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سورة الْقَلَم
Surah Al-Qalam — Key Word Definitions
Session 05 · Tadabur Guide · Saturday, April 26, 2026
الْقَلَم Al-Qalam Ayah 1 — "Nun. By the pen and all that they inscribe."
Light Definition
الآلة التي يُكتب بها The instrument used for writing
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[قلم]
القَلَمُ: الذي يُكتب به. قال تعالى: ن وَالْقَلَمِ وَما يَسْطُرُونَ [القلم/ ١]، وقال: الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ [العلق/ ٤].

وأصل القَلْم: القطع. يقال: قلمتُ الظُّفرَ، أي: قطعته. وسُمّي القلم بذلك لأنّه يُقطع ويُبرى. والقلم في الآية إشارة إلى شرف العلم والكتابة، وأنّ الله أقسم بهما تعظيمًا لهما.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: q-l-m]

Al-qalam is that which is used for writing. Allah says: "Nun. By the pen and all that they inscribe" [Al-Qalam/1], and: "Who taught by the pen" [Al-'Alaq/4].

The root of qalm means to cut. One says: qalamtu al-zufr, meaning: I trimmed the nail. The pen is called qalam because it is cut and sharpened. The pen in this verse points to the honour of knowledge and writing, and that Allah swore by them to magnify their status.
خُلُق Khuluq Ayah 4 — "And very truly, you are of great moral character."
Light Definition
الطبيعة الباطنة والسجيّة النفسيّة Inner nature, moral disposition, and character
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[خلق]
الخُلُق والخَلْق في الأصل واحد، لكن خُصّ الخَلْق بالهيئات والأشكال المُدرَكة بالبصر، وخُصّ الخُلُق بالقوى والسجايا المُدرَكة بالبصيرة. قال تعالى: وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ [القلم/ ٤].

وقيل في تفسيره: خُلُقه القرآن، أي: كان يتأدّب بآدابه ويتخلّق بأخلاقه. والخُلُق العظيم: هو الدين القويم الذي لا اعوجاج فيه.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: kh-l-q]

Khuluq and khalq originally share the same root, but khalq became specific to physical forms perceived by sight, while khuluq became specific to inner qualities and dispositions perceived by insight. Allah says: "And very truly, you are of great moral character (khuluq)" [Al-Qalam/4].

It has been said in its explanation: his character was the Qur'an, meaning he embodied its manners and was shaped by its ethics. The "great khuluq" is the upright religion with no crookedness in it.
📝 This is one of the most celebrated descriptions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the entire Qur'an. When Aisha was asked about his character, she replied: "His character was the Qur'an."
حَلَّاف Hallaf Ayah 10 — "And do not obey any despicable swearer."
Light Definition
كثير الحلف بالباطل One who swears excessively and falsely
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[حلف]
الحَلِفُ: اليمين. والحَلَّافُ: الكثير الحلف. قال تعالى: وَلا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَهِينٍ [القلم/ ١٠]. وصيغة فَعَّال تدلّ على المبالغة والكثرة.

والمَهِين: الحقير الذليل. فالحلّاف المهين هو الذي يُكثر الحلف لنقصه وضعف نفسه، فيستعين باليمين لتصديق كلامه لعلمه أنّ الناس لا يثقون به.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: h-l-f]

Al-hilf is an oath. Al-hallaf is one who swears excessively. Allah says: "And do not obey any hallaf (despicable swearer) mahin (contemptible)" [Al-Qalam/10]. The fa''al pattern indicates exaggeration and frequency.

Al-mahin means base and contemptible. The hallaf mahin is one who swears constantly due to his deficiency and weakness of soul; he resorts to oaths to make his speech credible because he knows people do not trust him.
هَمَّاز Hammaz Ayah 11 — "Backbiter, spreader of malicious gossip."
Light Definition
الطعّان في أعراض الناس بالإشارة والغمز One who attacks people's honour through gestures and insinuation
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[همز]
الهَمْزُ: الغمز والطعن. يقال: همزه، أي: اغتابه وطعن فيه. قال تعالى: هَمَّازٍ مَشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ [القلم/ ١١]، وقال: وَيْلٌ لِكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍ [الهمزة/ ١].

والفرق بين الهمز واللمز: قيل الهمز بالفعل والإشارة، واللمز بالقول. وقيل الهمز في الغيبة واللمز في الحضور. والمَشَّاءُ بِنَمِيم: الذي ينقل الكلام بين الناس للإفساد بينهم.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: h-m-z]

Al-hamz means prodding, poking, and attacking character. One says: hamzahu, meaning he backbit him and attacked his reputation. Allah says: "Backbiter (hammaz), spreader of malicious gossip (mashsha' bi-namim)" [Al-Qalam/11], and: "Woe to every slanderer and backbiter" [Al-Humazah/1].

The difference between hamz and lamz: it is said that hamz is through action and gesture, while lamz is through speech. Others say hamz is in absence and lamz is in presence. Al-mashsha' bi-namim is one who carries tales between people to corrupt their relationships.
عُتُلّ 'Utull Ayah 13 — "Brutal; moreover, of spurious parentage!"
Light Definition
الغليظ الجافي الشديد في الشرّ Harsh, coarse, extremely brutal
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[عتل]
العَتْلُ: الأخذ بعنف وجذب بشدّة. قال تعالى: خُذُوهُ فَاعْتِلُوهُ إِلى سَواءِ الْجَحِيمِ [الدخان/ ٤٧]. والعُتُلُّ: الشديد الغليظ الجافي المنقاد إلى الشرّ كأنّه يُعتَل إليه عتلاً.

قال تعالى: عُتُلٍّ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ زَنِيمٍ [القلم/ ١٣]. والزَّنِيم: الدعيّ الملصق بقوم ليس منهم، كالزَّنَمة التي تتدلّى من حلق الشاة.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: '-t-l]

Al-'atl means to seize violently and drag forcefully. Allah says: "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire" [Al-Dukhan/47]. Al-'utull is someone extremely harsh, coarse, and inclined toward evil as though dragged toward it.

Allah says: "Brutal ('utull); moreover, of spurious parentage (zanim)!" [Al-Qalam/13]. Al-zanim is one falsely attached to a people he does not belong to, like the zanamah (dangling piece of flesh) that hangs from a goat's throat.
مَكْظُوم Makzum Ayah 48 — "Who cried out in despair."
Light Definition
الممتلئ غيظًا وغمًّا حتى كاد يختنق Filled with anguish and suppressed grief to the point of suffocation
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[كظم]
الكَظْمُ: حبس الشيء عند امتلائه. يقال: كظمتُ القربةَ، أي: ملأتها وشددتُ فاها. وكَظَمَ غيظه: أمسكه وحبسه. قال تعالى: وَالْكاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ [آل عمران/ ١٣٤].

والمكظوم: الذي امتلأ غمًّا وكربًا حتى ضاق صدره. قال تعالى عن يونس: إِذْ نادى وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ [القلم/ ٤٨]، أي: ملآن من الغمّ والكرب.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: k-z-m]

Al-kazm means to contain something when it is full. One says: kazamtu al-qirbah, meaning: I filled the waterskin and sealed its mouth. Kazama ghayzahu: he restrained and contained his anger. Allah says: "And those who restrain their anger" [Al 'Imran/134].

Al-makzum is one who is filled with grief and distress until his chest tightens. Allah says of Yunus: "when he cried out while he was makzum (in despair)" [Al-Qalam/48], meaning: full of grief and anguish.
📝 The connection between kazm (restraining anger) and makzum (suppressed grief) shows that the root carries the meaning of something contained under pressure, whether anger or sorrow.
صَاحِبُ الْحُوت Sahib al-Hut Ayah 48 — "Do not be like the Fellow of the Whale."
Light Definition
يونس عليه السلام الذي التقمه الحوت Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) who was swallowed by the whale
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[حوت]
الحُوتُ: السمكة العظيمة. قال تعالى: فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ [الصافات/ ١٤٢]. وسُمّي يونس صاحب الحوت لأنّ الحوت التقمه.

قال تعالى: وَلا تَكُنْ كَصاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نادى وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ [القلم/ ٤٨]. والمعنى: اصبر على أذى قومك ولا تضق بهم كما ضاق يونس بقومه فتركهم قبل أن يُؤذن له.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: h-w-t]

Al-hut is a great fish (whale). Allah says: "Then the whale swallowed him while he was blameworthy" [Al-Saffat/142]. Yunus is called "sahib al-hut" (the fellow of the whale) because the whale swallowed him.

Allah says: "Do not be like the Fellow of the Whale when he cried out in despair" [Al-Qalam/48]. The meaning is: be patient with the harm from your people, and do not become constricted by them as Yunus became constricted by his people and left them before being given permission.
اجْتَبَاه Ijtabahu Ayah 50 — "But his Lord chose him."
Light Definition
اختاره واصطفاه وقرّبه He chose him, selected him, and drew him near
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[جبي]
الاجْتِبَاءُ: الاصطفاء والاختيار. وأصله من جبيتُ الماءَ في الحوض: جمعته. فاجتباه الله: أي جمعه إليه واصطفاه لنفسه. قال تعالى: فَاجْتَباهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ [القلم/ ٥٠].

وقال: ثُمَّ اجْتَباهُ رَبُّهُ فَتابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدى [طه/ ١٢٢]، وقال: وَكَذلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ [يوسف/ ٦].
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: j-b-y]

Al-ijtiba' means selection and choosing. Its origin is from jabaytu al-ma' fi al-hawd: I collected water in the basin. So ijtabahu Allah means: He gathered him to Himself and chose him for Himself. Allah says: "But his Lord chose him (ijtabahu) and made him one of the righteous" [Al-Qalam/50].

He also says: "Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him in forgiveness, and guided him" [Ta-Ha/122], and: "And thus your Lord will choose you" [Yusuf/6].
يُزْلِقُونَكَ Yuzliqunaka Ayah 51 — "Almost stab you with their sights."
Light Definition
يكادون يُسقطونك ويُصيبونك بأبصارهم من شدّة العداوة They almost cause you to slip and fall with their gazes from the intensity of their hostility
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[زلق]
الزَّلَقُ: زلل القدم عن موضعها. والإزلاق: الإزالة عن المكان. قال تعالى: وَإِنْ يَكادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصارِهِمْ [القلم/ ٥١]، أي: يكادون يُصيبونك بالعين من شدّة نظرهم إليك بالبغض والحسد.

وقيل: ينظرون إليك نظرًا شديدًا بالعداوة حتى يكادون يُزيلونك عن مقامك. وهذا كناية عن شدّة عداوتهم.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: z-l-q]

Al-zalaq is the slipping of a foot from its place. Al-izlaq means to displace from a position. Allah says: "Those who have denied almost stab you with their sights (yuzliqunaka bi-absarihim)" [Al-Qalam/51], meaning: they nearly strike you with the evil eye from the intensity of their hateful and envious gaze.

It is also said: they look at you with such intense hostility that they almost topple you from your standing. This is a metaphor for the severity of their enmity.
📝 This verse is often recited for protection. The evil eye (al-'ayn) is real, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) confirmed its reality and taught protective supplications against it.
ذِكْر Dhikr Ayah 52 — "It is nothing other than a Reminder to all realms."
Light Definition
التذكير والموعظة، ويُطلق على القرآن Reminder and admonition; also a name for the Qur'an
Al-Raghib — Arabic
[ذكر]
الذِّكْرُ: تارة يقال ويُراد به هيئة للنفس بها يمكن الإنسان أن يحفظ ما يقتنيه من المعرفة. وتارة يُراد به حضور الشيء في القلب أو القول. قال تعالى: وَما هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعالَمِينَ [القلم/ ٥٢].

والذِّكْر من أسماء القرآن. قال: إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحافِظُونَ [الحجر/ ٩]. وسُمّي القرآن ذكرًا لأنّه تذكرة وموعظة، ولأنّ فيه ذكر الله وذكر أحكامه.
Al-Raghib — English
[Root: dh-k-r]

Al-dhikr sometimes refers to a faculty of the soul by which a person preserves acquired knowledge. Other times it refers to the presence of something in the heart or in speech. Allah says: "It is nothing other than a dhikr (Reminder) to all realms" [Al-Qalam/52].

Al-dhikr is one of the names of the Qur'an. He says: "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Dhikr, and indeed, We are its guardians" [Al-Hijr/9]. The Qur'an is called dhikr because it is a reminder and admonition, and because it contains the remembrance of Allah and His rulings.