068.001 Nun. By the pen and that which they write (therewith),
068.002 Thou art not, for thy Lord's favour unto thee, a madman.
068.003 And lo! thine verily will be a reward unfailing.
068.004 And lo! thou art of a tremendous nature.
068.005 And thou wilt see and they will see
068.006 Which of you is the demented.
068.007 Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.
068.008 Therefor obey not thou the rejecters
068.009 Who would have had thee compromise, that they may compromise.
068.010 Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger,
068.011 Detracter, spreader abroad of slanders,
068.012 Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor
068.013 Greedy therewithal, intrusive.
068.014 It is because he is possessed of wealth and children
068.015 That, when Our revelations are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old.
068.016 We shall brand him on the nose.
068.017 Lo! We have tried them as We tried the owners of the garden when they vowed that they would pluck its fruit next morning,
068.018 And made no exception (for the Will of Allah);
068.019 Then a visitation from thy Lord came upon it while they slept
068.020 And in the morning it was as if plucked.
068.021 And they cried out one unto another in the morning,
068.022 Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit).
068.023 So they went off, saying one unto another in low tones:
068.024 No needy man shall enter it to-day against you.
068.025 They went betimes, strong in (this) purpose.
068.026 But when they saw it, they said: Lo! we are in error!
068.027 Nay, but we are desolate!
068.028 The best among them said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah) ?
068.029 They said: Glorified be our Lord! Lo! we have been wrong-doers.
068.030 Then some of them drew near unto others, self-reproaching.
068.031 They said: Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous.
068.032 It may be that our Lord will give us better than this in place thereof. Lo! we beseech our Lord.
068.033 Such was the punishment. And verily the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they did but know.
068.034 Lo! for those who keep from evil are gardens of bliss with their Lord.
068.035 Shall We then treat those who have surrendered as We treat the guilty ?
068.036 What aileth you ? How foolishly ye judge!
068.037 Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn
068.038 That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose ?
068.039 Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain ?
068.040 Ask them (O Muhammad) which of them will vouch for that!
068.041 Or have they other gods ? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful
068.042 On the day when it befalleth in earnest, and they are ordered to prostrate themselves but are not able,
068.043 With eyes downcast, abasement stupefying them. And they had been summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet unhurt.
068.044 Leave Me (to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement. We shall lead them on by steps from whence they know not.
068.045 Yet I bear with them, for lo! My scheme is firm.
068.046 Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee from them so that they are heavily taxed ?
068.047 Or is the Unseen theirs that they can write (thereof) ?
068.048 But wait thou for thy Lord's decree, and be not like him of the fish, who cried out in despair.
068.049 Had it not been that favour from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate.
068.050 But his Lord chose him and placed him among the righteous.
068.051 And lo! those who disbelieve would fain disconcert thee with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say: Lo! he is indeed mad;
068.052 When it is naught else than a Reminder to creation.