Surah Al-Qalam - سورة القلم

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Ibn Kathir explanation) for verse 4 of Surah

Al-Qalam - تفسير بن كثير للآية 4 من سورة القلم

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

And verily, you are on an exalted character.

(And verily, you are on an exalted (standard of) character.) Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas, "Verily, you are on a great religion, and it is Islam.'' Likewise said Mujahid, Abu Malik, As-Suddi and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas. Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Zayd also said this. Sa`id bin Abi `Arubah reported from Qatadah that he said concerning Allah's statement,

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

(And verily, you are on an exalted (standard of) character.) "It has been mentioned to us that Sa`d bin Hisham asked `A'ishah about the character of the Messenger of Allah , so she replied: `Have you not read the Qur'an' Sa`d said: `Of course.' Then she said: `Verily, the character of the Messenger of Allah was the Qur'an.''' `Abdur-Razzaq recorded similar to this and Imam Muslim recorded it in his Sahih on the authority of Qatadah in its full length. This means that he would act according to the commands and the prohibition in the Qur'an. His nature and character were patterned according to the Qur'an, and he abandoned his natural disposition (i.e., the carnal nature). So whatever the Qur'an commanded, he did it, and whatever it forbade, he avoided it. Along with this, Allah gave him the exalted character, which included the qualities of modesty, kindness, bravery, pardoning, gentleness and every other good characteristic. This is like that which has been confirmed in the Two Sahihs that Anas said, "I served the Messenger of Allah for ten years, and he never said a word of displeasure to me (Uff), nor did he ever say to me concerning something I had done: `Why did you do that' And he never said to me concerning something I had not done: `Why didn't you do this' He had the best character, and I never touched any silk or anything else that was softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah . And I never smelled any musk or perfume that had a better fragrance than the sweat of the Messenger of Allah.'' Imam Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-Bara' said, "The Messenger of Allah had the most handsome face of all the people, and he had the best behavior of all of the people. And he was not tall, nor was he short.'' The Hadiths concerning this matter are numerous. Abu `Isa At-Tirmidhi has a complete book on this subject called Kitab Ash-Shama'il. Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah said, "The Messenger of Allah never struck a servant of his with his hand, nor did he ever hit a woman. He never hit anything with his hand, except for when he was fighting Jihad in the cause of Allah. And he was never given the option between two things except that the most beloved of the two to him was the easiest of them, as long as it did not involve sin. If it did involve sin, then he stayed farther away from sin than any of the people. He would not avenge himself concerning anything that was done to him, except if the limits of Allah were transgressed. Then, in that case he would avenge for the sake of Allah.'' Imam Ahmad also recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الْأَخْلَاق

(I have only been sent to perfect righteous behavior.) Ahmad was alone in recording this Hadith.

Surah Al-Qalam - سورة القلم

Muhammad Muhsin Khan - Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali Translation

1. Nun. [These letters (Nun, etc.) are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. By the pen and what the (angels) write (in the Records of men).
2. You (O Muhammad SAW) are not, by the Grace of your Lord, a madman.
3. And verily, for you (O Muhammad SAW) will be an endless reward.
4. And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are on an exalted standard of character.
5. You will see, and they will see,
6. Which of you is afflicted with madness.
7. Verily, your Lord knows better, who (among men) has gone astray from His Path, and He knows better those who are guided.
8. So (O Muhammad SAW) obey not the deniers [(of Islamic Monotheism those who belie the Verses of Allah), the Oneness of Allah, and the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW), etc.]
9. They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them, so they (too) would compromise with you.
10. And obey not everyone who swears much, and is considered worthless,
11. A slanderer, going about with calumnies,
12. Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful,
13. Cruel, after all that base-born (of illegitimate birth),
14. (He was so) because he had wealth and children.
15. When Our Verses (of the Quran) are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the men of old!"
16. We shall brand him over the nose!
17. Verily, We have tried them as We tried the people of the garden, when they swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden) in the morning,
18. Without saying: Insha' Allah (If Allah will).
19. Then there passed by on the (garden) something (fire) from your Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep.
20. So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins).
21. Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke,
22. Saying: "Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits."
23. So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying),
24. No Miskin (poor man) shall enter upon you into it today.
25. And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom).
26. But when they saw the (garden), they said: "Verily, we have gone astray,"
27. (Then they said): "Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!"
28. The best among them said: "Did I not tell you: why do you not say: Insha' Allah (If Allah will)."
29. They said: "Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.)."
30. Then they turned, one against another, in blaming.
31. They said: "Woe to us! Verily, we were Taghun (transgressors and disobedient, etc.)
32. We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord (wishing for good that He may forgive our sins, and reward us in the Hereafter)."
33. Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they but knew.
34. Verily, for the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons - see V.2:2) are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord.
35. Shall We then treat the (submitting) Muslims like the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?
36. What is the matter with you? How judge you?
37. Or have you a Book through which you learn.
38. That you shall have all that you choose?
39. Or you have oaths from Us, reaching to the Day of Resurrection that yours will be what you judge.
40. Ask them, which of them will stand surety for that!
41. Or have they "partners"? Then let them bring their "partners" if they are truthful!
42. (Remember) the Day when the Shin shall be laid bare (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) and they shall be called to prostrate (to Allah), but they (hypocrites) shall not be able to do so,
43. Their eyes will be cast down, ignominy will cover them; they used to be called to prostrate (offer prayers), while they were healthy and good (in the life of the world, but they did not).
44. Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Quran. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.
45. And I will grant them a respite. Verily, My Plan is strong.
46. Or is it that you (O Muhammad SAW) ask them a wage, so that they are heavily burdened with debt?
47. Or that the Ghaib (unseen here in this Verse it means Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz) is in their hands, so that they can write it down?
48. So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish, when he cried out (to Us) while he was in deep sorrow. (See the Quran, Verse 21:87).
49. Had not a Grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been (left in the stomach of the fish, but We forgave him), so he was cast off on the naked shore, while he was to be blamed.
50. But his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
51. And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes through hatredness when they hear the Reminder (the Quran), and they say: "Verily, he (Muhammad SAW) is a madman!"
52. But it is nothing else than a Reminder to all the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).