QURAN SUMMARY: AL QALAM

NAME:  القلم, Al-Qalam.

Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word ”Qalam”.

١  ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ
1  Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,

But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.

ENGLISH NAME: The Pen.

CHAPTER NUMBER: 68

SURAH QALAM TOTAL VERSES: 52

SURAH QALAM TOTAL WORDS: 301

TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 228

TOTAL LETTERS: 1,289

REVELATION PERIOD:

Meccan, Approx. 618 – 622 AD.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

God, Prophet Muhammad, Pen, Disbelievers, Owners Of A Garden, Muslims, Criminals, Companion Of The Fish(Jonah/Yunus)

SURAH QALAM MAIN TOPICS:

Muhammad Is Not Mad And Has Great Rewards, Mention of A Wicked Person, Story Of Owners Of A Garden Who Did not Say “Insha Allah, God Says: O Prophet Disbelievers Would Almost Make You Slip With Their Eyes.

SURAH QALAM KEY VERSES:

١  ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ

1  Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,

٤  وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

4  And indeed, you are of a great moral character.

٤٢  يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

42  The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able,

٤٨  فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُنْ كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

48  Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed.

٤٩  لَوْلَا أَنْ تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

49  If not that a favor from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.

٥١  وَإِنْ يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ

51  And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, “Indeed, he is mad.”

SUMMARY OF TOPICS

1-9( Swear By Pen & What It Writes, Muhammad Is Not Mad, Muhammad Has Great Rewards And High Moral Character), 10-16(Mention Of A Wicked Person: God Instructs Prophet Muhammad That Do not Obey Worthless Habitual Swearer, When Our Verses Are Recited To Him, He Says, “Legends Of The Former Peoples”, God Will Soon Brand Him On His Nose), 17-32( Story Of Owners Of A Garden, When They Were Sure Of Its Fruit, They Did not Say “InshaAllah”/If God Wills, Affliction Befell On The Garden, They Repented), 35-40(God Will Not Treat Muslims And Criminals Alike), 42-45(God Says: The Last Day The Shin Will Be Uncovered, So Leave Me With The Deniers, I Give Them Time, My Scheme Is Firm), 48-50 (Do not Be Impatient Like The Companion Of The Fish (Jonah/Yunus), He Could Be Thrown In Wilderness, But God Saved Him), 51(God Says: O Prophet Disbelievers Would Almost Make You Slip With Their Eyes)

SURAH QALAM BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND

This Surah has 52 verses divided into 2 Rukus/Sections. It takes its name from verse 1: ” ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ” ( Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,) where the word “القلم” meaning “Pen” appears. This Surah was revealed in Mecca most probably in a later stage of Prophet Muhammad preaching in Mecca when persecution had become severe.

The Surah starts with the message that the Prophet is not a madman and he is indeed of great moral character. Then the example and story of the people of the Garden is given who denied the good thing and refused giving charity to the poor and they suffered the outcome in losing everything. Lastly it admonish and  rebuke those who deny life after death.