al-Qalam

Nun. By the Pen and what they write:

— Ali Quli Qarai

by your Lord’s blessing, you are not, crazy,

— Ali Quli Qarai

and yours indeed will be an everlasting reward,

— Ali Quli Qarai

and indeed you possess a great character.

— Ali Quli Qarai

You will see and they will see,

— Ali Quli Qarai

which one of you is crazy.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His way, and He knows best those who are guided.

— Ali Quli Qarai

So do not obey the deniers,

— Ali Quli Qarai

who are eager that you should be flexible, so that they [too] may be flexible [towards you].

— Ali Quli Qarai

And do not obey any vile swearer,

— Ali Quli Qarai

scandal-monger, talebearer,

— Ali Quli Qarai

hinderer of all good, sinful transgressor,

— Ali Quli Qarai

callous and, on top of that, baseborn

— Ali Quli Qarai

—[who behaves in such a manner only] because he has wealth and children.

— Ali Quli Qarai

When Our signs are recited to him, he says, ‘Myths of the ancients!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Soon We shall brand him on his snout.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed we have tested them just as We tested the People of the Garden when they vowed they would gather its fruit at dawn,

— Ali Quli Qarai

and they did not make any exception.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Then, a visitation from your Lord visited it while they were asleep.

— Ali Quli Qarai

So, by dawn it was like a harvested field.

— Ali Quli Qarai

At dawn they called out to one another,

— Ali Quli Qarai

‘Get off early to your field if you have to gather [the fruits].’

— Ali Quli Qarai

So off they went, murmuring to one another:

— Ali Quli Qarai

‘Today no needy man shall come to you in it.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

And they set out at early morning, [considering themselves] able to deprive [the poor of its fruit].

— Ali Quli Qarai

But when they saw it, they said, ‘We have indeed lost our way!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

‘No, it is we who have been deprived!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

The most upright among them said, ‘Did I not tell you, ‘‘Why do you not glorify [Allah]?’’ ’

— Ali Quli Qarai

They said, ‘Immaculate is our Lord! We have indeed been wrongdoers!’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Then they turned to one another, blaming each other.

— Ali Quli Qarai

They said, ‘Woe to us! Indeed, we have been rebellious.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Maybe our Lord will give us a better one in its place. Indeed we earnestly beseech our Lord.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Such was their punishment; and the punishment of the Hereafter is surely greater, had they known.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed for the Godwary there will be gardens of bliss near their Lord.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Shall We treat those who submit [to Us] as [We treat] the guilty?

— Ali Quli Qarai

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

— Ali Quli Qarai

Do you possess a scripture in which you read

— Ali Quli Qarai

that you shall have in it whatever you choose?

— Ali Quli Qarai

Do you have a pledge binding on Us until the Day of Resurrection, that you shall indeed have whatever you decide?

— Ali Quli Qarai

Ask them, which of them will aver [any of] that!

— Ali Quli Qarai

Do they have any ‘partners’ [that they claim for Allah]? Then let them produce their partners, if they are truthful.

— Ali Quli Qarai

The day when the catastrophe occurs and they are summoned to prostrate themselves, they will not be able [to do it].

— Ali Quli Qarai

With a humbled look [in their eyes], they will be overcast by abasement. Certainly, they were summoned to prostrate themselves while they were yet sound.

— Ali Quli Qarai

So leave Me with those who deny this discourse. We will draw them imperceptibly [into ruin], whence they do not know.

— Ali Quli Qarai

I will grant them respite, for My devising is indeed sure.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Do you ask them for a reward, so that they are weighed down with debt?

— Ali Quli Qarai

Do they possess [access to] the Unseen, so that they write it down?

— Ali Quli Qarai

So submit patiently to the judgement of your Lord, and do not be like the Man of the Fish who called out as he choked with grief.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Had it not been for a blessing that came to his rescue from his Lord, he would surely have been cast on the bare shore, being blameworthy.

— Ali Quli Qarai

So his Lord chose him and made him one of the righteous.

— Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed the faithless almost devour you with their eyes when they hear this Reminder, and they say, ‘He is indeed crazy.’

— Ali Quli Qarai

Yet it is just a reminder for all the nations.

— Ali Quli Qarai