Living Quran

Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen)

Al-Qalam means "The Pen," taken from the opening oath that swears by the pen and by what is written with it.

Surah Al-Qalam is the sixty-eighth chapter of the Quran, a Meccan surah of fifty-two ayahs. Traditionally counted among the earliest revelations, it opens with an oath by the pen and by what is inscribed, and moves at once to defend and reassure the Prophet Muhammad in the face of his opponents' accusations. It affirms his upright character and rejects the charge that he was mad or misguided, contrasting the qualities of the God-conscious with those of a habitual slanderer and obstructer of good. The surah relates the parable of the owners of a garden who resolved to harvest its fruit at dawn while excluding the poor, only to find it ruined, drawing a lesson about arrogance, ingratitude, and repentance. It closes with reminders of the Day of Judgment and a call to patience, referencing the trial of the prophet associated with the great fish (Yunus).
Surah number
68
Revelation
Meccan
Ayahs
52
Arabic
القلم

Read Surah Al-Qalam online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • The oath by the pen and the honor of writing and knowledge
  • Vindication of the Prophet's character against accusations
  • Contrast between the noble and the scornful, slandering opponent
  • The parable of the arrogant garden owners and its lesson on gratitude
  • The Day of Judgment and accountability for conduct
  • Patience in adversity, with reference to the prophet of the fish (Yunus)

Why this surah matters

Al-Qalam is widely noted for its opening oath by the pen, which many Muslims traditionally cite when reflecting on the value of learning, writing, and knowledge in Islam. As one of the early Meccan surahs, it is remembered for its strong affirmation of the Prophet Muhammad's noble character at a time of intense opposition. Its parable of the ruined garden is often referenced in moral teaching about humility toward the poor and gratitude for God's provision. The surah's closing counsel to remain patient, invoking the example of an earlier prophet, gives it a place among the passages that address perseverance under hardship.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called "The Pen"?

The name comes from the opening oath, which swears by the pen and by what is written. This is understood in tradition to honor writing, knowledge, and the recording of revelation, and it gives the surah its title.

Is Al-Qalam Meccan or Medinan?

It is a Meccan surah, traditionally regarded as among the earliest revelations in the Prophet Muhammad's mission at Mecca. Its themes of defending the Prophet against opposition fit that early period.

What is the parable of the garden about?

It concerns owners of a garden who planned to gather its fruit while denying the poor any share, and found it destroyed. The account illustrates the consequences of arrogance and ingratitude, and the value of repentance.

Read Surah Al-Qalam

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