Al-Kahf
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All the praises and thanks are to Allâh, Who has sent down to His
slave (Muhammad SAW) the Book (the Qur'ân), and has not placed therein any
crookedness. (1) (He has made it) Straight to give warning (to the disbelievers)
of a severe punishment from Him, and to give glad tidings to the believers (in
the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism), who do righteous - deeds, that they
shall have a fair reward (i.e. Paradise). (2) They shall abide
therein forever. (3) And to warn those (Jews, Christians, and pagans) who say,
"Allâh has begotten a son (or offspring or children)." (4)No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. Mighty is
the word that comes out of their mouths (i.e. He begot sons and daughters).
They utter nothing but a lie. (5) Perhaps, you, would kill yourself (O Muhammad
SAW) in grief, over their footsteps (for their turning away from you), because
they believe not in this narration (the Qur'ân). (6) Verily! We have made
that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them
(mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds. [i.e.those who do good deeds
in the most perfect manner, that means to do them (deeds) totally for Allâh's
sake and in accordance to the legal ways of the Prophet SAW ]. (7) And verily! We shall
make all that is on it (the earth) a bare dry soil (without any vegetation or
trees). (8) Do you think that the people of the Cave and the Inscription
(the news or the names of the people of the Cave) were a wonder among Our
Signs? (9) (Remember) when the young men fled for refuge (from their
disbelieving folk) to the Cave, They said: "Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy
from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!" (10) Therefore, We covered
up their (sense of) hearing (causing them, to go in deep sleep) in the Cave for
a number of years. (11) Then We raised them up (from their sleep), that We might
test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period that they
had tarried. (12) We narrate unto you (O Muhammad SAW) their story with truth:
Truly! they were young men who believed in their Lord (Allâh), and We increased
them in guidance. (13) And We made their hearts firm and strong (with the light
of Faith in Allâh and bestowed upon them patience to bear the separation of
their kith and kin and dwellings) when they stood up and said: "Our Lord
is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any ilâh
(god) other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in
disbelief. (14) "These our people have taken for worship âlihah (gods)
other than Him (Allâh). Why do they not bring for them a clear authority? And
who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allâh. (15)(The young men said to
one another): "And when you withdraw from them, and that which they
worship, except Allâh, then seek refuge in the Cave, your Lord will open a way
for you from His Mercy and will make easy for you your affair (i.e. will give
you what you will need of provision, dwelling)." (16) And you might have
seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it
set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the midst of the
Cave. That is (one) of the Ayât (proofs, evidences, signs) of Allâh. He whom
Allâh guides, is rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will
find no Walî (guiding friend) to lead him (to the right Path). (17) And you would have
thought them awake, whereas they were asleep. And We turned them on their right
and on their left sides, and their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the
entrance [of the Cave or in the space near to the entrance of the Cave (as a
guard at the gate)]. Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned
back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them
(18) Likewise, We awakened
them (from their long deep sleep) that they might question one another. A
speaker from among them said: "How long have you stayed (here)?" They
said: "We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day." They said:
"Your Lord (Alone) knows best how long you have stayed (here). So send one
of you with this silver coin of yours to the town, and let him find out which
is the good lawful food, and bring some of that to you. And let him be careful
and let no man know of you (19) "For if they come to know of you, they
will stone you (to death or abuse and harm you) or turn you back to their
religion, and in that case you will never be successful." (20)And thus We made their case known to (the people), that they might
know that the Promise of Allâh is true, and that there can be no doubt about
the Hour. (Remember) when they (the people of the city) disputed among
themselves about their case, they said: "Construct a building over them,
their Lord knows best about them," (then) those who won their point said
(most probably the disbelievers): "We verily shall build a place of
worship over them." (21) (Some) say they were three, the dog being the
fourth among them; and (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,
guessing at the unseen; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the
eighth. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "My Lord knows best their number; none knows
them but a few." So debate not (about their number) except with the clear
proof (which We have revealed to you). And consult not any of them (people of
the Scripture, Jews and Christians) about (the affair of) the people of the
Cave. (22) And never say of anything, "I shall do such and such thing
tomorrow." (23) Except (with the saying), "If Allâh will!" And
remember your Lord when you forget and say: "It may be that my Lord guides
me unto a nearer way of truth than this." (24) And they stayed in
their Cave three hundred (solar) years, and adding nine (for lunar years). (Tafsir
Al-Qurtubi) (25) Say: "Allâh knows best how long they stayed. With Him is
(the knowledge of) the unseen of the heavens and the earth. How clearly He
sees, and hears (everything)! They have no Walî (Helper, Disposer of affairs,
Protector) other than Him, and He makes none to share in His Decision and His
Rule." (26) And recite what has been revealed to you (O Muhammad SAW) of the
Book (the Qur'ân) of your Lord (i.e. recite it, understand and follow its
teachings and act on its orders and preach it to men). None can change His
Words, and none will you find as a refuge other than Him. (27)And keep yourself (O
Muhammad SAW) patiently with those who call on their Lord (i.e. your companions
who remember their Lord with glorification, praising in prayers, and other
righteous deeds) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes
overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey
not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, and who follows
his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost. (28) And say: "The
truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and
whosoever wills, let him disbelieve. Verily, We have prepared for the Zâlimûn
(polytheists and wrong-doers), a Fire whose walls will be surrounding them
(disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh). And if they ask for help (relief,
water) they will be granted water like boiling oil, that will scald their
faces. Terrible is the drink, and an evil Murtafaq (dwelling, resting place)! (29) Verily As for those
who believed and did righteous deeds, certainly We shall not make to be lost
the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner.
(30) These! For them will
be 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens);
wherein rivers flow underneath them, therein they will be adorned with
bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine and thick silk.
They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good is the reward, and what
an excellent Murtafaq (dwelling, resting place)! (31) And put forward to
them the example of two men; unto one of them We had given two gardens of
grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms; and had put between them
green crops (cultivated fields). (32) Each of those two gardens brought forth its
produce, and failed not in the least therein, and We caused a river to gush
forth in the midst of them. (33) And he had property (or fruit) and he said to
his companion, in the course of mutual talk: I am more than you in wealth and
stronger in respect of men." [See Tafsir Qurtubî]. (34)And he went into his
garden while in a state (of pride and disbelief) unjust to himself. He said:
"I think not that this will ever perish. (35) "And I think not
the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, (on the
Day of Resurrection), I surely shall find better than this when I return to
Him." (36) His companion said to him, during the talk with him: "Do
you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your father Adam), then
out of Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and female discharge), then fashioned
you into a man? (37) "But as for my part (I believe) that He is Allâh, my Lord
and none shall I associate as partner with my Lord. (38) It was better for you
to say, when you entered your garden: 'That which Allâh wills (will come to
pass)! There is no power but with Allâh[] '. If you see me less than you in
wealth, and children. (39) "It may be that my Lord will give me something
better than your garden, and will send on it Husbân (torment, bolt) from the
sky, then it will be a slippery earth (40) "Or the water thereof (of the
gardens) becomes deep-sunken (underground) so that you will never be able to
seek it." (41) So his fruits were encircled (with ruin). And he remained
clapping his hands (with sorrow) over what he had spent upon it, while it was
all destroyed on its trellises, he could only say: "Would that I had
ascribed no partners to my Lord!" [Tafsir Ibn Kathîr] (42) And he had no group
of men to help him against Allâh, nor could he defend (or save) himself. (43) There (on the Day of
Resurrection), Al-Walâyah (protection, power, authority and kingdom) will be
for Allâh (Alone), the - True God. He (Allâh) is the Best for reward and the
Best for the final end. (Lâ ilâha ill-allâh none has the right to be worshipped
but Allâh). (44) And put forward to them the example of the life of this world,
it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation
of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it
becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allâh is Able to do
everything. (45)Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world.
But the good righteous deeds, that last, are better with your Lord for rewards
and better in respect of hope. (46) And (remember) the Day We shall cause the
mountains to pass away (like clouds of dust), and you will see the earth as a
levelled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of
them behind. (47) And they will be set before your Lord in (lines as) rows, (and
Allâh will say): "Now indeed, you have come to Us as We created you the
first time. Nay, but you thought that We had appointed no meeting for you (with
Us)." (48) And the Book (one's Record) will be placed (in the right hand
for a believer in the Oneness of Allâh, and in the left hand for a disbeliever
in the Oneness of Allâh), and you will see the Mujrimûn (criminals,
polytheists, sinners), fearful of that which is (recorded) therein. They will
say: "Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small
thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers!" And they will
find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one with
injustice. (49) And (remember) when We said to the angels;"Prostrate
yourselves unto Adam." So they prostrated themselves except Iblîs (Satan).
He was one of the jinn; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then
take him (Iblîs) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me
while they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zâlimûn
(polytheists, and wrong-doers). (50) I (Allâh) made them (Iblîs and his offspring)
not to witness (nor took their help in) the creation of the heavens and the
earth and not (even) their own creation, nor was I (Allâh) to take the
misleaders as helpers (51) And (remember) the Day He will say:"Call those
(so-called) partners of Mine whom you pretended." Then they will cry unto
them, but they will not answer them, and We shall put Maubiq (barrier) between
them. (52) And the Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists, sinners), shall see
the Fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein. And they will find no
way of escape from there. (53)And indeed We have
put forth every kind of example in this Qur'ân, for mankind. But, man is ever
more quarrelsome than anything. (54) And nothing prevents men from believing,
(now) when the guidance (the Qur'ân) has come to them, and from asking
Forgiveness of their Lord, except that the ways of the ancients be repeated
with them (i.e. their destruction decreed by Allâh), or the torment be brought
to them face to face? (55) And We send not the Messengers except as givers of glad
tidings and warners. But those who disbelieve, dispute with false argument, in
order to refute the truth thereby. And they treat My Ayât (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), and that with which they are
warned, as jest and mockery! (56) And who does more wrong than he who is
reminded of the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc.) of his Lord, but turns away from them forgetting what (deeds) his hands
have sent forth. Truly, We have set veils over their hearts lest they should
understand this (the Qur'ân), and in their ears, deafness. And if you (O
Muhammad SAW) call them to guidance, even then they will never be guided. (57) And your Lord is Most
Forgiving, Owner of Mercy. Were He to call them to account for what they have
earned, then surely, He would have hastened their punishment. But they have
their appointed time, beyond which they will find no escape. (58) And these towns
(population, 'Ad, Thamûd) We destroyed them when they did wrong. And We
appointed a fixed time for their destruction. (59) And (remember) when
Mûsa (Moses) said to his boy-servant: "I will not give up (travelling)
until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years
in travelling."[] (60) But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they
forgot their fish, and it took its way through the sea as in a tunnel (61)So when they had
passed further on (beyond that fixed place), Mûsa (Moses) said to his
boy-servant: "Bring us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered much
fatigue in this, our journey." (62) He said:"Do you remember when we betook
ourselves to the rock? I indeed forgot the fish, none but Shaitân (Satan) made
me forget to remember it. It took its course into the sea in a strange
(way)!" (63) [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "That is what we have been
seeking." So they went back retracing their footsteps (64) Then they found one
of Our slaves, on whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught
knowledge from Us. (65) Mûsa (Moses) said to him (Khidr) "May I follow you
so that you teach me something of that knowledge (guidance and true path) which
you have been taught (by Allâh)?" (66) He (Khidr) said: "Verily! You
will not be able to have patience with me! (67) "And how can you
have patience about a thing which you know not?" (68) Mûsa (Moses) said:
"If Allâh wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in
aught." (69) He (Khidr) said: "Then, if you follow me, ask me not about
anything till I myself mention of it to you." (70) So they both
proceeded, till, when they embarked the ship, he (Khidr) scuttled it. Mûsa
(Moses) said: "Have you scuttled it in order to drown its people? Verily,
you have committed a thing "Imr" (a Munkar - evil, bad, dreadful thing)."
(71) He (Khidr) said:
"Did I not tell you, that you would not be able to have patience with
me?" (72) [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "Call me not to account for what I
forgot[], and be not hard upon me for my affair (with you)." (73) Then they both
proceeded, till they met a boy, he (Khidr) killed him. Mûsa (Moses) said:
"Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have
committed a thing "Nukr" (a great Munkar - prohibited, evil, dreadful
thing)!" (74)(Khidr) said: "Did I not tell you that you can have no
patience with me?" (75) [Mûsa (Moses)] said: "If I ask you
anything after this, keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse
from me." (76) Then they both proceeded, till, when they came to the people of
a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. Then they
found therein a wall about to collapse and he (Khidr) set it up straight. [Mûsa
(Moses)] said: If you had wished, surely, you could have taken wages for
it!" (77) (Khidr) said: "This is the parting between me and you, I
will tell you the interpretation of (those) things over which you were unable
to hold patience (78) "As for the ship, it belonged to Masâkîn (poor people)
working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was
a king behind them who seized every ship by force. (79) "And as for the
boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by
rebellion and disbelief. (80) "So we intended that their Lord should
change him for them for one better in righteousness and nearer to mercy. (81) "And as for the
wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a
treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord
intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their
treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did them not of my own accord. That
is the interpretation of those (things) over which you could not hold
patience." (82) And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnain. Say: "I shall recite
to you something of his story." (83)Verily, We
established him in the earth, and We gave him the means of everything. (84) So he followed a way.
(85) Until, when he
reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black
muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allâh) said (by
inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with
kindness." (86) He said: "As for him (a disbeliever in the Oneness of
Allâh) who does wrong, we shall punish him; and then he will be brought back
unto his Lord; Who will punish him with a terrible torment (Hell). (87) "But as for him
who believes (in Allâh's Oneness) and works righteousness, he shall have the
best reward, (Paradise), and we (Dhul-Qarnain)
shall speak unto him mild words (as instructions)." (88) Then he followed
another way, (89) Until, when he came to the rising place of the sun, he found it
rising on a people for whom We (Allâh) had provided no shelter against the sun.
(90) So (it was)! And We
knew all about him (Dhul-Qarnain). (91) Then he followed (another) way, (92) Until, when he
reached between two mountains, he found, before (near) them (those two
mountains), a people who scarcely understood a word. (93) They said: "O
Dhul-Qarnain! Verily! Ya'jûj and Ma'jûj (Gog and Magog)[] are doing great
mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might
erect a barrier between us and them?" (94) He said: "That
(wealth, authority and power) in which my Lord had established me is better
(than your tribute). So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between
you and them a barrier. (95) "Give me pieces (blocks) of iron,"
then, when he had filled up the gap between the two mountain-cliffs, he said:
"Blow," then when he had made them (red as) fire, he said:
"Bring me molten copper to pour over them." (96) So they [Ya'jûj and
Ma'jûj (Gog and Magog)] could not to scale it or dig through it. (97)(Dhul-Qarnain) said:
"This is a mercy from my Lord, but when the Promise of my Lord comes, He
shall level it down to the ground. And the Promise of my Lord is ever
true." (98) And on that Day [i.e. the Day Ya'jûj and Ma'jûj (Gog and Magog)
will come out], We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another, and the
Trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them (the creatures) all together.
(99) And on that Day We
shall present Hell to the disbelievers, plain to view,— (100) (To) those whose eyes
had been under a covering from My Reminder (this Qur'ân), and who could not
bear to hear (it). (101) Do then those who disbelieved think that they can take My
slaves [i.e., the angels, Allâh's Messengers, 'Īsā (Jesus), son of
Maryam (Mary)] as Auliyâ' (lords, gods, protectors) besides Me? Verily, We have
prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allâh
Islâmic Monotheism)[]. (102) Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Shall We tell you the
greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? (103) "Those whose
efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring
good by their deeds![] (104) "They are those who deny the Ayât (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and the
Meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain, and on the Day
of Resurrection, We shall assign not weight for them. (105) "That shall be
their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and took My Ayât (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and My Messengers by way
of jest and mockery. (106) "Verily! those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh
- Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous deeds, shall have the Gardens of
Al-Firdaus (the Paradise) for their
entertainment. (107) "Wherein they shall dwell (forever). No desire will they
have for removal therefrom." (108) Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind). "If the
sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be
exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought
(another sea) like it for its aid." (109) Say (O Muhammad SAW):
"I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Ilâh (God)
is One Ilâh (God — i.e. Allâh). So whoever hopes for the Meeting[] with his
Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship
of his Lord." (110)