Surah al-Qalam (The Pen)

Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—also said:

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Surah (Nūn) is the surah of “character,” which encompasses the religion with which Allah sent Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah Most High says in it:

“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”

Ibn ʿAbbās explained: “You follow a great religion.” Ibn ʿUyaynah said the same, and Ahmad took this explanation from him.

Religion, habit, and character are closely related terms in what they denote, although they differ in the qualities they express. Thus, the word “religion” is used in the sense of habitual practice in the verse:

“This is ever his way, and mine.”

One of the heretics brought the two together in his words:

“It is all but a single order,
Containing neither praise nor blame;
Only custom, nature, and the Lawgiver
Have determined the judgments that apply.”