In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammar.
Surah al-Kahf.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.” (18:17)
And when you see them, they incline toward the left of their cave.
“And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.” (18:17)
This is among the signs of Allah.
Whoever Allah guides is truly guided.
“And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.” (18:17)
You would see the sun, O Muhammad, when it rises, turning away from their cave.
Rising upon them from the right.
So that the heat does not afflict the young men.
And when it sets, it leaves them on the left.
So that it does not afflict them.
And the young men who took refuge in it, finding ample space within.
We did this—what We did for these young men—
As a proof of Allah and His evidence to His creation.
Whoever Allah grants success to be guided by His signs and proofs,
He is the one who has attained the path of truth.
And whoever Allah leads astray from His signs and proofs,
You will never find for him, O Muhammad, a friend or ally to guide him to it.
You would think them awake, while they are asleep.
“And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them.” (18:18)
And their dog stretching its forelegs at the entrance.
“And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them.” (18:18)
And you would have been filled with terror of them.
You would think, O Muhammad, these young men,
Whose story We have related to you,
To be awake, while they are asleep.
And We turn these young men over in their sleep,
Once to the right side and once to the left side.
And their dog is stretching its forelegs at the entrance of the cave.
If you had looked upon them in the sleep they slept in their cave,
You would have turned from them in flight.
And your heart would have been filled with dread from looking at them,
Because of the awe that Allah had cast upon them.
“And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.” (18:19)
“And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.” (18:19)
They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day."
“And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.” (18:19)
"So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city."
“And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.” (18:19)
"And let him bring you provision from it."
“And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.” (18:19)
“For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.” (18:20)
"They will stone you or force you back."
“For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.” (18:20)
“For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.” (18:20)
Just as We caused these young men to sleep in the cave,
And protected them from anyone reaching them,
So did We awaken them from their sleep,
To make them know the greatness of Our power.
So that they might ask one another.
One of them said to his companions,
"How long have you remained?"
The others answered him, saying,
"We have remained a day or part of a day,"
Thinking that it was so.
The others said,
“And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.” (18:19)
"So send one of you with this silver coin of yours,"
To the city of Ephesus,
"And let him see which of its people is most lawful and pure in food,"
"And let him bring you sustenance from it to live upon,"
"And let him be gentle in his purchasing and on his way,"
"And in his entry into the city,"
"And let him not make anyone aware of you."
"For Decius and his companions,"
"If they come to know of you,"
"And discover your location,"
"They will stone you with verbal abuse,"
"Or force you back into their religion,"
"And you will become disbelievers by worshipping idols."
"And you will never attain lasting survival,"
"Or immortality in the Gardens during your life,"
"If you return to their creed."
And thus We made them discovered.
“And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.” (18:21)
“And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.” (18:21)
“And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.” (18:21)
“And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.” (18:21)
Their Lord is most knowing of them.
“And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.” (18:21)
"We will surely build a place of worship over them."
And just as We awakened them after their long sleep,
So that they might question one another,
And increase in insight regarding the greatness of Allah's power,
So did We reveal them to the group,
Who were in doubt,
Regarding Allah's ability to resurrect the dead,
So that they might know that the promise of Allah is true,
And be certain that the Hour is coming, about which there is no doubt.
Those to whom We revealed the people of the cave said,
"Build a structure over them."
The Lord of the young men is most knowing of the young men and their affair.
The people who prevailed in the matter of the people of the cave said,
"We will surely build a place of worship over them."
There is a difference of opinion regarding who said this statement:
Were they the Muslim group, or were they the disbelievers?
“(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.” (18:22)
“(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.” (18:22)
Guessing at the unseen.
“(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.” (18:22)
“(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.” (18:22)
“(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.” (18:22)
“(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.” (18:22)
And do not ask for a formal opinion regarding them.
“(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.” (18:22)
Some of those who engage in idle talk about the affair of the young men of the cave will say,
"They were three, the fourth of them being their dog."
And some of them say,
"They were five, the sixth of them being their dog,"
Guessing at the unseen without certainty.
And some of them say,
"They were seven, the eighth of them being their dog."
Say, O Muhammad, to those who make these statements,
"My Lord is most knowing of their number."
None knows their number except a few of His creation.
So do not argue with the People of the Book regarding the number of the people of the cave.
And relate to them what has been permitted for you.
And say to them, "It is not as you say,"
"For you do not know their number."
And do not ask for a formal opinion regarding the number of the young men of the cave,
From anyone among the People of the Book,
Because they do not know their number.
“And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,” (18:23)
Except if Allah wills.
“Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.” (18:24)
And say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me."
“Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.” (18:24)
And do not say, O Muhammad, regarding anything,
“And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,” (18:23)
As you said to those who asked you,
About the affair of the people of the cave,
And the questions they asked you about,
"I will inform you about it tomorrow."
This is a discipline from Allah to His Prophet, peace be upon him,
That he should not assert that a future event will definitely happen,
Unless he connects it to the will of Allah,
Unless you say with it, "If Allah wills."
And remember your Lord when you have forgotten to mention Him.
And say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me,"
And direct me to what is more correct than what I promised you,
And informed you that it would happen if He wills.
And they remained in their cave for three hundred years,
And increased by nine.
“Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They have no protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.” (18:26)
To Him belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth.
How clearly He sees and hears!
“Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They have no protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.” (18:26)
“Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They have no protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.” (18:26)
And the people of the cave remained in their cave asleep,
Until Allah awakened them,
Three hundred years and nine years.
Say, O Muhammad,
"Allah is most knowing of how long they remained after their souls were taken,"
From after their awakening from their sleep,
Until this day of theirs.
No one knows that except Allah.
For Allah sees every existing thing,
And He hears every audible thing.
“Lo! nothing in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah.” (3:5)
They have no protector besides their Lord,
Who manages their affairs and their governance.
And Allah does not make anyone a partner in His decree and judgment.
Rather, He is the One who is unique in judgment and decree regarding them.
“And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him.” (18:27)
There is no one to change His words.
“And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him.” (18:27)
And follow, O Muhammad,
What has been revealed to you of this Book of your Lord.
And do not neglect its recitation,
And following what is in it of the command and prohibition of Allah.
There is no one to change what He has promised with His words,
Which He revealed to you, for those who disobey Him.
And if you, O Muhammad,
Do not recite what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord,
Then you will face the threat of Allah,
With which He threatened those who oppose Him.
Then you will never find besides Allah,
A refuge to which you can turn,
Or a place of escape to which you can flee.
And restrain yourself, O Muhammad, with your companions,
Who call upon their Lord,
In the morning and the evening,
With glorification and praise,
And declaring His oneness and supplication.
Seeking by that action of theirs the Countenance of Allah.
They do not desire the fleeting things of this world.
And do not turn your eyes away from them,
Those whom I have commanded you, O Muhammad,
To restrain yourself with them,
Toward the nobles of the polytheists.
Reciting from the Book of your Lord,
Desiring to sit with those,
Great ones and nobles.
And do not obey, O Muhammad,
One whose heart We have made heedless,
Through disbelief, of Our remembrance,
From among the disbelievers who asked you,
To drive away the group who call upon their Lord,
And who followed his own desire,
Over the obedience of his Lord.
And the affair of this one who,
“Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.” (18:28)
Was excessive, having exceeded his limits,
And thereby lost the truth and perished.
“Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!” (18:29)
So whoever wills, let him believe,
And whoever wills, let him disbelieve.
We have prepared,
For the wrongdoers, a Fire,
Whose walls will encompass them.
And if they call for relief,
They will be relieved with water,
Like molten copper, which scalds the faces.
“Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!” (18:29)
And say, O Muhammad, to those,
Whose hearts We have made heedless of Our remembrance,
"The truth, O people, is from your Lord."
And to Him belongs success and abandonment.
So if you will, believe,
And if you will, disbelieve.
For if you disbelieve,
Then We have prepared for you a Fire,
Whose walls will encompass you.
It is a wall of fire,
That surrounds them like the enclosure of a tent.
And if these wrongdoers call for relief,
On the Day of Resurrection, and ask for water,
They will be relieved with water like molten copper,
Which is foul, thick, and turbid water.
It is said to be pus and black blood.
And it is said to be that which has reached the peak of its heat.
That water will scald,
With which their faces will be scorched.
How wretched a drink is this water.
And how evil a resting place is this Fire.
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds.
“Lo! as for those who believe and do good works - Lo! We suffer not the reward of one whose work is goodly to be lost.” (18:30)
Indeed, those who were truthful to Allah and His Messenger.
And who acted in obedience to Allah.
We do not let the reward of those who do good deeds go to waste.
For they obeyed Allah.
Rather, We shall reward them for their obedience and their good deeds.
Gardens of perpetual residence.
“As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place!” (18:31)
Beneath them rivers flow.
They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold.
“As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place!” (18:31)
“As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place!” (18:31)
“As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place!” (18:31)
For those who have believed and done righteous deeds.
Gardens of permanent abode in the Hereafter.
Beneath them and before them rivers flow.
They will wear therein ornaments of gold bracelets.
And they will wear green garments of fine silk.
And of that which is thick and heavy.
Reclining in Gardens of perpetual residence upon thrones within canopied pavilions.
Excellent is the reward of the Gardens of perpetual residence.
And how beautiful are these thrones in these Gardens, which have been described in the mention of this verse, as a place of rest.
The summary from the Tafsir of al-Tabari.