1
– 7 |
[Read out to them, O Prophet,] In the name of Allah, Mercy abundant, Mercy eternal. This is Surah Noon1 The pen bears witness [through whatever they wrote with it in the previous scriptures] and that which they are writing [with it] now [that you are a true messenger of God and] that, by the grace of your Lord, you are not a madman2; and [therefore,irrespective of what these rejecters claim,] there shall be a lasting reward for you3; and [with all this,] you are also, most definitely, at a height of morality4. So, it will not be long before you see – and they too will see – who among you is truly afflicted [with madness]5. Your Lord is well aware of those, who have strayed from His path and He is also aware of those, who are rightly guided6. |
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ ﴿١﴾ مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ ﴿٢﴾ وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ ﴿٣﴾ وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤﴾ فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٥﴾ بِأَييِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ ﴿٦﴾ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿٧﴾ |
8
– 16 |
Therefore, pay no heed to these rejecters. They only desire that if you soften yourself towards them then they too will soften themselves towards you. And Pay no heed to any [of these persons, who is] swift in taking false oaths7, contemptible, [sarcastically] gesturing, moving around with slander, opposing good, transgressing, snatching others’ rights, hard of heart, and after all this, is also one, who mixes his lineage8. [His rejection is only] because he has been bestowed with wealth and progeny9. When Our verses are recited to him, he [arrogantly] says: ‘Merely stories of old’. [His arrogance has inflated his nose to the size of an elephant’s trunk10, but now] it would not be long before We brand him on his trunk. |
فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ ﴿٨﴾ وَدُّوا لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ ﴿٩﴾ وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾ هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ ﴿١١﴾ مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ ﴿١٢﴾ عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ ﴿١٣﴾ أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ ﴿١٤﴾ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٥﴾ |
17
– 32 |
We have tested them11 [in their wealth] as We had tested the owners of the garden: when they vowed that they shall pick all the fruits of their garden in the early hours of the morning12 and [that] they shall make no exception from it [for the poor and the needy]13. But, while they were still sleeping [O Prophet], an encircling visitor from your Lord made its rounds over it14, after which, it seemed as if it had already been harvested. [While, in their home,] they called each other, in the morning that if you plan to pick your fruits, then you should reach your garden in the early hours. So they set out, whispering to each other: ‘Today, no beggar should be allowed to enter the garden to reach you’. And they were walking in high spirits, as if everything was under their control. But when they saw it, they called out: ‘We must have lost our way’. ‘No. [We have not lost our way], we have, in fact, been completely deprived [of our possessions]’. The one, who was the best among them said: ‘Did I not keep telling you to glorify God [for what He has blessed you with]?’ They said: ‘Our Lord is clear of all fault, we were being unjust, ourselves.’ Then they started reproaching each other, saying: ‘Woe to us for our transgressions. We hope that our Lord will grant us an even better garden in its place, for now we shall wholeheartedly turn towards our Lord. |
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ ﴿١٧﴾ وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ ﴿١٨﴾ فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ ﴿٢٠﴾ فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ ﴿٢١﴾ أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ ﴿٢٢﴾ فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ ﴿٢٤﴾ وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ ﴿٢٦﴾ بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾ قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾ قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾ فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾ قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ ﴿٣١﴾ عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَا أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾ |
33 – 34 |
[These people of Makkah – also intoxicated by their wealth and possessions – are rejecting Our messenger. Tell them that] such is the punishment of God and the punishment in the hereafter is even severer. If only they had known. [In contrast,] for those, who fear [this punishment], shall be gardens of bliss, with their Lord. |
كَذَٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُ ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٣﴾ إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿٣٤﴾ |
35 – 41 |
[You think that We shall never bring about this Day of Judgment,] so [do you really think that] We would render the obedient and the criminal alike? What is wrong with you? What kind of a judgment do you pass? [They say that even if there were to be a hereafter, we would be blessed with all the good things in the coming life, as we are blessed in this life. Ask them:] Do you have a Book in which you read that there [- in the Hereafter -] you will get all that you choose? Have you taken oaths from Us, which are binding upon Us till the Day of Resurrection, that you will get all that you ordain [in this life as well as in the hereafter]? Ask them [O Prophet], who among them will be a guarantor for this? Or do they have other deities besides God [who will save them from God’s judgment]? [If that is so,] then they should present these deities, if they are truthful in their claim.
|
أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٣٥﴾ مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾ أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾ أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾ سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾ أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ ﴿٤١﴾ |
42 – 43 |
[They may dream their dreams as they will, but] on the Day when the great calamity befalls and [when] they are called to prostrate [in front of their Lord], they shall not be able to carryout the prostration – eyes downcast, utterly humbled [shall they stand] – [but now they shall not be allowed to prostrate] for [in the past] they were called to prostrate to the Lord, while they were fully capable of doing so [but they arrogantly refused.]15 |
وْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ﴿٤٢﴾ خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ ﴿٤٣﴾ |
44 – 45 |
Therefore, leave Me and those, who are persistent in rejecting this revelation16. Step by step, We shall take them [to their ruin], from where they do not know. I will grant them respite for a time [so that they may gather up all their strengths], for indeed My plans are extremely firm. |
فَذَرْنِي وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ ۖ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾ وَأُمْلِي لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ كَيْدِي مَتِينٌ ﴿٤٥﴾ |
46 – 50 |
[After all, why do they refuse to listen to your call?] Are you asking them for a compensation, the burden of which is weighing them down? Or do they have knowledge of the future, and they have written it down [which makes them feel secured]? [No, it is merely their arrogance, which has led them into this refusal.] Therefore, [O Prophet, you must] patiently wait for the decree of your Lord [without leaving your ground] and [in this regard] be not like the one, who was swallowed by the fish17; When he called upon his Lord [from inside the fish], while he was stifled with grief – had it not been for a special favor of his Lord, he would have been left cast away on the barren land, disgraced – but [when he called upon God, seeking forgiveness] his Lord [had mercy upon him and] selected him [as His prophet] and, thus, included him among His righteous servants. |
أَمْ تَسْأَلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾ أَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾ فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ ﴿٤٨﴾ لَّوْلَا أَن تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ ﴿٤٩﴾ فَاجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿٥٠﴾ |
51 | And [therefore, O Prophet, you must patiently wait for the decree of your Lord] even though these rejecters seem to devour you with their glaring eyes, when they hear this admonition; and they say: ‘He is definitely a madman’. |
وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ ﴿٥١﴾ |
52 | While, in fact, it is only a reminder for the whole world. |
وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٥٢﴾ |
- Although the implication of most of the letters – as used in the beginning of many of the Surahs of the Qur’an – is no longer known, yet we know that “Noon” was used for fish. This Surah entails a brief reference to the prophet Jonah (pbuh) – the man of the fish – and is given the name “Noon” due to that reference. [↩]
- The Qur’an itself and its similarity of purpose with that of the previous revelations are evidence of the truthfulness of the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh). [↩]
- Turning their backs upon the call of the messenger of God, the rejecters would say that soon the Messenger as well as his Message would be forgotten by the people and will become a target of the wrath of their gods. [↩]
- These people are comparing the Prophet (pbuh) with their poets, orators and soothsayers. Yet, even in their prejudice against the truth, they are themselves witnesses of the impeccable character and the high moral standards of the Prophet (pbuh), which are in complete contrast to the character and morality of their poets, orators and soothsayers. [↩]
- i.e., soon God will separate the good from the evil, as He had done with all those people among whom He had sent His messengers. [↩]
- i.e., when He is fully aware of those who have strayed from His prescribed path and those, who are rightly guided, then how can anyone be of the opinion that both shall meet the same end. God will definitely separate the good from the evil and each shall then meet its rightful end. [↩]
- In verse 4, there was a reference to the impeccable character and moral standards of the Prophet (pbuh). Now, as a comparison, some of the glaring characteristics of those, who were rejecting the Prophet’s message are also mentioned. [↩]
- Among these rejecters there were also such people, who in their desire to associate themselves with those tribes, which were held to be more honorable had falsely altered their lineage. [↩]
- Progeny, especially male progeny, was held to be a source of great strength in the tribal lifestyle of the Arabs. [↩]
- In the Arabic language, ‘big nose’ is used figuratively for show of pride and arrogance. [↩]
- i.e. the leaders of Quraysh, who – intoxicated by their wealth and possessions – were arrogantly turning away from the call of the messenger. [↩]
- When no one is present to ask them for charity. [↩]
- i.e. they shall pick all the fruits of their garden and leave nothing behind for the poor and the needy. It was a recognized custom of the noble class that at the time of picking fruits, they would leave a portion of their crop and fruits for the poor, the wayfarers and the needy. [↩]
- It seems that while they were still sleeping, a windstorm of the nature of a tornado swept away all of their crops and fruits. [↩]
- As a punishment for their arrogance, they shall now not be allowed to prostrate in front of their Lord, even though they would desire to do so. [↩]
- i.e. leave these rejecters to Me. I shall deal with them on My own. [↩]
- This is a reference to the prophet Jonah (pbuh), who decided to leave his people before God had commanded him to do so. [↩]