Surah Al-Qalam: Meaning, Translation, and Tafsir of the Surah of the Pen (Surah 68)

Quick answer: Surah Al-Qalam (“The Pen”) is the 68th surah of the Quran, with 52 verses, in Juz 29. It is an early Makkan surah. It begins by swearing by the pen and defending the Prophet ﷺ against the charge of madness, praises his “great character,” warns against obeying those who lie and mock, tells the story of the owners of a garden who lost it through arrogance, and ends by telling him to be patient like Yunus (peace be upon him).

Surah Al-Qalam at a Glance

• Names: Al-Qalam (the Pen), also called Nun
• Number: 68, in Juz 29
• Verses: 52
• Revealed in: Makkah, early in the Prophet’s ﷺ mission
• Main themes: The Prophet’s ﷺ character, accountability for arrogance and ingratitude, patience, and the reality of the Hereafter

Key Verses With Transliteration and Meaning

This surah has 52 verses, so this guide gives its best-known passages with meaning. Read the full surah from a printed mushaf or a trusted app next to this explanation.

Verses 1 to 4: The pen and the great character

Transliteration: Noon. Wal-qalami wa maa yasturoon. Maa anta bini‘mati rabbika bimajnoon. Wa inna laka la-ajran ghayra mamnoon. Wa innaka la‘alaa khuluqin ‘azeem.

Meaning: Noon. By the pen and what they write, you are not, by the favour of your Lord, a madman. And indeed you will have a reward that never ends. And indeed you are of a great character.

Verse 34: The promise for the God-fearing

Meaning: Indeed, for the God-fearing with their Lord are gardens of bliss.

Verse 48: Be patient like the man of the fish

Meaning: So be patient for the decision of your Lord, and do not be like the man of the fish, when he called out while he was full of distress.

Verses 51 and 52: The envious looks and the reminder

Meaning: And indeed those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say, “He is surely mad.” But it is nothing except a reminder for all the worlds.

These are plain-language meanings, not a replacement for a full translation. Read a trusted translation and tafsir alongside them.

Tafsir: The Structure of the Surah

Part 1: The pen and the Prophet’s ﷺ character (verses 1 to 16)

Allah swears by the pen and what is written with it, which shows the honour of knowledge and writing. The Prophet ﷺ was called mad by his people, and Allah answers with an oath. Verse 4 praises his character. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about it and said his character was the Quran (Sahih Muslim). The surah then warns him not to obey those who swear falsely, insult and spread rumours.

Part 2: The owners of the garden (verses 17 to 33)

The surah tells of a group of men who inherited a garden from a father who used to give to the poor. They swore to harvest it early in the morning so that no poor person would receive anything, and they did not say “insha’Allah.” A calamity destroyed the garden in the night. When they saw it, they first thought they were lost, then admitted that they had been wrong. One of them reminded the others to glorify Allah. The lesson is that blessing is lost when wealth is hoarded and arrogance replaces thankfulness. See Surah Al-Maun on the rights of the poor and sadaqah.

Part 3: The believers and the deniers (verses 34 to 47)

The God-fearing have gardens of bliss. Allah asks whether He would treat the Muslims like the criminals. The surah then describes a scene on the Day of Judgment when people are called to prostrate and cannot, because they refused in this life. It warns against those who deny, and says Allah gives them time and then seizes them. Read about Qiyamah.

Part 4: Patience and protection (verses 48 to 52)

The Prophet ﷺ is told to be patient and not to be like Yunus (peace be upon him), who left his people in distress before Allah allowed it. The surah ends with verses 51 and 52 about the envious looks of the disbelievers and the Quran as a reminder for everyone. See the power of sabr.

The Pen in Islam

Ubadah ibn as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said the first thing Allah created was the Pen, and He told it to write what will be until the Day of Resurrection (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud). Writing and learning are therefore treated with respect throughout the Quran. This is also why “Iqra,” the first word revealed, speaks of the pen.

Verse 51 and the Evil Eye

Some scholars of tafsir mention verse 51 when they speak about the evil eye, since it describes looks that could harm. They also say that the cure is dua, trust in Allah and the protection duas taught by the Prophet ﷺ. Read about it in Nazar Bad Ki Dua and Hifazat Ki Dua. Avoid anyone who claims there is a secret wazifa based on this verse.

Lessons From Surah Al-Qalam

• Good character is a mark of faith. Allah praised it in His Messenger ﷺ.
• Say insha’Allah about the future. The garden owners forgot it. See tawakkul.
• Share what Allah gives you. Hoarding can destroy blessing.
• Do not let insults shake you. Be patient and keep to the truth.
• Respect knowledge. The surah begins with the pen.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many verses does Surah Al-Qalam have?

Fifty-two verses.

Is Surah Al-Qalam Makkan or Madani?

Makkan.

Which Juz is Surah Al-Qalam in?

Juz 29.

What does “Nun” mean at the start of the surah?

It is one of the disconnected letters that open some surahs. Scholars say Allah knows its meaning best, and some earlier scholars gave other explanations, so treat them as opinions.

What is the main message of Surah Al-Qalam?

The Prophet ﷺ is of great character and truthful, arrogance and ingratitude destroy blessing, patience brings success, and the Hereafter is real.

Conclusion

Surah Al-Qalam begins with the pen and ends with a call to patience. Between them are a defence of the Prophet’s ﷺ character and a warning story about a garden. Read it with its meaning and ask yourself how you can improve your character this week.

Continue with Surah Al-Qadr, Surah Al-Kausar and Surah Al-Maun, or find a gathering near you on our Islamic events page.

Please confirm the Arabic text and rulings with a qualified scholar or a printed mushaf.