018 Al-Kahf

an upright Book, to warn of severe punishment from Him[2], and to give glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds, that they will have a good reward,

Translation notes: [2] i.e., a painful punishment that awaits them in the Hereafter, and in this life such as in the battle at the hands of the believers.

wherein they will abide forever;

and to warn those who say, “Allah has begotten a son[3].”

Translation notes: [3] Such as the Jews and Christians, and the Arab pagans who claimed that angels are Allah’s daughters.

They have no knowledge of it, nor did their forefathers[4]. What a monstrous word that comes out of their mouths! They say nothing but lies.

Translation notes: [4] Of the reality of their false claims about Him.

Perhaps you will grieve yourself to death [O Prophet] over them[5] if they do not believe in this message[6].

Translation notes: [5] To the extent of almost wasting yourself away. [6] i.e., the Qur’an.

We have made all that is on earth as an adornment for it, so that We may test them as to which of them is best in deeds.

And We will surely turn all that is on it into a barren land[7].

Translation notes: [7] It shows the transient nature of life in this world, so one should invest in it for what comes after death.

Do you think that the people of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our only wondrous signs[8]?

Translation notes: [8] Rather, there are many other wonders of Allah such as the creation of heavens and earth.

When the youths took refuge in the Cave, and said, “Our Lord, grant us mercy from Yourself, and show us the right way in our ordeal[9].”

Translation notes: [9] The youths have sought refuge in the cave for the sake of their religion, so they asked Allah to keep them firm on the straight path.

Then We caused them to fall into a deep sleep in the cave for many years.

Then We awakened them so that We may see which of the two parties would be more precise in calculating the length of their stay.

We relate to you their story in truth. They were youths who believed in their Lord, and We gave them more guidance.

We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and proclaimed, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and earth. We will never call upon any god other than Him, or we would be uttering an outrageous lie[10].”

Translation notes: [10] i.e., too far away from the Truth.

These people of ours have taken besides Him other gods. Why do they not bring clear proof about them? Who does greater wrong than one who fabricates lies against Allah?

When you have distanced yourselves from them and what they worship other than Allah, take refuge in the cave; your Lord will extend His mercy to you and make for you an easy way out of your ordeal.”

You would have seen the sun when it rose, it would incline away from their Cave to the right; and when it set, it would turn away from them to the left[11], while they were in its open space. That was one of the signs of Allah. Whoever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whoever He causes to stray, you will never find for him a protecting guide.

Translation notes: [11] As such they would get all the air and ventilation they needed to sustain.

You would have thought they were awake, although they were asleep. We turned them over on their right and left sides, when their dog stretched its forelegs at the entrance. If you had seen them, you would have fled away from them, filled with horror[12].

Translation notes: [12] Should anyone were to see them, he would see a group of awake men with a dog standing guarding them, and would surely be filled with horror, which was a factor in preserving them, so no one would dare to draw close to them.

Similarly, We awakened them so that they might question one another. One of them said, “How long have you been here?” They said, “We have been here for a day or part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord knows best how long have you been here. Send one of you with these silver coins of yours to the city, and let him see who has the most pure food and bring some provision from it. And be cautious and let no one know about you.

For if they find out about you, they will stone you or force you back to their religion, and then you will never succeed.”

This is how We made their case known so that the people might know that the promise of Allah is true and that there is no doubt about the Hour. When they were disputing among themselves[13] concerning their matter [of resurrection], they said, “Build a structure over them. Their Lord knows best about them.” Those who prevailed in their matter said, “We will surely build over them a place of worship.”

Translation notes: [13] i.e., the inhabitants of the city.

Some will say, “They were three, their dog was the fourth,” while others will say, “They were five, their dog was the sixth,” – merely guessing at the unseen. And others will say, “They were seven, their dog was the eighth.” Say, “My Lord knows best their number; no one knows about them except a few[14]. So do not argue about them except in a brief manner, nor ask anyone about them.”

Translation notes: [14] i.e., that which is the sure argument, one in the Qur’an.

And never say about anything, “I will surely do this tomorrow[15],”

Translation notes: [15] For you do not know whether you will be able to do it or you will be diverted from it.

without adding, “if Allah wills.” And remember your Lord if you forget, and say, “My Lord will hopefully guide me to something closer to what is right[16].”

Translation notes: [16] As soon as one remembers not saying inshā’ Allah concerning doing something in the future, he should say it. Also when one forgets something, he should mention Allah so as to remember things.

They remained in their cave for three hundred years, plus nine[17].

Translation notes: [17] i.e., 309 years.

Say, “Allah knows best how long they remained. To Him belongs [the knowledge of] the unseen of the heavens and earth. How well He sees and how well He hears[18]! They have no protector besides Him, and He shares His command with none.”

Translation notes: [18] i.e., Nothing can escape Allah’s Sight and Hearing.

Recite what has been revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. None can change His Words, and you will never find any refuge except with Him[19].

Translation notes: [19] There is no escape from the punishment of Allah, should the Message not be conveyed, recited, and followed accordingly.

Be patient with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. Do not turn your eyes away from them, desiring the adornments of the life of this world. And do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who follows his desires and whose affairs [deeds] are at loss.

Say, “The truth is from your Lord. Whoever wills may believe, and whoever wills may disbelieve.” We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire which will encompass them like the walls. If they cry for relief, they will be relieved with water like boiling oil that will scald the faces. What a terrible drink, and what a terrible resting place!

Those who believe and do righteous deeds, We will not let the reward of those who do good deeds to go to waste.

It is they who will have Gardens of Eternity, under which rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with golden bracelets and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining on adorned couches. What an excellent reward, and what a pleasant resting place!

Give them an example of two men[20]: to one of them We gave two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with palm trees, and placed between them crops[21].

Translation notes: [20] i.e., one was a believer and the second a disbeliever; the disbeliever owned two gardens. [21] The arrogant and wealthy disbelievers of Makkah looked down upon the poor believers and demanded that the Prophet (ﷺ) expel them should he want them to sit and listen to him.

Each garden yielded its produce and did not fall short in the least, and We caused a stream to flow through them.

And he had abundant fruit. He said to his companion, as he was conversing with him, “I am greater than you in wealth and superior in followers.”

He entered his garden, having wronged himself[22], and said, “I do not think that this will ever perish,

Translation notes: [22] By being proud and disbeliever.

nor do I think that the Hour will ever come. Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I will surely find something better than this[23].”

Translation notes: [23] He thought should there be a tiny possibility of resurrection, based on his wrongful calculation that he was honored in this life because Allah loved him. Hence he fell into the fallacy that if he ever return to Him, he should only expect greater honoring, or he might have said that deridingly.

His companion said, while conversing with him, “Do you disbelieve in He Who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then fashioned you into a well-proportioned man[24]?

Translation notes: [24] The One Who created such a magnificent creation in the first place is able to recreate the creatures.

As for me: He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord.

If only you had said, when you entered your garden, ‘This is by Allah’s Will; there is no power except with Allah.’ Even though you see me as inferior to you in wealth and children,

it may well be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and send upon your garden a thunderbolt from the heaven, turning it into a barren land.

Or its water may sink, so you will never be able to get it back.”

Eventually, all his produce was destroyed and he started wringing his hands [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, as it had collapsed on its trellises, and he said, “Oh, would that I had not associated anyone with my Lord!”

He had none to support him against Allah, nor could he support himself.

In that situation[25], the authority only rests with Allah, the True God. He is best in reward and best in outcome.

Translation notes: [25] i.e., on the Day of Judgment.

Give them the example of the life of this world: it is like the plants of the earth, thriving when sustained by the rain We send down from the sky, but soon they turn into chaff scattered by the winds. Allah has full power over all things.

Wealth and children are the adornments of the life of this world, but the lasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.

And [beware of] the Day when We will move the mountains away, and you will see the earth laid bare[26]; We will gather them all and not leave behind anyone of them.

Translation notes: [26] i.e., flattened.

They will be presented before your Lord in rows, “Now you have come to Us as We created you the first time[27], although you claimed that We would never appoint a time for your return.”

Translation notes: [27] Nude, uncircumcised, and lonely.

And the record [of deeds] will be placed before them, and you will see the wicked scared of what it contains. They will say, “Woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing, small or big, except that it has recorded it?” They will find all what they did before them, and your Lord does not wrong anyone.

And [remember] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” so they all prostrated except Iblīs, who was one of the jinn, but he disobeyed the command of his Lord. Will you then take him and his progeny as protectors instead of Me[28], even though they are your enemies[29]? What a terrible exchange for the wrongdoers!

Translation notes: [28] Demons could possess their idols and communicate through them; they also used to seek refuge from the evil of the jinn by appraising them and slaughtering sacrifices for them. [29] Satan along with his fellow demons continues to lead people astray from the right Path.

I did not call them to witness the creation of the heavens and earth, nor even the creation of their own selves, and I would not take those who misguide others as helpers[30].

Translation notes: [30] Allah, the source of guidance, would not take false deities who are the main cause of misguidance as helpers.

And [beware of] the Day when He will say, “Call upon those whom you claimed to be My partners.” So they will call them, but they will not respond to them[31], and We will make them share the same doom.

Translation notes: [31] The false deities they took besides Allah will let them down when they need them most on Judgment Day.

The wicked will see the Fire and realize that they are bound to fall into it, and they will find no escape from it.

We have surely diversified in this Qur’an every kind of example for people[32], but man is the most quarrelsome of all beings[33].

Translation notes: [32] So that people may become mindful and be guided. [33] Humans always defend their position instead of yielding to the truth. It pertains to disbelievers more than anyone else.

Nothing prevents people from believing when guidance comes to them and from seeking forgiveness from their Lord except that the fate of the earlier nations should come to them, or that the punishment should come before their eyes.

We do not send the messengers except as bearers of glad tidings and warners. But those who disbelieve seek to undermine the truth with false arguments, and they take My verses and warnings in ridicule.

Who could be more wrong than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord, but he turns away from them and forgets what his hands have sent forth? We have placed veils on their hearts so that they cannot understand it, and deafness in their ears. Even if you call them to guidance, they will never be guided.

But your Lord is the All-Forgiving, Lord of Mercy. If He were to take them to task for what they did, He would have hastened their punishment. Yet there is an appointed time for them from which they will find no escape.

Those are the towns We destroyed when they persisted in wrongdoing, and We set an appointed time for their destruction.

And [remember] when Moses said to his servant, “I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas, or I travel for ages.”

But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, which made its way into the sea, slipping away.

When they traveled further, he said to his servant, “Bring us our morning meal; this journey has truly exhausted us.”

He said, “You remember when we rested by the rock, I forgot the fish; it was none who made me forget to mention it except Satan, and it made its way into the sea amazingly.”

Moses said, “That is exactly what we were looking for.” So they turned back, retracing their footsteps.

There they found one of Our slaves[34] upon whom We bestowed Our mercy[35] and We taught him from Our Own knowledge[36].

Translation notes: [34] i.e., Al-Khidr. [35] i.e., Prophethood or being a righteous servant of Allah. [36] i.e., the knowledge that Allah gave him such as knowledge of some unseen events, of which others were unaware.

Moses said to him, “May I follow you so that you may teach me some knowledge that you have been taught?”

He said, “You will never be able to have patience with me.”

How can you have patience with that which you have no knowledge about?”

Moses said, “You will find me patient, if Allah wills; and I will not disobey any of your orders.”

He said, “Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I mention it to you.”

So they both set out, until when they boarded a ship, he made a hole in it. Moses said, “Did you make a hole in it to drown its people? You have done something terrible!”

He said, “Did I not tell you that you will never be able to have patience with me?”

Moses said, “Do not take me to task for what I forgot, and do not make it too difficult for me to follow you.”

Then they proceeded until they met a boy, and the man killed him. Moses said, “Did you kill an innocent soul who killed none? You have done something monstrous!”

The man said, “Did I not tell you that you will never be able to have patience with me?”

Moses said, “If I ask you about anything after this, do not keep me in your company, for then you would be excused concerning me.”

Then they went on until they came to the people of a town[37]. They asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. They found there a wall that was about to collapse, but he repaired it. Moses said, “If you wished, you could have taken some payment for it.”

Translation notes: [37] Who were extremely mean folk.

The man said, “This is the parting of ways between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that which you could not bear with patience.

“As for the ship, it belonged to some poor people who worked at sea. I wanted to make it defective because there was a king ahead of them who seized every [good] ship by force.

“As for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them with his rebellion and disbelief[38].

Translation notes: [38] Even though the parents were believers, the son was to become a disbeliever, and it was feared that he would make them fall into disbelief out of their love for him.

So we hoped that their Lord would give them another in his place, more righteous and tender-hearted.

As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was a treasure under it that belonged to them. Their father was a righteous man, so your Lord willed that they should reach their maturity and retrieve their treasure[39], as a mercy from your Lord; I did not do it of my own accord. This is the interpretation of that which you could not bear with patience.”

Translation notes: [39] Had they not mended the wall, it would have subsequently fallen; they, being young, weak, and surrounded by mean people, would certainly have lost their treasure.

They ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn[40]. Say, “I will tell you something about him.”

Translation notes: [40] The Two-Horned Sovereign, about whom the Quraysh pagans asked the Prophet (ﷺ), along with that of the Companions of the Cave, testing his prophethood. He was named thus because he reached the rising point and the setting point of the sun; or two generations (qarns) of people passed away during his reign; or he had two long locks of hair; or his crown had two horns.

We established him on earth and gave him the means to achieve everything[41].

Translation notes: [41] Such as soldiers, weaponry, etc.

He pursued a course[42],

Translation notes: [42] Utilizing these means.

until when he reached the far west, he found the sun setting in a dark body of water, and he found some people nearby. We said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, either punish them or treat them with kindness.”

He said, “As for one who does wrong[43], we will punish him, then he will be brought back to his Lord, and He will punish him grievously.

Translation notes: [43] By persisting in disbelief and associating partners with Allah.

But he who believes and does righteous deeds, he will have the best reward[44], and we will enjoin upon him to do what is easy.”

Translation notes: [44] i.e., Paradise.

Then he pursued another course,

until when he reached the far east, he found the sun rising on a people for whom We provided no shelter from it[45].

Translation notes: [45] They had nothing to shade them from the sun; trees, mountains, or buildings.

So it was, and We had full knowledge about him[46].

Translation notes: [46] i.e., Dhul-Qarnayn.

Then he pursued another course,

until when he reached [a valley] between the two mountains, he found beyond them a people who could barely understand a word[47].

Translation notes: [47] They could not speak except their own language.

They said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in the land. Can we give you some payment in return for you to construct a barrier between us and them?”

He said, “What my Lord has given me is better. But help me with manpower, I will construct a barricade between you and them.

Bring me iron blocks” – until when he leveled between the two mountainsides, he said, “Blow [with bellows],” until when he fired them up to extreme heat, he said, “Bring me molten copper to pour over it.”

Thus they could not climb over it nor could they pierce it[48].

Translation notes: [48] They could not climb the dam for its smooth surface as well as it was as high as the mountains, and could not pierce it for its fortitude.

He said, “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass[49], He will raze it to the ground. The promise of my Lord is ever true.”

Translation notes: [49] Before the Day of Judgment.

On that Day[50] We will let some of them surge like waves over others, and the Trumpet will be blown, then We will gather them all together.

Translation notes: [50] When the dam is destroyed.

On that Day We will show Hell to the disbelievers clearly[51],

Translation notes: [51] Before they enter it on the Day of Judgment.

those whose eyes were blind to My signs[52] and they were unable to hear [the truth][53].

Translation notes: [52] Or of the Qur’an. [53] To believe in it.

Do the disbelievers think that they can take My slaves as allies instead of Me? We have prepared Hell as a dwelling place for the disbelievers.

Say, “Shall we inform you of the greatest losers in terms of their deeds?

Those whose efforts in the life of this world are wasted, while they think that they are doing well[54].”

Translation notes: [54] For they follow other than their Lord’s path, and justify their deviant actions until they finally believe that they are on the right path.

It is those who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and their meeting with Him; their deeds will be nullified, and We will give no weight to them on the Day of Resurrection[55].

Translation notes: [55] It shows the ghastly fate of the disbelievers.

That is their recompense: Hell, because of their disbelief and taking My verses and messengers in ridicule.

As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, they will have gardens of Paradise[56] as a dwelling place[57],

Translation notes: [56] i.e., al-Firdaus: the highest level of Paradise. [57] It shows the regal fate of the believers.

abiding therein forever, never desiring to leave.

Say, “If the ocean were ink for [writing] the Words of my Lord, the ocean would surely run dry before the Words of my Lord[58] are finished, even if We brought its like to resupply it.”

Translation notes: [58] i.e., His unlimited Knowledge, or words describing His Attributes and His Grandeur.

Say, “I am only a man like you; it has been revealed to me that your God is One God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and associate none in the worship of his Lord.”