Meccan, 52 verses
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
N. (Nun, Letter N.) By the pen and what they write,
by your Lord's grace, you are not a madman.
And indeed an unending reward is for you.
And you are indeed on a great manner/character (by means of Quran).
So you are going to see and they will see,
which of you is the crazy one.
Indeed your Lord knows best who is lost from His way, and He knows best who the guided ones are.
So do not obey the deniers.
They wish that you would be flexible (to appease them), then they would be flexible.
So do not obey any insignificant oath taker,
slandering, going around (spreading) malicious lies,
preventing the good, exceeding the limits, sinful,
ill-mannered (and despicable), and after all this mean (and notorious),
even if he is wealthy and has many children.
When Our verses are read to him, he says: “Stories of the earlier ones.”
We are going to brand him on the nose.
Indeed We test them as We tested the owners of the garden when they swore that they shall pick it in the morning,
with no exceptions.
Then a disaster from your Lord came to it while they were sleeping,
so it became like a totally picked field.
Then they called one another in the morning
(saying:) “Go to your crop early if you are pickers (of the fruits)”
so they went on, and they were talking softly (saying:)
“No poor shall enter it over you today.”
And they went out early determined and capable.
Then when they saw it they said: “We are definitely lost,
no, but we are deprived.”
The fairest of them said: “Did I not tell you: “Why do you not glorify (God)?”?”
They said: “Our Lord is flawless, indeed we were wrongdoers.”
So they turned on each other blaming one another.
They said: “Woe to us, indeed we were rebellious,
perhaps our Lord gives us better than that in exchange, indeed we are fond of our Lord.”
That is how the punishment is, and the punishment of the Hereafter is certainly greater, if they knew.
Indeed there are gardens of delight with their Lord for those who are cautious (of God).
Then will We place the submitted ones like the guilty ones (in the Hereafter)?
What is with you, how do you judge (like this)?
Do you have a book that you study from,
and in it you have whatever you choose?
Or do you have any vows (binding) on Us, reaching to the Resurrection Day, that whatever you judge is yours?
Ask them which one of them guarantees this.
Or do they have associates? Then let them bring their associates if they are truthful.
On a day when leg is bared (and the deeds are exposed) and they are called to prostration but they cannot,
lowering their eyes, humiliation overcomes them, and they had been called to show humbleness while they were sound and healthy.
So leave Me (alone) with anyone who denies this saying (Quran), We are going to gradually lure them to destruction from where they do not know.
And I give them time, as My plan is solid.
Or do you ask them for a wage, and they are weighed down by the debt?
Or is the unseen with them, so they write it?
So be patient for judgment of your Lord and do not be like companion of the fish (Jonah) when he called out while he was irritated.
If it was not for a favor from his Lord that had reached him, he would have been thrown to the desert shore while he was condemned.
But his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
And those who disbelieve almost make you slip with their eyes (looking hatefully and sarcastically) when they hear the reminder, and they say: “He is certainly mad.”
And it (Quran) is only a reminder for humankind.