Al-Qalam

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and under the Rock is the Dust and none knows what is under the Dust save Allah. The name of the whale is Liwash, and it is said its name is Lutiaya'; the name of the bull is Bahamut, and some say its name is Talhut or Liyona. The whale is in a sea called 'Adwad, and it is like a small bull in a huge sea. The sea is in a hollowed rock whereby there is 4,000 cracks, and from each crack water springs out to the earth. It is also said that Nun is one of the names of the Lord; it stands for the letter Nun in Allah's name al-Rahman (the Beneficent); and it is also said that a Nun is an inkwell. (By the pen) Allah swore by the pen. This pen is made of light and its height is equal to the distance between Heaven and earth. It is with this pen that the Wise Remembrance, i.e. the Guarded Tablet, was written. It is also said that the pen is one of the angels by whom Allah has sworn, (and that which they write (therewith)) and Allah also swore by what the angels write down of the works of the children of Adam,

(Thou art not) O Muhammad, (for your Lord's favour) for the prophethood and Islam bestowed (unto thee, a madman) bewitched. This is the reason why Allah made the above oath.

(And lo! thine) O Muhammad (verily will be a reward) in the Garden for the prophethood and Islam bestowed upon you (unfailing) undiminished, unspoilt and blameless.

(And lo! thou art) O Muhammad (of a tremendous nature) following a noble religion which is honoured by Allah; it is also said this means: you have great character traits with which Allah has honoured you.

(And thou wilt see and they will see) you will see and know and they will see and know upon the descent of chastisement on them

(Which of you is the demented) which of you is mad.

(Lo! thy Lord) O Muhammad (is best aware of him who strayeth from His way) from His religion, i.e. Abu Jahl and his host, (and He is best aware of those who walk aright) and He is best aware of those who are guided to His religion, i.e. Abu Bakr and his fellow believers.

(Therefore obey not thou) O Muhammad (the rejecters) the disbelievers in Allah, His Scripture and His Messenger, i.e. the leaders of the people of Mecca

(Who would have had you) who would wish you to (compromise, that they may compromise) i.e. who would wish that you lean towards them so that they would lean towards you; it is also said that this means: who would wish that you agree with them so that they agree with you and that you flatter them so that they would flatter you.

(Neither obey thou) O Muhammad (each feeble) with regard to the religion of Allah (oath monger) who lies against Allah. This refers to al-Walid Ibn al-Mughirah al-Makhzumi,

(Detractor) who slanders and curses people right and left, (spreader abroad of slanders) who is a talebearer in order to cause mischief between people?

(Hinderer of the good) hinderer of Islam, for he prevented his sons and relatives from embracing Islam, (transgressor) he transgressed, O Muhammad, against the Truth and wronged them, (malefactor) sinful

(Greedy therewithal) he eats and drinks much and has a strong body and a large belly; it is also said that this means: he is extreme in arguing in favour of falsehood and lies, (intrusive) he is stuck with the folk while he is not of them; it is also said that this means: he is well known for his disbelief, idolatry, indecency, sinfulness and evil; it is also said that this means: he is known for his meanness just as a young donkey is known to have a pendant on its ear.

(It is because he is possessed of wealth and children) He says: do not obey him even if he has wealth and children. This man had 9,000 measures of silver and ten children

(That, when Our revelations) the Qur'an, detailing the commands and prohibitions (are recited unto him, he saith: Mere fables of the men of old) this is just the talk and lies of the men of old.

(We shall brand him on the nose) We shall hit him on the nose; and it is said this means: We shall hit him on the face; and it is also said this means: his face will be darkened.

(Lo! we have tried them) We have tried the people of Mecca with death, captivity and defeat on the Day of Badr because they refrained from asking forgiveness and We tried them with hunger and drought for a period of seven years because the Prophet, Allah bless him and give peace, prayed against them on the Day of Badr (as We tried) with hunger and the burning of the gardens (the owners of the garden) the owners of the fields: the Banu Darwan (when they vowed) when they swore by Allah (they would pluck its fruit next morning) at the break of dawn.

(And made no exception (for the will of Allah)) they forgot to say: Allah willing;

(Then a visitation) a punishment from your Lord (came upon it) upon the garden (while they slept) and was burned.

(And in the morning it was as if plucked) it was like a dark night.

(And they cried out one unto another in the morning) at the break of dawn,

(Saying: Run unto your field if ye would pluck (the fruit)) before the needy ones come to know about it.

(So they went off) towards the fields, (saying one unto another in low tones:

No needy man shall enter it) i.e. the garden (today against you.

They went betimes) they went to their fields holding rancour, (strong in (this) purpose) to pluck their fruits.

(But when they saw it) when they saw the fields burned down, (they said: Lo! we are in error!) we have taken a wrong turn; thinking that they were not their fields

Then they said: (Nay, but we are desolate!) We have been denied the benefit of the garden because of our ill intentions.

(The best among them) in intellect and opinion; and it is also said this means: the older one of them; and it is also said: the most upright among them (said: Said I not unto you: Why glorify ye not (Allah)) why not say: Allah willing? He said this when they made their vow.

(They said: Glorified be our Lord!) We ask forgiveness of our Lord. (Lo! we have been wrong-doers) we harmed ourselves by our transgression and intention to deprive the needy ones and also by failing to say �Allah willing�.

(Then some of them drew near unto others, self-reproaching) reproaching one another.

(They said) in unison: (Alas for us! In truth we were outrageous) we were sinful by depriving the needy ones.

(It may be) and �may be� when used in connection with Allah denotes necessity (that our Lord will give us) in the Hereafter in exchange (better than this in place thereof) better than this garden. (Lo! we beseech our Lord) our desire is with Allah.

(Such was the punishment) in the life of the world for the one who refrains from giving Allah's due from his wealth, just as Allah burnt their garden and exposed them to hunger; it is also said that this means: such is the punishment of the life of the world as happened to the people of Mecca who were exposed to hunger and death. (And verily the punishment of the Hereafter) for he who does not repent (is greater) than the punishment of the life of the world (if they did but know) if the people of Mecca did but knew, but they do not know nor do they believe in this.

(Lo! for those who keep from evil) for those who ward off disbelief, idolatry and indecencies (are Gardens of Bliss) whose bliss is continuous and eternal (with their Lord) in the Hereafter.

'Utbah Ibn Rabi'ah said: �if what Muhammad (pbuh) says to his Companions about Paradise and its bliss is true, we will surely be better than them in the Hereafter as we are better than them in the life of this world�, and so Allah revealed: (Shall We then treat those who have surrendered) shall We then make the reward of the Muslims in Paradise (as We treat the guilty) as the reward of the idolaters who are the owners of the Fire?

(What aileth you) O people of Mecca? (How foolishly ye judge!) Evil is what you judge for yourselves!

(Or have ye a Scripture wherein you learn) wherein you recite

(That you shall indeed have) in this Scripture (all that ye choose) all you desire in Paradise in the Hereafter?

(Or have ye a covenant) pledges (on oath from Us) on firm oaths from Us (that reacheth to the Day of Judgement, that yours shall be all that ye ordain) that you shall have all that you judge for yourselves in Paradise in the Hereafter?

(Ask them) O Muhammad (which of them will vouch for that) that they say!

(Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful) that they will have that which they claim.

(On the day when it befalleth in earnest) a matter to which they were blind in the life of the world; it is also said this means: when a severe, horrific matter is revealed; and it is also said that this means: when a sign between them and their Lord is revealed, (and they are ordered to prostrate themselves) this is because they said: By Allah, our Lord, we were not idolaters or hypocrites (but are not able) to prostrate, their bodies remaining erect like solid fortresses,

(With eyes downcast) not able to see any good, (abasement stupefying them) humiliation and darkness appear on their faces. (And they had been summoned) in the life of the world (to prostrate themselves) to submit themselves through the profession of Allah's divine Oneness but did not submit to Allah's divine Oneness (while they were yet unhurt) while they were strong and sound of bodies.

(Leave Me) O Muhammad ((to deal) with those who give the lie to this pronouncement) to this Scripture. (We shall lead them on) i.e. those who mock the Qur'an (by steps from whence they know not) from whence they perceive not. And Allah did indeed destroy them-they were five people-in one night and one day.

(Yet I bear with them) I give them a reprieve, (for lo! My scheme is firm) My punishment is severe.

(Or dost thou (Muhammad) ask a fee) or provision in exchange for faith (from them) from the people of Mecca (so that they are heavily taxed) they are too much indebted by accepting your invitation to accept faith?

(Or is the Unseen) the Guarded Tablet (theirs that they can write (thereof)) that with which they argue against you?

(But wait thou for your Lord's decree) be patient in conveying the message of your Lord; it is also said this means: be pleased with the decree of your Lord, (and be not) fed up and heart constricted with regard to Allah's command (like him of the fish) like Jonah the son of Mathew (Matta), (who cried out) to his Lord in the belly of the fish (in despair) tired and aggrieved.

(Had it not been that favour) mercy (from his Lord had reached him he surely had been cast into the wilderness while he was reprobate) and guilty.

(But his Lord chose him) to make repentance (and placed him among the righteous) among the messengers.

(And lo! those who disbelieve) the disbelievers of Mecca (would fain disconcert thee) would kill you (with their eyes) and it is said this means: they would give you the evil eye (when they hear the Reminder) when they hear you recite the Qur'an, (and they) i.e. the people of Mecca (say: Lo! he is) i.e. Muhammad (indeed mad) bewitched;

(When it is) i.e. the Qur'an (naught else than a Reminder to creation) to the jinn and humankind'.