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Surah 68

Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen)

القلم

Also written: Qalam, Nun

Surah Al-Qalam (القلم) is surah 68 of the 114 surahs of the Quran. It has 52 ayahs, was revealed in Mecca (Meccan), and its name means “The Pen”.

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Number
68
Ayahs
52
Revelation
Meccan
Meaning
The Pen

Names, meaning and Meccan/Medinan classification as listed in the quran-json dataset.

About Surah Al-Qalam

Al-Qalam, “The Pen”, also called Nun after its opening letter, is an early Meccan surah. It opens with an oath by the pen and what is written, defends the Prophet against the charge of madness and praises his tremendous character, warns against the qualities of an arrogant opponent, and tells the parable of the owners of a garden who lost everything through greed.

Main themes

  • Comfort for the Prophet (68:1–7): by God’s grace he is not mad, an unending reward awaits him, and he is of a great moral character. Asked about his character, Aisha replied that it was the Quran, in a hadith in Sahih Muslim.
  • Do not yield to the deniers (68:8–16): they wish he would compromise; he is warned against obeying the habitual swearer, the slanderer and the obstructer of good who boasts of wealth and sons.
  • The owners of the garden (68:17–33): they swore to harvest at dawn without leaving anything for the poor and without saying “if God wills”; overnight the garden was struck, and they woke to find it ruined, blamed one another and turned to God in repentance.
  • Justice in the Hereafter (68:34–47): the God-fearing and the wrongdoers will not be treated alike; on a day of great terror people will be called to prostrate, and those who refused in this life will be unable.

Patience and the man of the fish

68:48–50 tell the Prophet to wait patiently for his Lord’s judgement and not be like “the companion of the fish” — the prophet Jonah — who called out in distress, was rescued by his Lord’s grace and chosen among the righteous. 68:51 describes how the disbelievers almost made him slip with their glares when they heard the Quran; many Muslims recite it as a prayer for protection from the evil eye, following a common interpretation.

Al-Qalam is often counted among the very first surahs revealed, though scholars differ on its exact place in the order.

Frequently asked questions

Which verse praises the Prophet's character?
Surah Al-Qalam, verse 4, which says he is of a great moral character.
What is the story of the garden in Surah Al-Qalam?
Owners of a garden planned to harvest it secretly so the poor would get nothing; it was destroyed overnight and they repented.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Qalam?
52.
How many ayahs are in Surah Al-Qalam?
Surah Al-Qalam has 52 ayahs. It is surah number 68 in the Quran and is Meccan.
Can I read Surah Al-Qalam in English or save it as a PDF?
Yes. This page shows the Arabic text of every ayah with the Saheeh International English meaning under it. Use “Print / Save as PDF” for a clean printable copy that you can save as a PDF file from your browser.
Is Surah Al-Qalam the same as Surah Qalam?
Yes. Qalam, Nun and Al-Qalam are different English spellings of the same surah name, القلم.

Summaries describe the surah’s content and commonly cited reports for general readers; they are not a tafsir or a religious ruling.

Making a video of Surah Al-Qalam

Surah Al-Qalam has 52 ayahs, so most videos use a passage from it rather than the whole surah. Choose the ayahs you want on the new-project page; one to five ayahs suit a Reel or Short, while longer passages work better in 16:9 for YouTube.

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Surah Al-Qalam in Arabic with English meaning

Arabic: Uthmani script from The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia (quranenc.com), Uthmani script, via quran-json (CC-BY-SA 4.0), shown as in the verified dataset; open-tanween marks use the equivalent codepoints this font draws, as in the editor. English meaning: Saheeh International (tanzil.net). A translation conveys the meaning; it is not the Quran itself.

  1. نٓۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ ۝١

    68:1Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe

  2. مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ۝٢

    68:2You are not, [O Muhammad], by the favor of your Lord, a madman

  3. وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونࣲ ۝٣

    68:3And indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted

  4. وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمࣲ ۝٤

    68:4And indeed, you are of a great moral character

  5. فَسَتُبۡصِرُ وَيُبۡصِرُونَ ۝٥

    68:5So you will see and they will see

  6. بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلۡمَفۡتُونُ ۝٦

    68:6Which of you is the afflicted [by a devil]

  7. إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ ۝٧

    68:7Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided

  8. فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ۝٨

    68:8Then do not obey the deniers

  9. وَدُّواْ لَوۡ تُدۡهِنُ فَيُدۡهِنُونَ ۝٩

    68:9They wish that you would soften [in your position], so they would soften [toward you]

  10. وَلَا تُطِعۡ كُلَّ حَلَّافࣲ مَّهِينٍ ۝١٠

    68:10And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer

  11. هَمَّازࣲ مَّشَّآءِۭ بِنَمِيمࣲ ۝١١

    68:11[And] scorner, going about with malicious gossip

  12. مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ ۝١٢

    68:12A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful

  13. عُتُلِّۭ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ ۝١٣

    68:13Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender

  14. أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالࣲ وَبَنِينَ ۝١٤

    68:14Because he is a possessor of wealth and children

  15. إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ۝١٥

    68:15When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples

  16. سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ۝١٦

    68:16We will brand him upon the snout

  17. إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ ۝١٧

    68:17Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

  18. وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ۝١٨

    68:18Without making exception

  19. فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ ۝١٩

    68:19So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep

  20. فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ۝٢٠

    68:20And it became as though reaped

  21. فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ ۝٢١

    68:21And they called one another at morning

  22. أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ ۝٢٢

    68:22[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit

  23. فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ۝٢٣

    68:23So they set out, while lowering their voices

  24. أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينࣱ ۝٢٤

    68:24[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person

  25. وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدࣲ قَٰدِرِينَ ۝٢٥

    68:25And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able

  26. فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ ۝٢٦

    68:26But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost

  27. بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ۝٢٧

    68:27Rather, we have been deprived

  28. قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ۝٢٨

    68:28The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allah]

  29. قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ۝٢٩

    68:29They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers

  30. فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ ۝٣٠

    68:30Then they approached one another, blaming each other

  31. قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ ۝٣١

    68:31They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors

  32. عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرࣰا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ ۝٣٢

    68:32Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous

  33. كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٣

    68:33Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew

  34. إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ۝٣٤

    68:34Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure

  35. أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ۝٣٥

    68:35Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals

  36. مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٦

    68:36What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge

  37. أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبࣱ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ۝٣٧

    68:37Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

  38. إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ ۝٣٨

    68:38That indeed for you is whatever you choose

  39. أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ ۝٣٩

    68:39Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge

  40. سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ ۝٤٠

    68:40Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible

  41. أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ ۝٤١

    68:41Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful

  42. يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقࣲ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ ۝٤٢

    68:42The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able

  43. خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةࣱۖ وَقَدۡ كَانُواْ يُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمۡ سَٰلِمُونَ ۝٤٣

    68:43Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound

  44. فَذَرۡنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِۖ سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٤٤

    68:44So 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

  45. وَأُمۡلِي لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ كَيۡدِي مَتِينٌ ۝٤٥

    68:45And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm

  46. أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرࣰا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمࣲ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ۝٤٦

    68:46Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down

  47. أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ ۝٤٧

    68:47Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down

  48. فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلۡحُوتِ إِذۡ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكۡظُومࣱ ۝٤٨

    68:48Then 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

  49. لَّوۡلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعۡمَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذۡمُومࣱ ۝٤٩

    68:49If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured

  50. فَٱجۡتَبَٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ۝٥٠

    68:50And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous

  51. وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجۡنُونࣱ ۝٥١

    68:51And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad

  52. وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ۝٥٢

    68:52But it is not except a reminder to the worlds