How to memorize Surah Al-Qalam

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Recited by Mishary Rashid Alafasy

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Surah Al-Qalam: Arabic text, transliteration and translation

1. 68:1

   نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ

   Noon; walqalami wa maa yasturoon

   Nũn. By the pen and what everyone writes!

2. 68:2

   مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ

   Maa anta bini'mati Rabbika bimajnoon

   By the grace of your Lord, you ˹O Prophet˺ are not insane.

3. 68:3

   وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ

   Wa inna laka la ajran ghaira mamnoon

   You will certainly have a never-ending reward.

4. 68:4

   وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

   Wa innaka la'alaa khuluqin 'azeem

   And you are truly ˹a man˺ of outstanding character.

5. 68:5

   فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ

   Fasatubsiru wa yubsiroon

   Soon you and the pagans will see

6. 68:6

   بِأَييِّكُمُ ٱلْمَفْتُونُ

   Bi ayyikumul maftoon

   which of you is mad.

7. 68:7

   إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ

   Innaa Rabbaka Huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabeelihee wa Huwa a'lamu bilmuhtadeen

   Surely your Lord ˹alone˺ knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is ˹rightly˺ guided.

8. 68:8

   فَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

   Falaa tuti'il mukazzibeen

   So do not give in to the deniers.

9. 68:9

   وَدُّوا۟ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ

   Waddoo law tudhinu fa-yudhinoon

   They wish you would compromise so they would yield ˹to you˺.

10. 68:10

    وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ

    Wa laa tuti' kulla hallaa fim maheen

    And do not obey the despicable, vain oath-taker

11. 68:11

    هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّآءٍۭ بِنَمِيمٍ

    Hammaazim mash shaaa'im binameem

    slanderer, gossip-monger

12. 68:12

    مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ

    Mannaa'il lilkhairi mu'tadin aseem

    withholder of good, transgressor, evildoer

13. 68:13

    عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ

    'Utullim ba'da zaalika zaneem

    brute, and—on top of all that—an illegitimate child.

14. 68:14

    أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ

    An kaana zaa maalinw-wa baneen

    Now, ˹simply˺ because he has been blessed with ˹abundant˺ wealth and children

15. 68:15

    إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

    Izaa tutlaa 'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen

    whenever Our revelations are recited to him, he says, “Ancient fables!”

16. 68:16

    سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْخُرْطُومِ

    Sanasimuhoo 'alal khurtoom

    We will soon mark his snout.

17. 68:17

    إِنَّا بَلَوْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا۟ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ

    Innaa balawnaahum kamaa balawnaaa As-haabal jannati iz 'aqsamoo la-yasri munnahaa musbiheen

    Indeed, We have tested those ˹Meccans˺ as We tested the owners of the garden—when they swore they would surely harvest ˹all˺ its fruit in the early morning

18. 68:18

    وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

    Wa laa yastasnoon

    leaving no thought for Allah’s Will.

19. 68:19

    فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ

    Fataafa 'alaihaa taaa'i fum mir rabbika wa hum naaa'imoon

    Then it was struck by a torment from your Lord while they slept

20. 68:20

    فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ

    Fa asbahat kassareem

    so it was reduced to ashes.

21. 68:21

    فَتَنَادَوْا۟ مُصْبِحِينَ

    Fatanaadaw musbiheen

    Then by daybreak they called out to each other

22. 68:22

    أَنِ ٱغْدُوا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰرِمِينَ

    Anighdoo 'alaa harsikum in kuntum saarimeen

    ˹saying,˺ “Go early to your harvest, if you want to pick ˹all˺ the fruit.”

23. 68:23

    فَٱنطَلَقُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَتَخَـٰفَتُونَ

    Fantalaqoo wa hum yatakhaafatoon

    So they went off, whispering to one another

24. 68:24

    أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

    Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen

    “Do not let any poor person enter your garden today.”

25. 68:25

    وَغَدَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَـٰدِرِينَ

    Wa ghadaw 'alaa hardin qaadireen

    And they proceeded early, totally fixated on their purpose.

26. 68:26

    فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ

    Falammaa ra awhaa qaalooo innaa ladaaalloon

    But when they saw it ˹devastated˺, they cried, “We must have lost ˹our˺ way!

27. 68:27

    بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

    Bal nahnu mahroomoon

    In fact, we have been deprived ˹of our livelihood˺.”

28. 68:28

    قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

    Qaala awsatuhum alam aqul lakum law laa tusabbihoon

    The most sensible of them said, “Did I not urge you to say, ‘Allah willing.’?”

29. 68:29

    قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ

    Qaaloo subhaana rabbinaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen

    They replied, “Glory be to our Lord! We have truly been wrongdoers.”

30. 68:30

    فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـٰوَمُونَ

    Fa aqbala ba'duhum 'alaa ba'diny yatalaawamoon

    Then they turned on each other, throwing blame.

31. 68:31

    قَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـٰغِينَ

    Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa taagheen

    They said, “Woe to us! We have certainly been transgressors.

32. 68:32

    عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ

    'Asaa rabbunaaa any yubdilanaa khairam minhaaa innaaa ilaa rabbinaa raaghiboon

    We trust our Lord will give us a better garden than this, ˹for˺ we are indeed turning to our Lord with hope.”

33. 68:33

    كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

    Kazaalikal azaab, wa la'azaabul aakhirati akbar; law kaanoo ya'lamoon

    That is the ˹way of Our˺ punishment ˹in this world˺. But the punishment of the Hereafter is certainly far worse, if only they knew.

34. 68:34

    إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

    Inna lilmuttaqeena 'inda rabbihim jannaatin na'eem

    Indeed, the righteous will have the Gardens of Bliss with their Lord.

35. 68:35

    أَفَنَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ كَٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

    Afanaj'alul muslimeena kalmujrimeen

    Should We then treat those who have submitted like the wicked?

36. 68:36

    مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

    Maa lakum kaifa tahhkumoon

    What is the matter with you? How do you judge?

37. 68:37

    أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ

    Am lakum kitaabun feehi tadrusoon

    Or do you have a scripture, in which you read

38. 68:38

    إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

    Inna lakum feehi lamaa takhaiyaroon

    that you will have whatever you choose?

39. 68:39

    أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَـٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَـٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ

    Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon

    Or do you have oaths binding on Us until the Day of Judgment that you will have whatever you decide?

40. 68:40

    سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

    Salhum ayyuhum bizaa lika za'eem

    Ask them ˹O Prophet˺ which of them can guarantee all that.

41. 68:41

    أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِينَ

    Am lahum shurakaaa'u falyaatoo bishurakaaa 'ihim in kaanoo saadiqeen

    Or do they have associate-gods ˹supporting this claim˺? Then let them bring forth their associate-gods, if what they say is true.

42. 68:42

    يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

    Yawma yukshafu 'am saaqinw wa yud'awna ilas sujoodi falaa yastatee'oon

    ˹Beware of˺ the Day the Shin ˹of Allah˺ will be bared, and the wicked will be asked to prostrate, but they will not be able to do so

43. 68:43

    خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَـٰلِمُونَ

    Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillatunw wa qad kaanoo yud'awna ilassujoodi wa hum saalimoon

    with eyes downcast, totally covered with disgrace. For they were ˹always˺ called to prostrate ˹in the world˺ when they were fully capable ˹but they chose not to˺.

44. 68:44

    فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

    Fazarnee wa many yukazzibu bihaazal hadeesi sanastad rijuhum min haisu laa ya'lamoon

    So leave to Me ˹O Prophet˺ those who reject this message. We will gradually draw them to destruction in ways they cannot comprehend.

45. 68:45

    وَأُمْلِى لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِى مَتِينٌ

    Wa umlee lahum; inna kaidee mateen

    I ˹only˺ delay their end for a while, but My planning is flawless.

46. 68:46

    أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ

    Am tas'aluhum ajran fahum mim maghramim musqaloon

    Or are you asking them for a reward ˹for the message˺ so that they are overburdened by debt?

47. 68:47

    أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ

    Am 'indahumul ghaibu fahum yaktuboon

    Or do they have access to ˹the Record in˺ the unseen, so they copy it ˹for all to see˺?

48. 68:48

    فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

    Fasbir lihkmi rabbika wa laa takun kasaahibil boot; iz naadaa wa huwa makzoom

    So be patient with your Lord’s decree, and do not be like ˹Jonah,˺ the Man of the Whale, who cried out ˹to Allah˺, in total distress.

49. 68:49

    لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

    Law laaa an tadaara kahoo ni'matum mir rabbihee lanubiza bil'araaa'i wa huwa mazmoom

    Had he not been shown grace by his Lord, he would have certainly been cast onto the open ˹shore˺, still blameworthy.

50. 68:50

    فَٱجْتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

    Fajtabaahu rabbuhoo faja'alahoo minas saaliheen

    Then his Lord chose him, making him one of the righteous.

51. 68:51

    وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌ

    Wa iny-yakaadul lazeena kafaroo la-yuzliqoonaka biabsaarihim lammaa saml'uz-Zikra wa yaqooloona innahoo lamajnoon

    The disbelievers would almost cut you down with their eyes when they hear ˹you recite˺ the Reminder, and say, “He is certainly a madman.”

52. 68:52

    وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

    Wa maa huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen

    But it is simply a reminder to the whole world.

Sources

• Translation: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran.
• Recitation: Mishary Rashid Alafasy, via mp3quran.net.
• Transliteration is only a reading aid. Learn the exact pronunciation from the recitation or a teacher.