About Surah Al-Qalam
The Arabic name of Surah Al-Qalam is القلم. Al-Qalam means “The Pen”. The surah is also called Nun, after the letter with which it opens, followed by an oath by the pen. It is a Makki surah, revealed in Makkah before the Prophet’s migration to Madinah. It is one of the earliest Makkan surahs, revealed when opposition to the Prophet had become harsh. In the revelation-order list used by quran.com, it is number 2 of 114. In the order of the Mushaf it comes after Surah Al-Mulk and before Surah Al-Haqqah.
Main Themes of Surah Al-Qalam
This early Makkan surah replies to the opponents, warns them, and encourages the Prophet to remain patient and steadfast.
- A reply to those who called the Prophet a madman: the Book he brought and his noble character were answer enough.
- Encouragement to the Prophet not to give in to pressure or accept a compromise with his opponents.
- The parable of the garden owners (verses 17–33), who were ungrateful for Allah’s blessing and lost everything.
- It is against reason that the obedient and the guilty should meet the same end in the Hereafter.
Learn Surah Al-Qalam with Tajweed
Smart Quran Academy offers one-to-one online classes in which qualified teachers listen to your recitation and correct it gently. Learn Surah Al-Qalam with the rules of Tajweed, memorize it in our memorization classes, and request a free trial lesson when you are ready. Teachers work on the articulation points of the letters, the rules of noon and meem sakinah, and the correct length of each madd.
