Surah 18: The Cave (Al-Kahf)

الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذى أَنزَلَ عَلىٰ عَبدِهِ الكِتٰبَ وَلَم يَجعَل لَهُ عِوَجا

Praise God, who revealed to His servant this scripture, and made it flawless.

قَيِّمًا لِيُنذِرَ بَأسًا شَديدًا مِن لَدُنهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ المُؤمِنينَ الَّذينَ يَعمَلونَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُم أَجرًا حَسَنًا

A perfect (scripture) to warn of severe retribution from Him, and to deliver good news to the believers who lead a righteous life, that they have earned a generous recompense.

مٰكِثينَ فيهِ أَبَدًا

Wherein they abide forever.

وَيُنذِرَ الَّذينَ قالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا

And to warn those who said, "God has begotten a son!"

ما لَهُم بِهِ مِن عِلمٍ وَلا لِـٔابائِهِم كَبُرَت كَلِمَةً تَخرُجُ مِن أَفوٰهِهِم إِن يَقولونَ إِلّا كَذِبًا

They possess no knowledge about this, nor did their parents. What a blasphemy coming out of their mouths! What they utter is a gross lie.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بٰخِعٌ نَفسَكَ عَلىٰ ءاثٰرِهِم إِن لَم يُؤمِنوا بِهٰذَا الحَديثِ أَسَفًا

You may blame yourself on account of their response to this narration, and their disbelieving in it; you may be saddened.

إِنّا جَعَلنا ما عَلَى الأَرضِ زينَةً لَها لِنَبلُوَهُم أَيُّهُم أَحسَنُ عَمَلًا

We have adorned everything on earth, in order to test them, and thus distinguish those among them who work righteousness.

وَإِنّا لَجٰعِلونَ ما عَلَيها صَعيدًا جُرُزًا

Inevitably, we will wipe out everything on it, leaving it completely barren.*

أَم حَسِبتَ أَنَّ أَصحٰبَ الكَهفِ وَالرَّقيمِ كانوا مِن ءايٰتِنا عَجَبًا

Why else do you think we are telling you about the people of the cave, and the numbers connected with them? They are among our wondrous signs.

*18:8-9 As it turns out, the history of these Christian believers, the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, is directly connected with the end of the world as stated in 18:9 & 21. The role of these believers in unveiling the end of the world is detailed in Appendix 25.

إِذ أَوَى الفِتيَةُ إِلَى الكَهفِ فَقالوا رَبَّنا ءاتِنا مِن لَدُنكَ رَحمَةً وَهَيِّئ لَنا مِن أَمرِنا رَشَدًا

When the youths took refuge in the cave, they said, "Our Lord, shower us with Your mercy, and bless our affairs with Your guidance."

فَضَرَبنا عَلىٰ ءاذانِهِم فِى الكَهفِ سِنينَ عَدَدًا

We then sealed their ears in the cave for a predetermined number of years.

ثُمَّ بَعَثنٰهُم لِنَعلَمَ أَىُّ الحِزبَينِ أَحصىٰ لِما لَبِثوا أَمَدًا

Then we resurrected them to see which of the two parties could count the duration of their stay therein.

نَحنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالحَقِّ إِنَّهُم فِتيَةٌ ءامَنوا بِرَبِّهِم وَزِدنٰهُم هُدًى

We narrate to you their history, truthfully. They were youths who believed in their Lord, and we increased their guidance.

وَرَبَطنا عَلىٰ قُلوبِهِم إِذ قاموا فَقالوا رَبُّنا رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ لَن نَدعُوَا۟ مِن دونِهِ إِلٰهًا لَقَد قُلنا إِذًا شَطَطًا

We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and proclaimed: "Our only Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We will never worship any other god beside Him. Otherwise, we would be far astray.

هٰؤُلاءِ قَومُنَا اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ ءالِهَةً لَولا يَأتونَ عَلَيهِم بِسُلطٰنٍ بَيِّنٍ فَمَن أَظلَمُ مِمَّنِ افتَرىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا

"Here are our people setting up gods beside Him. If only they could provide any proof to support their stand! Who is more evil than the one who fabricates lies and attributes them to God?

وَإِذِ اعتَزَلتُموهُم وَما يَعبُدونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأوۥا إِلَى الكَهفِ يَنشُر لَكُم رَبُّكُم مِن رَحمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئ لَكُم مِن أَمرِكُم مِرفَقًا

"Since you wish to avoid them, and their worshiping of other than God,* let us take refuge in the cave. May your Lord shower you with His mercy and direct you to the right decision".

*18:16-20 Ephesus is located about 200 miles south of ancient Nicene, and 30 miles south of today's Izmir in Turkey. The dwellers of the cave were young Christians who wanted to follow the teachings of Jesus, and worship God alone. They were fleeing the persecution of neo-christians who proclaimed a corrupted Christianity three centuries after Jesus, following the Nicene Conferences, when the Trinity doctrine was announced. In 1928, Franz Miltner, an Austrian archeologist discovered the tomb of the seven sleepers of Ephesus. Their history is well documented in several encyclopedias.

وَتَرَى الشَّمسَ إِذا طَلَعَت تَزٰوَرُ عَن كَهفِهِم ذاتَ اليَمينِ وَإِذا غَرَبَت تَقرِضُهُم ذاتَ الشِّمالِ وَهُم فى فَجوَةٍ مِنهُ ذٰلِكَ مِن ءايٰتِ اللَّهِ مَن يَهدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ المُهتَدِ وَمَن يُضلِل فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُرشِدًا

You could see the sun when it rose coming from the right side of their cave, and when it set, it shone on them from the left, as they slept in the hollow thereof. This is one of God's portents.* Whomever God guides is the truly guided one, and whomever He sends astray, you will not find for him a guiding teacher.

*18:17 This sign, or hint, tells us that the cave was facing north.

وَتَحسَبُهُم أَيقاظًا وَهُم رُقودٌ وَنُقَلِّبُهُم ذاتَ اليَمينِ وَذاتَ الشِّمالِ وَكَلبُهُم بٰسِطٌ ذِراعَيهِ بِالوَصيدِ لَوِ اطَّلَعتَ عَلَيهِم لَوَلَّيتَ مِنهُم فِرارًا وَلَمُلِئتَ مِنهُم رُعبًا

You would think that they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. We turned them to the right side and the left side, while their dog stretched his arms in their midst. Had you looked at them, you would have fled from them, stricken with terror.

وَكَذٰلِكَ بَعَثنٰهُم لِيَتَساءَلوا بَينَهُم قالَ قائِلٌ مِنهُم كَم لَبِثتُم قالوا لَبِثنا يَومًا أَو بَعضَ يَومٍ قالوا رَبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِما لَبِثتُم فَابعَثوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُم هٰذِهِ إِلَى المَدينَةِ فَليَنظُر أَيُّها أَزكىٰ طَعامًا فَليَأتِكُم بِرِزقٍ مِنهُ وَليَتَلَطَّف وَلا يُشعِرَنَّ بِكُم أَحَدًا

When we resurrected them, they asked each other, "How long have you been here?" "We have been here one day or part of the day," they answered. "Your Lord knows best how long we stayed here, so let us send one of us with this money to the city. Let him fetch the cleanest food, and buy some for us. Let him keep a low profile, and attract no attention.

إِنَّهُم إِن يَظهَروا عَلَيكُم يَرجُموكُم أَو يُعيدوكُم فى مِلَّتِهِم وَلَن تُفلِحوا إِذًا أَبَدًا

"If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you to revert to their religion, then you can never succeed."

وَكَذٰلِكَ أَعثَرنا عَلَيهِم لِيَعلَموا أَنَّ وَعدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السّاعَةَ لا رَيبَ فيها إِذ يَتَنٰزَعونَ بَينَهُم أَمرَهُم فَقالُوا ابنوا عَلَيهِم بُنيٰنًا رَبُّهُم أَعلَمُ بِهِم قالَ الَّذينَ غَلَبوا عَلىٰ أَمرِهِم لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيهِم مَسجِدًا

We caused them to be discovered, to let everyone know that God's promise is true, and to remove all doubt concerning the end of the world.* The people then disputed among themselves regarding them. Some said, "Let us build a building around them." Their Lord is the best knower about them. Those who prevailed said, "We will build a place of worship around them."

*18:21 As detailed in Appendix 25, this story helped pinpoint the end of the world.

سَيَقولونَ ثَلٰثَةٌ رابِعُهُم كَلبُهُم وَيَقولونَ خَمسَةٌ سادِسُهُم كَلبُهُم رَجمًا بِالغَيبِ وَيَقولونَ سَبعَةٌ وَثامِنُهُم كَلبُهُم قُل رَبّى أَعلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم ما يَعلَمُهُم إِلّا قَليلٌ فَلا تُمارِ فيهِم إِلّا مِراءً ظٰهِرًا وَلا تَستَفتِ فيهِم مِنهُم أَحَدًا

Some would say, "They were three; their dog being the fourth," while others would say, "Five; the sixth being their dog," as they guessed. Others said, "Seven," and the eighth was their dog. Say, "My Lord is the best knower of their number." Only a few knew the correct number. Therefore, do not argue with them; just go along with them. You need not consult anyone about this.

وَلا تَقولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىءٍ إِنّى فاعِلٌ ذٰلِكَ غَدًا

You shall not say that you will do anything in the future,

إِلّا أَن يَشاءَ اللَّهُ وَاذكُر رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسيتَ وَقُل عَسىٰ أَن يَهدِيَنِ رَبّى لِأَقرَبَ مِن هٰذا رَشَدًا

without saying, "God willing."* If you forget to do this, you must immediately remember your Lord and say, "May my Lord guide me to do better next time."

*18:24 This important commandment gives us daily opportunities to remember God.

وَلَبِثوا فى كَهفِهِم ثَلٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍ سِنينَ وَازدادوا تِسعًا

They stayed in their cave three hundred years, increased by nine.*

*18:25 The difference between 300 solar years and 300 lunar years is nine years. Thus, discovering the end of the world was predetermined by the Almighty to take place in AD 1980 (1400 AH), 300 years (309 lunar years) before the end of the world (see 72:27 and Appendix 25).

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعلَمُ بِما لَبِثوا لَهُ غَيبُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ أَبصِر بِهِ وَأَسمِع ما لَهُم مِن دونِهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلا يُشرِكُ فى حُكمِهِ أَحَدًا

Say, "God is the best knower of how long they stayed there." He knows all secrets in the heavens and the earth. By His grace you can see; by His grace you can hear. There is none beside Him as Lord and Master, and He never permits any partners to share in His kingship.

وَاتلُ ما أوحِىَ إِلَيكَ مِن كِتابِ رَبِّكَ لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمٰتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دونِهِ مُلتَحَدًا

You shall recite what is revealed to you of your Lord's scripture. Nothing shall abrogate His words, and you shall not find any other source beside it.

وَاصبِر نَفسَكَ مَعَ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَدوٰةِ وَالعَشِىِّ يُريدونَ وَجهَهُ وَلا تَعدُ عَيناكَ عَنهُم تُريدُ زينَةَ الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَلا تُطِع مَن أَغفَلنا قَلبَهُ عَن ذِكرِنا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوىٰهُ وَكانَ أَمرُهُ فُرُطًا

You shall force yourself to be with those who worship their Lord day and night, seeking Him alone. Do not turn your eyes away from them, seeking the vanities of this world. Nor shall you obey one whose heart we rendered oblivious to our message; one who pursues his own desires, and whose priorities are confused.

وَقُلِ الحَقُّ مِن رَبِّكُم فَمَن شاءَ فَليُؤمِن وَمَن شاءَ فَليَكفُر إِنّا أَعتَدنا لِلظّٰلِمينَ نارًا أَحاطَ بِهِم سُرادِقُها وَإِن يَستَغيثوا يُغاثوا بِماءٍ كَالمُهلِ يَشوِى الوُجوهَ بِئسَ الشَّرابُ وَساءَت مُرتَفَقًا

Proclaim: "This is the truth from your Lord," then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. We have prepared for the transgressors a fire that will completely surround them. When they scream for help, they will be given a liquid like concentrated acid that scalds the faces. What a miserable drink! What a miserable destiny!

إِنَّ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ إِنّا لا نُضيعُ أَجرَ مَن أَحسَنَ عَمَلًا

As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, we never fail to recompense those who work righteousness.

أُولٰئِكَ لَهُم جَنّٰتُ عَدنٍ تَجرى مِن تَحتِهِمُ الأَنهٰرُ يُحَلَّونَ فيها مِن أَساوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلبَسونَ ثِيابًا خُضرًا مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِستَبرَقٍ مُتَّكِـٔينَ فيها عَلَى الأَرائِكِ نِعمَ الثَّوابُ وَحَسُنَت مُرتَفَقًا

They have deserved gardens of Eden wherein rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and will wear clothes of green silk and velvet, and will rest on comfortable furnishings. What a wonderful reward; what a wonderful abode!

وَاضرِب لَهُم مَثَلًا رَجُلَينِ جَعَلنا لِأَحَدِهِما جَنَّتَينِ مِن أَعنٰبٍ وَحَفَفنٰهُما بِنَخلٍ وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُما زَرعًا

Cite for them the example of two men: we gave one of them two gardens of grapes, surrounded by date palms, and placed other crops between them.

*18:32-42 The Quran cites many examples of the different gods that people worship beside God; they include children (7:190), religious leaders and scholars (9:31), property (18:42), dead saints and prophets (16:20-21, 35:14, & 46:5-6), and the ego (25:43, 45:23).

كِلتَا الجَنَّتَينِ ءاتَت أُكُلَها وَلَم تَظلِم مِنهُ شَيـًٔا وَفَجَّرنا خِلٰلَهُما نَهَرًا

Both gardens produced their crops on time, and generously, for we caused a river to run through them.

وَكانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقالَ لِصٰحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحاوِرُهُ أَنا۠ أَكثَرُ مِنكَ مالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا

Once, after harvesting, he boastfully told his friend: "I am far more prosperous than you, and I command more respect from the people."

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظالِمٌ لِنَفسِهِ قالَ ما أَظُنُّ أَن تَبيدَ هٰذِهِ أَبَدًا

When he entered his garden, he wronged his soul by saying, "I do not think that this will ever end.

وَما أَظُنُّ السّاعَةَ قائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُدِدتُ إِلىٰ رَبّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيرًا مِنها مُنقَلَبًا

"Moreover, I think this is it; I do not think that the Hour (the Hereafter) will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will (be clever enough to) possess an even better one over there."

قالَ لَهُ صاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرتَ بِالَّذى خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُطفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوّىٰكَ رَجُلًا

His friend said to him, as he debated with him, "Have you disbelieved in the One who created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then perfected you into a man?

لٰكِنّا۠ هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبّى وَلا أُشرِكُ بِرَبّى أَحَدًا

"As for me, God is my Lord, and I will never set up any other god besides my Lord.

وَلَولا إِذ دَخَلتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلتَ ما شاءَ اللَّهُ لا قُوَّةَ إِلّا بِاللَّهِ إِن تَرَنِ أَنا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مالًا وَوَلَدًا

When you entered your garden, you should have said, `This is what God has given me (Mã Shã Allãh). No one possesses power except God (Lã Quwwata Ellã Bellãh).' You may see that I possess less money and less children than you.

فَعَسىٰ رَبّى أَن يُؤتِيَنِ خَيرًا مِن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرسِلَ عَلَيها حُسبانًا مِنَ السَّماءِ فَتُصبِحَ صَعيدًا زَلَقًا

"My Lord may grant me better than your garden. He may send a violent storm from the sky that wipes out your garden, leaving it completely barren.

أَو يُصبِحَ ماؤُها غَورًا فَلَن تَستَطيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا

"Or, its water may sink deeper, out of your reach."

وَأُحيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيهِ عَلىٰ ما أَنفَقَ فيها وَهِىَ خاوِيَةٌ عَلىٰ عُروشِها وَيَقولُ يٰلَيتَنى لَم أُشرِك بِرَبّى أَحَدًا

Indeed, his crops were wiped out, and he ended up sorrowful, lamenting what he had spent on it in vain, as his property lay barren. He finally said, "I wish I never set up my property as a god beside my Lord."

وَلَم تَكُن لَهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرونَهُ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَما كانَ مُنتَصِرًا

No force on earth could have helped him against God, nor was it possible for him to receive any help.

هُنالِكَ الوَلٰيَةُ لِلَّهِ الحَقِّ هُوَ خَيرٌ ثَوابًا وَخَيرٌ عُقبًا

That is because the only true Lord and master is God; He provides the best recompense, and with Him is the best destiny.

وَاضرِب لَهُم مَثَلَ الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا كَماءٍ أَنزَلنٰهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ فَاختَلَطَ بِهِ نَباتُ الأَرضِ فَأَصبَحَ هَشيمًا تَذروهُ الرِّيٰحُ وَكانَ اللَّهُ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَىءٍ مُقتَدِرًا

Cite for them the example of this life as water that we send down from the sky to produce plants of the earth, then they turn into hay that is blown away by the wind. God is able to do all things.

المالُ وَالبَنونَ زينَةُ الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَالبٰقِيٰتُ الصّٰلِحٰتُ خَيرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوابًا وَخَيرٌ أَمَلًا

Money and children are the joys of this life, but the righteous works provide an eternal recompense from your Lord, and a far better hope.

وَيَومَ نُسَيِّرُ الجِبالَ وَتَرَى الأَرضَ بارِزَةً وَحَشَرنٰهُم فَلَم نُغادِر مِنهُم أَحَدًا

The day will come when we wipe out the mountains, and you will see the earth barren. We will summon them all, not leaving out a single one of them.

وَعُرِضوا عَلىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَقَد جِئتُمونا كَما خَلَقنٰكُم أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ بَل زَعَمتُم أَلَّن نَجعَلَ لَكُم مَوعِدًا

They will be presented before your Lord in a row. You have come to us as individuals, just as we created you initially. Indeed, this is what you claimed will never happen.

وَوُضِعَ الكِتٰبُ فَتَرَى المُجرِمينَ مُشفِقينَ مِمّا فيهِ وَيَقولونَ يٰوَيلَتَنا مالِ هٰذَا الكِتٰبِ لا يُغادِرُ صَغيرَةً وَلا كَبيرَةً إِلّا أَحصىٰها وَوَجَدوا ما عَمِلوا حاضِرًا وَلا يَظلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

The record will be shown, and you will see the guilty fearful of its contents. They will say, "Woe to us. How come this book leaves nothing, small or large, without counting it?" They will find everything they had done brought forth. Your Lord is never unjust towards anyone.

وَإِذ قُلنا لِلمَلٰئِكَةِ اسجُدوا لِـٔادَمَ فَسَجَدوا إِلّا إِبليسَ كانَ مِنَ الجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَن أَمرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَولِياءَ مِن دونى وَهُم لَكُم عَدُوٌّ بِئسَ لِلظّٰلِمينَ بَدَلًا

We said to the angels, "Fall prostrate before Adam." They fell prostrate, except Satan. He became a jinn, for he disobeyed the order of His Lord.* Will you choose him and his descendants as lords instead of Me, even though they are your enemies? What a miserable substitute!

*18:50 When the great feud in the heavenly society took place (38:69), all creatures became classified into angels, jinns, and humans (Appendix 7).

ما أَشهَدتُهُم خَلقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ وَلا خَلقَ أَنفُسِهِم وَما كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ المُضِلّينَ عَضُدًا

I never permitted them to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor the creation of themselves. Nor do I permit the wicked to work in My kingdom.

*18:51 God knew that Satan and his supporters (jinns and humans) were going to make the wrong decision. Hence their exclusion from witnessing the creation process.

وَيَومَ يَقولُ نادوا شُرَكاءِىَ الَّذينَ زَعَمتُم فَدَعَوهُم فَلَم يَستَجيبوا لَهُم وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُم مَوبِقًا

The day will come when He says, "Call upon My partners, whom you claimed to be gods beside Me," they will call on them, but they will not respond to them. An insurmountable barrier will separate them from each other.

وَرَءَا المُجرِمونَ النّارَ فَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم مُواقِعوها وَلَم يَجِدوا عَنها مَصرِفًا

The guilty will see Hell, and will realize that they will fall into it. They will have no escape therefrom.

وَلَقَد صَرَّفنا فى هٰذَا القُرءانِ لِلنّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ وَكانَ الإِنسٰنُ أَكثَرَ شَىءٍ جَدَلًا

We have cited in this Quran every kind of example, but the human being is the most argumentative creature.

وَما مَنَعَ النّاسَ أَن يُؤمِنوا إِذ جاءَهُمُ الهُدىٰ وَيَستَغفِروا رَبَّهُم إِلّا أَن تَأتِيَهُم سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلينَ أَو يَأتِيَهُمُ العَذابُ قُبُلًا

Nothing prevented the people from believing, when the guidance came to them, and from seeking the forgiveness of their Lord, except that they demanded to see the same (kind of miracles) as the previous generations, or challenged to see the retribution beforehand.

وَما نُرسِلُ المُرسَلينَ إِلّا مُبَشِّرينَ وَمُنذِرينَ وَيُجٰدِلُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِالبٰطِلِ لِيُدحِضوا بِهِ الحَقَّ وَاتَّخَذوا ءايٰتى وَما أُنذِروا هُزُوًا

We only send the messengers as simply deliverers of good news, as well as warners. Those who disbelieve argue with falsehood to defeat the truth, and they take My proofs and warnings in vain.

وَمَن أَظلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـٔايٰتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعرَضَ عَنها وَنَسِىَ ما قَدَّمَت يَداهُ إِنّا جَعَلنا عَلىٰ قُلوبِهِم أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفقَهوهُ وَفى ءاذانِهِم وَقرًا وَإِن تَدعُهُم إِلَى الهُدىٰ فَلَن يَهتَدوا إِذًا أَبَدًا

Who are more evil than those who are reminded of their Lord's proofs, then disregard them, without realizing what they are doing. Consequently, we place shields on their hearts to prevent them from understanding it (the Quran), and deafness in their ears. Thus, no matter what you do to guide them, they can never ever be guided.

وَرَبُّكَ الغَفورُ ذُو الرَّحمَةِ لَو يُؤاخِذُهُم بِما كَسَبوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ العَذابَ بَل لَهُم مَوعِدٌ لَن يَجِدوا مِن دونِهِ مَوئِلًا

Yet, your Lord is the Forgiver, full of mercy. If He called them to account for their deeds, He would annihilate them right there and then. Instead, He gives them a respite until a specific, predetermined time; then they can never escape.

وَتِلكَ القُرىٰ أَهلَكنٰهُم لَمّا ظَلَموا وَجَعَلنا لِمَهلِكِهِم مَوعِدًا

Many a community we annihilated because of their transgressions, we designated a specific time for their annihilation.

وَإِذ قالَ موسىٰ لِفَتىٰهُ لا أَبرَحُ حَتّىٰ أَبلُغَ مَجمَعَ البَحرَينِ أَو أَمضِىَ حُقُبًا

Moses said to his servant, "I will not rest until I reach the point where the two rivers meet, no matter how long it takes."

فَلَمّا بَلَغا مَجمَعَ بَينِهِما نَسِيا حوتَهُما فَاتَّخَذَ سَبيلَهُ فِى البَحرِ سَرَبًا

When they reached the point where they met, they forgot their fish, and it found its way back to the river, sneakily.

فَلَمّا جاوَزا قالَ لِفَتىٰهُ ءاتِنا غَداءَنا لَقَد لَقينا مِن سَفَرِنا هٰذا نَصَبًا

After they passed that point, he said to his servant, "Let us have lunch. All this traveling has thoroughly exhausted us."

قالَ أَرَءَيتَ إِذ أَوَينا إِلَى الصَّخرَةِ فَإِنّى نَسيتُ الحوتَ وَما أَنسىٰنيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيطٰنُ أَن أَذكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبيلَهُ فِى البَحرِ عَجَبًا

He said, "Remember when we sat by the rock back there? I paid no attention to the fish. It was the devil who made me forget it, and it found its way back to the river, strangely."

قالَ ذٰلِكَ ما كُنّا نَبغِ فَارتَدّا عَلىٰ ءاثارِهِما قَصَصًا

(Moses) said, "That was the place we were looking for." They traced their steps back.

فَوَجَدا عَبدًا مِن عِبادِنا ءاتَينٰهُ رَحمَةً مِن عِندِنا وَعَلَّمنٰهُ مِن لَدُنّا عِلمًا

They found one of our servants, whom we blessed with mercy, and bestowed upon him from our own knowledge.

قالَ لَهُ موسىٰ هَل أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمّا عُلِّمتَ رُشدًا

Moses said to him, "Can I follow you, that you may teach me some of the knowledge and the guidance bestowed upon you?"

قالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا

He said, "You cannot stand to be with me."

وَكَيفَ تَصبِرُ عَلىٰ ما لَم تُحِط بِهِ خُبرًا

"How can you stand that which you do not comprehend?"

قالَ سَتَجِدُنى إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ صابِرًا وَلا أَعصى لَكَ أَمرًا

He said, "You will find me, God willing, patient. I will not disobey any command you give me."

قالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعتَنى فَلا تَسـَٔلنى عَن شَىءٍ حَتّىٰ أُحدِثَ لَكَ مِنهُ ذِكرًا

He said, "If you follow me, then you shall not ask me about anything, unless I choose to tell you about it."

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا رَكِبا فِى السَّفينَةِ خَرَقَها قالَ أَخَرَقتَها لِتُغرِقَ أَهلَها لَقَد جِئتَ شَيـًٔا إِمرًا

So they went. When they boarded a ship, he bore a hole in it. He said, "Did you bore a hole in it to drown its people? You have committed something terrible."

قالَ أَلَم أَقُل إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا

He said, "Did I not say that you cannot stand to be with me?"

قالَ لا تُؤاخِذنى بِما نَسيتُ وَلا تُرهِقنى مِن أَمرى عُسرًا

He said, "I am sorry. Do not punish me for my forgetfulness; do not be too harsh with me."

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا لَقِيا غُلٰمًا فَقَتَلَهُ قالَ أَقَتَلتَ نَفسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيرِ نَفسٍ لَقَد جِئتَ شَيـًٔا نُكرًا

So they went. When they met a young boy, he killed him. He said, "Why did you kill such an innocent person, who did not kill another person? You have committed something horrendous."

قالَ أَلَم أَقُل لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا

He said, "Did I not tell you that you cannot stand to be with me?"

قالَ إِن سَأَلتُكَ عَن شَىءٍ بَعدَها فَلا تُصٰحِبنى قَد بَلَغتَ مِن لَدُنّى عُذرًا

He said, "If I ask you about anything else, then do not keep me with you. You have seen enough apologies from me."

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا أَتَيا أَهلَ قَريَةٍ استَطعَما أَهلَها فَأَبَوا أَن يُضَيِّفوهُما فَوَجَدا فيها جِدارًا يُريدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقامَهُ قالَ لَو شِئتَ لَتَّخَذتَ عَلَيهِ أَجرًا

So they went. When they reached a certain community, they asked the people for food, but they refused to host them. Soon, they found a wall about to collapse, and he fixed it. He said, "You could have demanded a wage for that!"

قالَ هٰذا فِراقُ بَينى وَبَينِكَ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأويلِ ما لَم تَستَطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا

He said, "Now we have to part company. But I will explain to you everything you could not stand.

أَمَّا السَّفينَةُ فَكانَت لِمَسٰكينَ يَعمَلونَ فِى البَحرِ فَأَرَدتُ أَن أَعيبَها وَكانَ وَراءَهُم مَلِكٌ يَأخُذُ كُلَّ سَفينَةٍ غَصبًا

"As for the ship, it belonged to poor fishermen, and I wanted to render it defective. There was a king coming after them, who was confiscating every ship, forcibly."

وَأَمَّا الغُلٰمُ فَكانَ أَبَواهُ مُؤمِنَينِ فَخَشينا أَن يُرهِقَهُما طُغيٰنًا وَكُفرًا

"As for the boy, his parents were good believers, and we saw that he was going to burden them with his transgression and disbelief.*

*18:80 Adolf Hitler was a cute and seemingly innocent child. Had he died as a child, many would have grieved, and many would have even questioned God's wisdom. We learn from these profound lessons that there is a good reason behind everything.

فَأَرَدنا أَن يُبدِلَهُما رَبُّهُما خَيرًا مِنهُ زَكوٰةً وَأَقرَبَ رُحمًا

"We willed that your Lord substitute in his place another son; one who is better in righteousness and kindness.

وَأَمَّا الجِدارُ فَكانَ لِغُلٰمَينِ يَتيمَينِ فِى المَدينَةِ وَكانَ تَحتَهُ كَنزٌ لَهُما وَكانَ أَبوهُما صٰلِحًا فَأَرادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبلُغا أَشُدَّهُما وَيَستَخرِجا كَنزَهُما رَحمَةً مِن رَبِّكَ وَما فَعَلتُهُ عَن أَمرى ذٰلِكَ تَأويلُ ما لَم تَسطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا

"As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city. Under it, there was a treasure that belonged to them. Because their father was a righteous man, your Lord wanted them to grow up and attain full strength, then extract their treasure. Such is mercy from your Lord. I did none of that of my own volition. This is the explanation of the things you could not stand."

وَيَسـَٔلونَكَ عَن ذِى القَرنَينِ قُل سَأَتلوا عَلَيكُم مِنهُ ذِكرًا

They ask you about Zul-Qarnain. Say, "I will narrate to you some of his history."

إِنّا مَكَّنّا لَهُ فِى الأَرضِ وَءاتَينٰهُ مِن كُلِّ شَىءٍ سَبَبًا

We granted him authority on earth, and provided him with all kinds of means.

فَأَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Then, he pursued one way.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَغرِبَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَغرُبُ فى عَينٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَها قَومًا قُلنا يٰذَا القَرنَينِ إِمّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فيهِم حُسنًا

When he reached the far west, he found the sun setting in a vast ocean, and found people there. We said, "O Zul-Qarnain, you can rule as you wish; either punish, or be kind to them."

قالَ أَمّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذابًا نُكرًا

He said, "As for those who transgress, we will punish them, then, when they return to their Lord, He will commit them to more retribution.

وَأَمّا مَن ءامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صٰلِحًا فَلَهُ جَزاءً الحُسنىٰ وَسَنَقولُ لَهُ مِن أَمرِنا يُسرًا

"As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they receive a good reward; we will treat them kindly."

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Then he pursued another way.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَطلِعَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَطلُعُ عَلىٰ قَومٍ لَم نَجعَل لَهُم مِن دونِها سِترًا

When he reached the far east, he found the sun rising on people who had nothing to shelter them from it.

كَذٰلِكَ وَقَد أَحَطنا بِما لَدَيهِ خُبرًا

Naturally, we were fully aware of everything he found out.

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

He then pursued another way.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ بَينَ السَّدَّينِ وَجَدَ مِن دونِهِما قَومًا لا يَكادونَ يَفقَهونَ قَولًا

When he reached the valley between two palisades, he found people whose language was barely understandable.

قالوا يٰذَا القَرنَينِ إِنَّ يَأجوجَ وَمَأجوجَ مُفسِدونَ فِى الأَرضِ فَهَل نَجعَلُ لَكَ خَرجًا عَلىٰ أَن تَجعَلَ بَينَنا وَبَينَهُم سَدًّا

They said, "O Zul-Qarnain, Gog and Magog are corruptors of the earth. Can we pay you to create a barrier between us and them?"

*18:94-98 One of my duties as God's Messenger of the Covenant is to state that Gog and Magog, the final sign before the end of the world, will reappear in 2270 AD (1700 AH), just 10 years before the end. Note that Gog and Magog occur in Suras 18 and 21, precisely 17 verses before the end of each sura, representing 17 lunar centuries (see 72:27 and Appendix 25).

قالَ ما مَكَّنّى فيهِ رَبّى خَيرٌ فَأَعينونى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجعَل بَينَكُم وَبَينَهُم رَدمًا

He said, "My Lord has given me great bounties. If you cooperate with me, I will build a dam between you and them.

ءاتونى زُبَرَ الحَديدِ حَتّىٰ إِذا ساوىٰ بَينَ الصَّدَفَينِ قالَ انفُخوا حَتّىٰ إِذا جَعَلَهُ نارًا قالَ ءاتونى أُفرِغ عَلَيهِ قِطرًا

"Bring to me masses of iron". Once he filled the gap between the two palisades, he said, "Blow." Once it was red hot, he said, "Help me pour tar on top of it."

فَمَا اسطٰعوا أَن يَظهَروهُ وَمَا استَطٰعوا لَهُ نَقبًا

Thus, they could not climb it, nor could they bore holes in it.

قالَ هٰذا رَحمَةٌ مِن رَبّى فَإِذا جاءَ وَعدُ رَبّى جَعَلَهُ دَكّاءَ وَكانَ وَعدُ رَبّى حَقًّا

He said, "This is mercy from my Lord. When the prophecy of my Lord comes to pass, He will cause the dam to crumble. The prophecy of my Lord is truth."

وَتَرَكنا بَعضَهُم يَومَئِذٍ يَموجُ فى بَعضٍ وَنُفِخَ فِى الصّورِ فَجَمَعنٰهُم جَمعًا

At that time, we will let them invade with one another, then the horn will be blown, and we will summon them all together.

وَعَرَضنا جَهَنَّمَ يَومَئِذٍ لِلكٰفِرينَ عَرضًا

We will present Hell, on that day, to the disbelievers.

الَّذينَ كانَت أَعيُنُهُم فى غِطاءٍ عَن ذِكرى وَكانوا لا يَستَطيعونَ سَمعًا

They are the ones whose eyes were too veiled to see My message. Nor could they hear.

أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا أَن يَتَّخِذوا عِبادى مِن دونى أَولِياءَ إِنّا أَعتَدنا جَهَنَّمَ لِلكٰفِرينَ نُزُلًا

Do those who disbelieve think that they can get away with setting up My servants as gods beside Me? We have prepared for the disbelievers Hell as an eternal abode.

قُل هَل نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالأَخسَرينَ أَعمٰلًا

Say, "Shall I tell you who the worst losers are?

الَّذينَ ضَلَّ سَعيُهُم فِى الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَهُم يَحسَبونَ أَنَّهُم يُحسِنونَ صُنعًا

"They are the ones whose works in this life are totally astray, but they think that they are doing good."

أُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِـٔايٰتِ رَبِّهِم وَلِقائِهِ فَحَبِطَت أَعمٰلُهُم فَلا نُقيمُ لَهُم يَومَ القِيٰمَةِ وَزنًا

Such are the ones who disbelieved in the revelations of their Lord and in meeting Him. Therefore, their works are in vain; on the Day of Resurrection, they have no weight.

ذٰلِكَ جَزاؤُهُم جَهَنَّمُ بِما كَفَروا وَاتَّخَذوا ءايٰتى وَرُسُلى هُزُوًا

Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers.

إِنَّ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ كانَت لَهُم جَنّٰتُ الفِردَوسِ نُزُلًا

As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they have deserved a blissful Paradise as their abode.

خٰلِدينَ فيها لا يَبغونَ عَنها حِوَلًا

Forever they abide therein; they will never want any other substitute.

قُل لَو كانَ البَحرُ مِدادًا لِكَلِمٰتِ رَبّى لَنَفِدَ البَحرُ قَبلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمٰتُ رَبّى وَلَو جِئنا بِمِثلِهِ مَدَدًا

Say, "If the ocean were ink for the words of my Lord, the ocean would run out, before the words of my Lord run out, even if we double the ink supply."

قُل إِنَّما أَنا۠ بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم يوحىٰ إِلَىَّ أَنَّما إِلٰهُكُم إِلٰهٌ وٰحِدٌ فَمَن كانَ يَرجوا لِقاءَ رَبِّهِ فَليَعمَل عَمَلًا صٰلِحًا وَلا يُشرِك بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

Say, "I am no more than a human like you, being inspired that your god is one god. Those who hope to meet their Lord shall work righteousness, and never worship any other god beside his Lord."