Al-Qalam 68:23
The Pen · Juz 29 · Page 565
فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ٢٣
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
Tafsir · in English
Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Medium · The classic, abridged: ayahs explained by ayahs and hadith.
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Commentary on 68:17–28
قَالُواْ سُبْحَنَ رَبّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَلِمِينَ- فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَلَوَمُونَ- قَالُواْ يوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَغِينَ- عَسَى رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْراً مّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَى رَبّنَا رغِبُونَ- كَذَلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الاْخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ-
Page 565
68:16
سَنَسِمُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡخُرۡطُومِ ١٦
We will brand him upon the snout.1
1 translator’s note
- Literally, "trunk," meaning the nose of an elephant or pig. ↩
68:17
إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ ١٧
Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning
68:18
وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ١٨
Without making exception.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., without conceding that nothing can be accomplished unless Allāh wills, saying, "...if Allāh wills" ("in-shā’-Allāh"). See 18:23-24. ↩
68:19
فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ ١٩
So there came upon it [i.e., the garden] an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.
68:20
فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ٢٠
And it became as though reaped.
68:21
فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ ٢١
And they called one another at morning,
68:22
أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ ٢٢
[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."
68:23
فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ٢٣
So they set out, while lowering their voices,
68:24
أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ ٢٤
[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."
68:25
وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ ٢٥
And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.1
1 translator’s note
- To carry out their plan, confident of their ability. ↩
68:26
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ ٢٦
But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;
68:27
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ٢٧
Rather, we have been deprived."
68:28
قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ٢٨
The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allāh]?'"1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., remember or mention Him by saying, "...if Allāh wills." An additional meaning is "praise" or "thank" Him for His bounty. ↩
68:29
قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ٢٩
They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
68:30
فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ ٣٠
Then they approached one another, blaming each other.
68:31
قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ ٣١
They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.
68:32
عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ ٣٢
Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."1
1 translator’s note
- Of His mercy, forgiveness and bounty. ↩
68:33
كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٣
Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
68:34
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ٣٤
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.
68:35
أَفَنَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ كَٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ٣٥
Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals?
68:36
مَا لَكُمۡ كَيۡفَ تَحۡكُمُونَ ٣٦
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?
68:37
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ كِتَٰبٞ فِيهِ تَدۡرُسُونَ ٣٧
Or do you have a scripture in which you learn
68:38
إِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ ٣٨
That indeed for you is whatever you choose?
68:39
أَمۡ لَكُمۡ أَيۡمَٰنٌ عَلَيۡنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمۡ لَمَا تَحۡكُمُونَ ٣٩
Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?
68:40
سَلۡهُمۡ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ ٤٠
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.
68:41
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَكَآءُ فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ ٤١
Or do they have partners?1 Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.
1 translator’s note
- i.e., those to whom they attribute divinity other than Allāh or partners from among themselves. ↩
68:42
يَوۡمَ يُكۡشَفُ عَن سَاقٖ وَيُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ ٤٢
The Day the shin will be uncovered1 and they are invited to prostration but they [i.e., the disbelievers] will not be able,
1 translator’s note
- i.e., when everyone will find before him great difficulty. In accordance with authentic ḥadīths, "the shin" might also refer to that of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā), before which every believer will prostrate on the Day of Judgement. See footnote to 2:19. ↩
Translation: Saheeh International · Text and layout: Quran Foundation · Mushaf fonts: King Fahd Complex, provided by Quran Foundation · Privacy