In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. Nun. By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,-

2. Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed.

3. Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing:

4. And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.

5. Soon wilt thou see, and they will see,

6. Which of you is afflicted with madness.

7. Verily it is thy Lord that knoweth best, which (among men) hath strayed from His Path: and He knoweth best those who receive (true) Guidance.

8. So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth).

9. Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant.

10. Heed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths,

11. A slanderer, going about with calumnies,

12. (Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin,

13. Violent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,-

14. Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons.

15. When to him are rehearsed Our Signs, "Tales of the ancients", he cries!

16. Soon shall We brand (the beast) on the snout!

17. Verily We have tried them as We tried the People of the Garden, when they resolved to gather the fruits of the (garden) in the morning.

18. But made no reservation, ("If it be Allah.s Will").

19. Then there came on the (garden) a visitation from thy Lord, (which swept away) all around, while they were asleep.

20. So the (garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered).

21. As the morning broke, they called out, one to another,-

22. "Go ye to your tilth (betimes) in the morning, if ye would gather the fruits."

23. So they departed, conversing in secret low tones, (saying)-

24. "Let not a single indigent person break in upon you into the (garden) this day."

25. And they opened the morning, strong in an (unjust) resolve.

26. But when they saw the (garden), they said: "We have surely lost our way:

27. "Indeed we are shut out (of the fruits of our labour)!"

28. Said one of them, more just (than the rest): "Did I not say to you, 'Why not glorify ((Allah))?'"

29. They said: "Glory to our Lord! Verily we have been doing wrong!"

30. Then they turned, one against another, in reproach.

31. They said: "Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!

32. "It may be that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this: for we do turn to Him (in repentance)!"

33. Such is the Punishment (in this life); but greater is the Punishment in the Hereafter,- if only they knew!

Translation by Abdullah Yusufali