا بشركآئهم إن 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 إلى ٱلسجود فلا يستطيعونtheir eyes humble, humiliation covering them,
خشعة أبصرهم ترهقهم ذلةthough they used to be called to prostrate while they were sound [and fully able].
وقد كانوا يدعون إلى ٱلسجود وهم سلمونSo leave Me with whoever denies this discourse.
فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا ٱلحديثWe will gradually lead them [to ruin], from where they do not know, and I grant them a delay.
سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون وأملي لهمMy scheme is indeed solid.
إن كيدي متينOr do you ask them for a reward, so that they are weighed down by debt?
أم تسلهم أجرا فهم من مغرم مثقلونOr do they possess what escapes the senses, so that they write it down?
أم عندهم ٱلغيب 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].
فٱصبر لحكم ربك ولا تكن كصاحب ٱلحوت إذ نادى وهو مكظومHad a blessing from his Guardian not reached him, he would have been cast onto bare ground, blamed.
لولآ أن تدركه نعمة من ربه لنبذ بٱلعرآء وهو مذمومBut his Guardian chose him and made him one of the righteous.
فٱجتبه ربه فجعله من ٱلصلحينThose who disown would almost make you slip with their glances when they hear the Reminder, and they say: 'He is certainly deranged.'
وإن يكاد ٱلذين كفروا ليزلقونك بأبصرهم لما سمعوا ٱلذكر ويقولون إنه لمجنونYet it is nothing but a reminder for all beings.
وما هو إلا ذكر للعلمين