القلم

68 - The Pen (Al-Qalam)

Order of Revelation: 2

مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ

Transliteration:

Ma lakum kayfa tahkumoona

Word by Word:

What (is) for you? How (do) you judge?

Translations:

What is amiss with you? On what do you base your judgment [of right and wrong]?

What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

What aileth you? How foolishly ye judge!

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

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

أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ

Transliteration:

Am lakum kitabun feehi tadrusoona

Word by Word:

Or (is) for you a book wherein you learn,

Translations:

Or have you, perchance, a [special] divine writ which you study,

Or have ye a book through which ye learn-

Or have ye a scripture wherein ye learn

Or have you a book wherein you read

Or do you have a scripture in which you learn

إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ

Transliteration:

Inna lakum feehi lama takhayyaroona

Word by Word:

Indeed for you in it what you choose?

Translations:

and in which you find all that you may wish to find?

That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

That ye shall indeed have all that ye choose?

That you shall surely have therein what you choose?

That indeed for you is whatever you choose?

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ

Transliteration:

Am lakum aymanun AAalayna balighatun ila yawmi alqiyamati inna lakum lama tahkumoona

Word by Word:

Or for you oaths from reaching to (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, indeed, for you (is) what you judge?

Translations:

Or have you received a solemn promise, binding on Us till Resurrection Day, that yours will assuredly be whatever you judge [to be your rightful due]?

Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?

Or have ye a covenant on oath from Us that reacheth to the Day of Judgment, that yours shall be all that ye ordain?

Or have you covenants from us on oath, extending to the day of Resurrection, that yours is surely what you judge?

Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?

سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ

Transliteration:

Salhum ayyuhum bithalika zaAAeemun

Word by Word:

Ask them, which of them for that (is) responsible.

Translations:

Ask them which of them is able to vouch for this!

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

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

Ask them which of them will vouch for that.

Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ

Transliteration:

Am lahum shurakao falya/too bishuraka-ihim in kanoo sadiqeena

Word by Word:

Or (are) for them partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they are truthful.

Translations:

Or have they, perchance, anys ages to support their views? Well, then, if they are sincere in this their claim, let them produce those supporters of theirs

Or have they some "Partners" (in Godhead)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful!

Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful

Or have they associate-gods? Then let them bring their associates, if they are truthful.

Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.