68:1

Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-

68:2

Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.

68:3

Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:

68:4

And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.

68:5

Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,

68:6

Which of you is afflicted with madness.

68:7

Verily it is thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He knoweth best those who receive (true) Guidance.

68:8

So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).

68:9

Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.

68:10

Heed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,

68:11

A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

68:12

(Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,

68:13

Violent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,-

68:14

Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.

68:15

When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!

68:16

Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!

68:17

Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.

68:18

But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah.s Will").

68:19

Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.

68:20

So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).

68:21

As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-

68:22

"Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."

68:23

So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-

68:24

"Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."

68:25

And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.

68:26

But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:

68:27

"Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"

68:28

Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify ((Allah))?'"

68:29

They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"

68:30

Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.

68:31

They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!

68:32

"It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!"

68:33

Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!

68:34

Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord.

68:35

Shall We then treat the People of Faith like the People of Sin?

68:36

What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

68:37

Or have ye a book through which ye learn-

68:38

That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

68:39

Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?

68:40

Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!

68:41

Or have they some "Partners" (in Allah.ead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!

68:42

The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration, but they shall not be able,-

68:43

Their eyes will be cast down,- ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole, (and had refused).

68:44

Then leave Me alone with such as reject this Message: by degrees shall We punish them from directions they perceive not.

68:45

A (long) respite will I grant them: truly powerful is My Plan.

68:46

Or is it that thou dost ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with a load of debt?-

68:47

Or that the Unseen is in their hands, so that they can write it down?

68:48

So wait with patience for the Command of thy Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish,- when he cried out in agony.

68:49

Had not Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been cast off on the naked shore, in disgrace.

68:50

Thus did his Lord choose him and make him of the Company of the Righteous.