The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

68. THE PEN
An early Meccan sura that deals with the accusation that Muhammad was not
God’s Messenger but merely mad (verses 2–6). The arrogance of those who
assume that, because they have some of the good things in this life, they can
reject the Revelation, is rebutted (verses 10–16). Examples are given of those who
came to regret their arrogance (verses 17–33). The Prophet is urged to remain
steadfast (verses 48–52).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Nun
By the pen! By all they write! a 2 Your Lord’s grace b does not make
you [Prophet] a madman: 3 you will have a never-ending reward––
4 truly you have a strong character––5 and soon you will see, as will
they, 6 which of you is afflicted with madness. 7 Your Lord knows best
who strays from His path and who is rightly guided. 8 So do not yield
to those who deny the truth––9 they want you to compromise with
them and then they will compromise with you––10 do not yield to any
contemptible swearer, 11 to any backbiter, slander-monger, 12 or hinderer
of good, to anyone who is sinful, aggressive, 13 coarse, and on
top of all that, an imposter. c 14 Just because he has wealth and sons,
15 when our revelations are recited to him, he says, ‘These are just
ancient fables.’ 16 We shall brand him on the snout!
17 We have tried them as We tried the owners of a certain garden,
who swore that they would harvest its fruits in the morning 18 and
made no allowance [for the Will of God]: d 19 a disaster from your
Lord struck the garden as they slept 20 and by morning it was
a This could refer to the angels and what they write down of people’s deeds or to the
generic pen and what people write, thus swearing by the ability to write with which God
endowed human beings. Cf. 96: 4–5.
b Receiving God’s revelation. See esp. 15: 6 for the accusation of madness, which
occurs countless times with reference to various prophets in the Quran. Another interpretation
is ‘by God’s grace . . .’.
c This is said to refer to al-Walid ibn al-Mughira, a staunch opponent of the Prophet.
d Or ‘[for the poor]’.