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LXVII, 28-LXVIII, 11. THE CHAPTER OF THE PEN.
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yet who will protect the misbelievers from grievous torment ?'
Say, 'He is the Merciful; we believe in Him, and upon Him do we rely; and ye shall shortly know who it is that is in obvious error!'
[30] Say, 'Have ye considered if your waters on the morrow should have sunk, who is to bring you flowing water ?'
THE CHAPTER OF THE PEN.
(LXVIII. Mecca.) In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
N. By the pen, and what they write, thou art not, by God's grace, mad! and, verily, thine is a hire that is not grudged ! [5] and, verily, thou art of a grand nature!
But thou shalt see and they shall see which of you is the infatuated.
Verily, thy Lord He knows best who errs from His way; and He knows best those who are guided.
Then obey not those who call thee liar; they would fain that thou shouldst be smooth with them, then would they be smooth with thee!
[10] And obey not any mean swearer 3, a back
1 The Arabic name of the letter nûn signifies both a fish' and an inkstand;' the symbol is by some supposed to refer to Jonah, mentioned in verse 48, and by others to writing on the eternal tablets (see Part I, p. 2, note 2), to which the first words of the chapter apply.
For bearing so meekly the insults of the misbelievers. * The person meant is, probably, Walîd ibn Mughairah, the inveterate enemy of the prophet.
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