NUN. I swear by the Pen and by that which they write,
By the grace of your Lord you (Muhammad) are not mad (or stupid, deluded or possessed).
And most surely you shall have a reward unfailing.
And most surely you have the most sublime (or exalted) character.
Soon will you see, and they too shall see,
Which of you is afflicted with madness (stupidity or delusion).
Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right guidance.
So do not yield to the rejecters.
They desire that you should be pliant (or compromise) so they too would be pliant (compromise).
And yield not to any mean swearer
Defamer, going about with slander
Hinderer (obstructer) of good, transgressor beyond limits, malefactor,
Ignoble (violent, cruel and greedy), besides all that, base-born (inherently degenerate);
Because he possesses wealth and sons.
When Our communications are recited to him, he says, "Stories of those of old".
We will brand him on the snout.
Surely We will try them as We tried the people of the garden, when they resolved to cut the produce in the morning,
And were not willing to set aside a portion (for the poor).
Then there encompassed it (the garden) a visitation from your Lord while they were sleeping.
So it became as black, barren land.
And they called out to each other in the morning (unaware of what had happened),
Saying, "Go early to your tilth if you would cut the produce."
So they went, while they murmured to each other secretly,
Saying, "Let no poor man enter it today besides you."
And in the morning they went, strong in this (evil) resolve.
But when they saw it (the garden), they said, "Most surely we have gone astray.
"Nay! We are made to suffer privation."
The best of them said, "Did I not say to you, ´Why not glorify (Allah)?´"
They said, "Glory be to our Lord, surely we were unjust."
Then some of them advanced against others, blaming each other.
Said they, "O woe to us! Surely we were outrageous transgressors:
"Maybe, our Lord will give us instead a garden better than this; lo! We beseech (or turn in repentance to) our Lord."
Such is the chastisement, and certainly the chastisement of the Hereafter is even greater, did they but know!
Surely those who guard against evil shall have with their Lord Gardens of Delight.
What! Shall We then treat those who have Surrendered (in Islam) as those who are guilty?
What ails you? How do you judge?
Or have you a Book wherein you learn,
That you shall have through it whatever you choose?
Or have you received from Us an agreement, confirmed by an oath, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that you shall have what you demand?
Ask them which of them will vouch for that,
Or have they associates (in the Godhead); then let them produce them if they are truthful.
On the day when the Shin (the Hidden Mystery or Truth) shall be laid bare, and they shall be called upon to make obeisance, but they shall not be able,
Their looks cast down, abasement shall overtake them seeing that they had been called upon to make obeisance indeed while yet they were safe.
So leave Me and him who rejects this Announcement (The Message of Muhammad); We will overtake them by degrees, from whence they perceive not:
Yet I do bear with them, for lo! My plan is firm.
Or do you ask from them a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?
Or have they the knowledge of the unseen, so that they write it down?
So wait patiently for the judgment of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish (Jonah), when he cried while he was in distress.
Were it not that favour from his Lord had reached him, he would certainly have been cast down upon the naked shore while he was blameworthy.
Then his Lord chose him, and He made him of the righteous.
And those who disbelieve would almost smite you with their eyes when they hear the Reminder (Quran), and they say, "Most surely he is mad (or possessed).
And it is naught but a reminder to creation (or all the worlds).