About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Nun (Only Allah knows its meanings). By the pen and by what they (the angels) write (in the Record of deeds).

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] You are, by the Grace of your Creator, not a mad man.

And, indeed, for you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] will be an end-less reward.

And, indeed, you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] have exquisite manners and marvellous character.

       So now you will see and they will see too (e.g. in Bader),

Indeed, your Creator knows  best who has gone astray from His Path and He knows  best who is (rightly) guided.

Indeed, your Creator knows  best who has gone astray from His Path and He knows  best who is (rightly) guided.

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Hence, don’t obey those who deny (the truth).

They (the disbelievers) wish that you become soft (in the pro-pagation of Islam), so they will be-come softer (in opposing you).

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Don’t obey everyone who swears much and is a liar or is worthless (Tabari).

A defamer, going around with slandering

Who hinders the noble work, is a transgressor and sinful,

Cruel and moreover of illegiti-mate birth.

(His arrogance is due to) his wealth and children.

When Our Verses (of the Quran) are recited to him, he says: “These are stories of the ancient people!”

We shall brand on (his) nose: (He will be easily identified as loser in the Hereafter).

       We are testing (the disbelievers of Makkah with the luxuries of life) just like We tested the owners of the garden when they swore that they will definitely collect the fruits of the garden as soon as the day dawns,

And without saying: “If Allah wills.”

So some (calamity) from your Creator encircled the garden while they were still asleep.

       Hence, the garden became barren like chopped up crop.

So they called each other early in the morning.

(Saying): “Proceed to your crop early in the morning if you wish to pluck the fruits.”

So they proceeded (to the fields) talking in low tones (saying):

“Let not any needy person join you today.”

They rushed to the fields early in the morning (being confident) that they have full control (over the crop).

When they saw the garden they said: “Indeed, we have lost our way (to the fields).”

(After examining the location of the fields, they soon realized and said): “In fact, we are deprived of (the fruits).”

The best among them said: “Did I not remind you to glorify Allah (or to say: ‘If Allah wills.’)”

They said: “Glory to our Cre-ator. Indeed, we were the wrong-doers.”

       So they faced each other and started blaming (one another).

They said: “Woe to us all! Indeed, we were (all) transgressors.”

“We hope that our Creator will replace this with a better garden. Indeed, we turn to our Creator (with hope).”

Thus comes the punishment (in the worldly life), but the punishment of the Hereafter is much greater, if they knew.

Indeed, for the pious persons are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Creator.

Shall We then treat the Muslims like the criminals?

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

Or do you have a Book in which you read,

Indeed, there will be for you all that you choose?

Or do you have some oath from Us, which will remain in force till the Day of Resurrection that you will have all that you decide for yourself?

Ask them, which of them will stand surety for that!

Or do they have their ‘so-called partners’, then they should bring their partners, if they are truthful?

(Remember) the Day (of Judgement) when Allah shall expose His Shin (lower part of leg), (as befits His Majesty) and they will be asked to prostrate themselves (to Allah) but they (the hypocrites) shall not be able to do so. (Bukhari vol. 6 no. 441).

They will have humbled glances (with shame) and disgrace will cover them. And, indeed, they were called to prostrate themselves (i.e. offer prayers in Masajid) while they had sound health (but they did not come) (Tabari and Qurtubi).

Hence, leave Me and those who deny this Quran, We shall gradually lead them (to Hell-Fire) from directions they don’t know.

And I shall grant them some delay. Indeed, My strategy is very firm.

Or do you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] ask them for any payment (for your services), so that they are heavily burdened with this debt?

Or do they have knowledge of the unseen (i.e. access to Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), so that they write down (the information from it)?

Hence, be patient with the Command of your Creator, and don’t be like the Companion of the fish [i.e. Prophet Yunus ( )  ], who prayed to Us when he was deeply sad.

If the Grace of his Creator had not reached him, he would have been thrown in an open field in a disgusting condition (but due to Allah’s Grace he was cast ashore with shade to cover him and was no more in a disgusting condition).

So his Creator chose him (again) and made him from the righteous people (of still higher level).

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)! If Allah’s help and protection was not there for you] then you would have slipped by the jealous sight of the disbelievers, when they listen to the Quran (Ibn-Kathir). And they say: “Indeed, he [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] is a mad man!” (Hence, the disbelievers tried to harm Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with their eyes and tongues).

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)! If Allah’s help and protection was not there for you] then you would have slipped by the jealous sight of the disbelievers, when they listen to the Quran (Ibn-Kathir). And they say: “Indeed, he [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] is a mad man!” (Hence, the disbelievers tried to harm Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with their eyes and tongues).