The Cave (Al-Kahf)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹Praise be to Allah who has sent to His servant the book and has allowed therein no crookedness.¹

²He has made it straight and clear, in order that He may warn the godless of a terrible punishment from Him, and that He may give glad tidings to the believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly reward.

³Wherein they shall remain forever

⁴Further, that He may warn those who say “Allah has begotten a son.”²

⁵No knowledge have they of such a thing nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying. What they say is nothing but falsehood!

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Al hamdu lillahi lazi anuzala alla abudihil kitaba wa lam yajalu lahu iwajan.

²Qayyima liyunuzira basan shadidan min ladunuhu wa yubashiral muminina lazina yamaluna sualihati anna lahum ajuran hasanan.

³Makisina fihi abadan.

⁴Wa yunuzira lazina qalutakhazallahu waladan.

⁵Ma lahum bihi min ilumin wa la liabaihim kaburatu kalimatan takhuruju min afuwahihim inyaquluna illa kaziban.

1. Quite the contrary is true, the Qur’an is so full of crookedness, distortions, and inaccuracies that we are almost forced to what the verse has just said. Qur’an 4:82 tells us that if we ponder over them, what are even contradictory will be made clear. A bunch of boloney. One cannot unmake Mary the Mother of Jesus to be Mary, the Sister of Moses and Aaron. No matter how much one ponders on the matter. Try it!

2. Allah and Muhammad misunderstood the terminology used in reference to Jesus as being the Son of God. Allah, Muhammad and the Holy Spirit (i.e. the Angel Gabriel) took the term literally that Allah begot the Jesus the same way we were begotten. That in itself is a betrayal of the true nature of Allah, if in this, he cannot tell what is being said from it is not, his authority must be questioned.

⁶You would only perchance fret yourself to death following after them in grief, if they believe not in this message.

⁷That which is on earth, We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them as to which of them are best in conduct.

⁸Verily, We shall make what is on earth as dust and dry soil without growth or herbage.

⁹Or do you reflect that the companions of the cave and of the inscription were wonders among Our signs? ³

¹⁰Behold, the youths betook themselves to the cave: they said “Our Lord! bestow on us Your mercy and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!.

¹¹Then We drew a veil over their ears for a number of years in the cave so that they heard not:

⁶Fa laallaka bakhiun nafusaka alla asarihim innu lam yuminu bi hazal hadisi asafan.

⁷Inna jaaluna ma allalarddi zinata laha linabuluwahum ayyuhum ahusanu amalan.

⁸Wa inna lajailuna ma alaiha saidan juruzan.

⁹Am hasibuta anna asuhabal kahufi wa raqimi kanu min ayatina ajaban

¹⁰Izu awa l fituyatu illal kahufi faqalu rabbana atina min ladunuka rahumatan wa hayi lana min amurina rashadan.

¹¹Fa duarabuna alla azanihim fil kahufi sinina adadan.

3. Commentators and scholars both agree that this is in reference to a fictitious and apocryphal story of the Seven Young Men from Ephesus who hid themselves in a cave to avoid persecution in the days of emperor Decius of Rome who ruled from 249-251 and awoke in the reign of Theodosius ll who reigned from 408-450. This is not part of accepted Christian history, even of the events which occurred in the Catacombs. Several such stories abound, some of which have made their way into catechisms of some of the mainline Churches, particularly, the Roman Catholic. There is the story in which Jesus is said to have changed some children into swine, others about when had a dinner date with a disciple and did not show till about four weary, poor and hungry travelers arrived and were given what was prepared with Jesus in mind. If these stories are told to enhance ones story or sermon, that is great, but to claim them as Christian traditions is wrong.

¹²Then We roused them in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried!

¹³We relate to you their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord and We advanced them in guidance.

¹⁴And We gave strength to their hearts: Behold, they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did; we should indeed have uttered an enormity!”

¹⁵“These our people have taken for worship gods other than Him: why do they not bring forward a clear and convincing authority for what they do? Who does more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah?

¹²Summa baasunahum linalama ayyul hizubaini ahusua lima labisu amadan.

¹³Nahunu naqusu alaika nabaahum bil haqqi innahum fituyatun amanu bi rabbihim wa zidunahum hudan

¹⁴Wa rabatuna alla qulubihim izu qamu faqalu rabbuna rabbu samawati walarddi lan naduwa min dunihi ilahal laqadu quluna izanu shatuatuan.

¹⁵Haulai qaumunatakhazu min dunihi alihatan laula yatuna alaihim bi sulutuanin bayyinin faman attulamu min manifutara nalallahi kaziban.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁶“And when you turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah, betake yourselves to the cave: your Lord will shower his mercies on you and dispose of your affair towards comfort and ease.”

¹⁷And you would 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 open space in the middle of the cave. Such are among the signs of Allah: he whom Allah guided is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray for him you will find no protector to lead him to the right way.

¹⁶Wa izitazalutumuhum wa ma yabuduna illallaha fawu illal kahufi yanushuru lakum rabbukum mi rahumatihi wa yuhayyi lakum min amurikum mirufaqan.

¹⁷Wa tara shamusa iza tualaatu tazawaru an kahufihim zatal yamini wa iza garabatu taquridduhum zata shimali wa hum fi fajuwatin minuhu zalika min ayatillahi man yahudillahu fa huwal muhutadi wa man yuddulilu falan tajida lahu waliyan murushidan.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁸And you would have deemed them awake whilst they were asleep and We turned them on their right and their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two forelegs on the threshold: if you had come up on to them you would have certainly turned back from them in flight and would certainly have been filled with terror of them.

¹⁹And such being their state, We raised them up from sleep that they might question each other. Said one of them “How long have you stayed here?” They said “We have stayed perhaps a day or part of a day.” At length they all said “Allah alone knows best how long you have stayed here. Now send then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food and bring some to you that you may satisfy your hunger herewith: and let him behave with care and courtesy and let him not inform anyone about you.

¹⁸Wa tahusabuhum aiqatuan wa hum ruqudun wa nuqallibuhum zatal yamini wa zata shimali wa kalubuhum basitun ziraaihi bil wassidi lawitalata alaihim lawallaita minuhum firaran wa lamulita minuhum ruuban.

¹⁹Wa kazalika baasunahum liyatasaalu bainahum qala qailun minuhum kamu labisutum qalu labisuna yauman au bada yaumin qalu rabbukum alamu bima labisutum fa basu ahadakum bi wariqikum hazihi illal madinati faluyanutturu ayuha azuka taaman faluyatikum bi rizuqin minhu waluyatalatuafu wa la yushiranna bikum ahadan.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁰“For if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult and in that case you would never attain prosperity.”

²¹And thus did We make their case known to the people that they might know that the promise of Allah is true and that there can be no doubt about the hour of judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. Some said “construct a building over them”: their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said “Let us surely build a place of worship over them.”

²⁰Innahum inyattuharu alaikum yarujumukum au yuidukum fi millatihim wa lan tufulihu izan abadan.

²¹Wa kazalika asaruna alaihim liyalamu anna wadallahi haqqun wa anna saata la raiba fiha izuyatana zauna bainahum amurahum faqalu bunu alaihim bunuyanan rabbuhum alamu bihim qala lazina galabu alla amurihim lanatakhizanna alaihim masujidan.

[Commentary continues below.]

²²Some say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; others say they were five, the dog being the sixth, doubtfully guessing at the unknown; yet others say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say: “My Lord knows best their number; it is but few that know their real case.” Enter not therefore into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear nor consult any of them about the affair of the sleepers.

²³And never say of anything “I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow”

²⁴Without adding “so please Allah!” And call your Lord to mind when you forget and say “I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer than this to the right road.”

²⁵So they stayed in their cave three hundred years and some add nine more.

²²Sayaquluna salasatun rabiuhum kalubuhum wa yaquluna khamusatun sadisuhum kalubuhum rajuman bil gaibi wa yaquluna sabatun wa saminuhum kalubuhum qulu rabbi alamu bi idatihim ma yalamuhum illa qalilun fala tumari fihim illa miraan zahiran wa la tasutafuti fihim minuhum ahadan

²³Wa la taqalanna lishaiin inni failun zalika gadan.

²⁴Illa anyashaallahu wa zukuru rabbaka iza nasita wa qulu asa anyahudiyani rabbi liaquraba min haza rashadan.

²⁵Wa labisu fi kahufihim salasa miatin sinina wazudadu tisan.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁶Say: “Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is the knowledge of the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees how finely He hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever.

²⁷And recite what has been revealed to you of the book of your Lord: none can change His words and you will find none as a refuge other than Him.

²⁸And keep your soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking his face; and let not your eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.

²⁶Qulillahu alamu bima labisa lahu gaibu samawati walarddi abussiru bihi wa asumi ma lahum min dunihi min waliyyin wa la yushuriku fi hukumihi ahadan.

²⁷Wa tulu ma uhiya ilaika min kitabi rabbika la mubadila likalimatihi wa lan tajida min dunihi mulutahadan.

²⁸Wa subiru nafusaka maa lazina yaduna rabbahum bil gadati wal ashiyyi yuridana wajuhahu wa la tadu ainaka anuhum turidu zinatal hayati dunuya wa la tuti man agufaluna qalubahu an zikurina watabaa hawahu wa kana amuruhu furutan.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁹And say “the truth is from your Lord”: let him who will believe and let him who will reject it: for the wrongdoers We have prepared a fire whose smoke and flames like the wall and roof of a tent will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!

³⁰As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily, We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a righteous deed.

³¹For them will be gardens of eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade; they will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on!

²⁹Wa qulil haqqu mi rabbikum faman shaa faluyumin wa man shaa faluyakufuru inna ataduna li tualimina naran ahata bihim suradiquha wa in yasutagisu yugasu bi main kalu muhuli yashuwil wujuha bisa sharabu wa saatu murutafaqan.

³⁰Inna lazina amanu wa amilu sualihati inna la nudiu ajura man ahusana amalan.

³¹Ulaika lahum jannatu adunin tajuri min tahutihimul anuharu yuhallauna fiha min asawira min zahabin wa yalubasuna siyaban khuduran min sunudusin wa isutaburaqin mutakiina fiha alla laraiki niuma sawabu wa hasunatu murutafaqan.

[Commentary continues below.]

³²And set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with date palms: in between the two We placed corn-fields.

³³Each of those gardens brought forth its produce and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow.

³⁴And abundant was the produce this man had: he said to his companion in the course of a mutual argument: “More wealth have I than you and more honor and power in my following of men.”

³⁵He went into his garden in a state of mind unjust to his soul: He said “I deem not that this will ever perish.

³⁶“Nor do I deem that the hour will come: even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find something better in exchange.”

³²Wa dduribu lahum masala rajulaini jaaluna liahadihima jannataini min anabin wa hafafunahuma bi nakhulin wa jaaluna bainahuma zaran.

³³Kilutal jannataini atat ukulaha wa lam tattulimu minhu. shaian wa fajjaruna khilalahuma naharan.

³⁴Wa kana lahu samarun faqala lisahibihi wa huwa yuhawiruhu ana akusaru minuka malan wa azu nafaran.

³⁵Wa dakhala jannatahu wa huwa tualimu li nafusihi qala ma attunnu an tabida hazihi abadan.

³⁶Wa ma attunnu saata qaimatan wa lain rudidutu illa rabbi laajidanna khairan minha munuqalaban.

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁷His companion said to him in the course of the argument with him: “Do you deny Him who created you out of dust, then out of a sperm drop, then fashioned you into a man?.

³⁸“But I think for my part that He is Allah, my Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord.

³⁹“And why did you not say, as you went into your garden: `Allah’s will be done! There is no power but with Allah!’ If you do see me less than you in wealth and sons;

⁴⁰“It may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden and that He will send on your garden thunderbolts from heaven making it slippery sand!

⁴¹“Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that you will never be able to find it.”

³⁷Qala lahu suahibuhu wa huwa yuhawiruhu akafaruta billazi khalaqaka min turabin summa min nuttufatin summa sawaka rajulan.

³⁸Lakinna huwallahu rabbi wa la ushuriku bi rabbi ahadan..

³⁹Wa lau la izu dakhaluta jannataka quluta ma shaallahu la quwata illa billahi in tarani anna aqalla minuka mala wa waladan.

⁴⁰Fa asa rabbi anyutiyani khairan min jannatika wa yurusila alaiha husubanan mina samai fatusubiha saidan zalaqan.

⁴¹Au yusubiha mauha gauran falan tasutattia lahu talaban.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴²And so his fruits were encompassed and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property which had tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say “woe is me! would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord!”

⁴³And had he numbers to help him against Allah nor was he able to deliver himself.

⁴⁴The only protection comes from Allah, the true one. He is the best to reward and the best to give success.

⁴⁵And set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth’s vegetation absorbs it but soon it becomes dry stubble which the winds do scatter: it is Allah Who prevails over all things.

⁴²Wa uhitua bi samarihi fa asuubaha yuqallibu kaffaihi alla ma anufaqa fiha wa hiya khawiyatun alla urushiha wa yaqulu ya laitani lam ushuriku bi rabbi ahadan.

⁴³Wa lam taku lahu fiatun yanusurunahu min dunillahi wa ma kana munutasiran.

⁴⁴Hunalikal walayatu lillahil haqqi huwa khairun sawaban wa khairun uquban.

⁴⁵Wa dduribu lahum masalal hayati dunuya kamain anuzalunahu mina samai fa khutalatua bihi nabatu larddi fa asubaha hashiman tazuruhu riyahu wa kanallahu alla kulli shaiin muqutadiran.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴⁶Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: but the things that endure, good deeds are best in the sight of your Lord as rewards and best as the foundation for hopes.

⁴⁷And one day We shall remove the mountains and you will see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them.

⁴⁸And they will be marshaled before your Lord in ranks “Now you have come to Us as We created you first: aye you thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet!”.

⁴⁶Almalu wal banuna zinatul hayati dunuya wal baqiyatu sualihatu khairun inda rabbika sawaban wa khairun amalan.

⁴⁷Wa yauma nusayyirul jibala wa tara lardda barizatan wa hasharunahum falam nugadiru minuhum ahadan.

⁴⁸Wa uridu alla rabbika suaffan laqadu jitumuna kama khalaqunakum awala marratin balu zaamtum allan najala lakum mauidan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴⁹And the book will be placed before you; and you will see the sinful in great terror because of what is recorded therein; they will say “Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great but takes account thereof!” They will find all that they did placed before them: and not one will your Lord treat with injustice.

⁵⁰And behold! We said to the angels “bow down to Adam”: they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns and he broke the command of his Lord. Will you then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers!

⁵¹I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth nor their own creation: nor is it for Me to take as helpers such as lead astray!

⁵²One day He will say “call on those whom you thought to be My partners” and they will call on them but they will not listen to them; and We shall make for them a place of common perdition.

⁴⁹Wa wudial kitabu fataral mujurimina mushufiqina mimma fihi wa yaquluna ya wailatana mali hazal kitabi la yugadiru sagiratan wa la kabiratan illa ahusaha wa wajadu ma amilu hadiran wa la yattulimu rabbuka ahadan.

⁵⁰Wa izu quluna lil malaikati sujudu li Adama fasajadu illa ibulisa kana minal jinni fafasaqa an amuri rabbihi afatatakhizunahu wa zurriyyatahu auliyaa min duni wa hum lakum aduwun bisa li tualimina badalan.

⁵¹Ma ashuhattuhum khalqa samawati walarddi wa la khaluqa anufusihim wa ma kuntu mutakhizal muddillina addudan.

⁵²Wa yauma yaqulu nadu shurakaiya lazina zaamtum fa daauhum falam yasutajibu lahum wa jaaluna bainahum maubiqan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵³And the sinful shall see the fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein; no means will they find to turn away therefrom.

⁵⁴We have explained in detail in this Qur’an for the benefit of mankind every kind of similitude: but man is in most things contentious.

⁵⁵And what is there to keep back men from believing now that guidance has come to them, nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord but the ways of the ancients be repeated with them or the wrath be brought to them face to face?

⁵⁶We only send the apostles to give glad tidings and to give warnings: but the unbelievers dispute with vain argument in order therewith to weaken the truth and they treat My signs as a jest as also the fact that they are warned!

⁵³Wa raal mujurimuna nara fa tuannu annahum muwaqiuha wa lam yajidu anuha masurifan.

⁵⁴Wa laqadu sarrafuna fi hazal qurani linasi min kulli masalin wa kanal insanu akusara shaiin jadalan.

⁵⁵Wa ma manaan nasa an yuminu izu jaahumul huda wa yasutagufiru rabbahum illa an tatiyahum sunnatul awwalina au yatiyahumul azabu qubulan.

⁵⁶Wa ma nurusilul murusalina illa mubashirina wa munzirina wa yujadilu lazina kafaru bil batili liyuduhiddu bihil haqqa wa takhazu ayati wa ma unuziru huzuwan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵⁷And who does more wrong than one who is reminded of the signs of his Lord but turns away from them forgetting what his hands have sent forth? Verily, We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this and over their ears deafness. If you call them to guidance, even then they will never accept guidance.

⁵⁸And your Lord is most forgiving, full of mercy. If He were 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 refuge.

⁵⁹And such were the populations We destroyed when they committed iniquities; but We fixed an appointed time for their destruction.

⁵⁷Wa man attulamu min man zukkira bi ayati rabbihi fa arada anuha wa nasiya ma qaddamatu yadahu inna jaaluna alla qulubihim akinnatan an yafuqahuhu wa fi azanihim waquran wa in taduhum illal huda falan yahutada izan abadan.

⁵⁸Wa rabbukal gafuru zu rahumati lau yuakhizuhum bima kasabu laajjala lahumul azaba balu lahum mauidul lan yajidu min dunihi mauilan.

⁵⁹Wa tilukal qura ahulakunahum lamma tualamu wa jaaluna limahulikihim mauidan.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶⁰And behold, Moses said to his attendant “I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or until I spend years and years in travel.”⁴

⁶¹But when they reached the junction they forgot their fish which took its course through the sea as in a tunnel.

⁶²When they had passed on Moses said to his attendant: “Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this stage of our journey.”

⁶³He replied: “did you see what happened when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget about the fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell you about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvelous way!”⁵

⁶⁴Moses said: “That was what we were seeking after”: so they went back on their footsteps following the path they had come.

⁶⁰Wa izu qala Musa lifatahu la aburahu hata abuluga majumaal bahuraini au amudiya huquban.

⁶¹Falamma balaga majumaa bainihima nasiya hutahuma fa takhaza sabilahu fil bahri saraban.

⁶²Falamma jawaza qala lifatahu atina gadaana laqadu laqina min safarina haza nasuaban.

⁶³Qala araaita izu awaina illa suakhurati fa inni nasitu luhuta wa ma anusanihu illa shaituanu an azukurahu wa takhaza sabilahu fil bahuri ajaban.

⁶⁴Qala zalika ma kunna nabugi farutada alla asarihima qasuasuan.

4. Both George Sale and Yusuf Ali believe that “the long space of time” signifies eighty years and beyond. In which time Moses had no attendant but a companion, being his older brother Aaron. If even the time were to signify forty years and beyond, that will still not be Joshua as others have claimed. The journey from Egypt to Canaan took forty years, at the beginning of which Moses was eighty years. This portion becomes a Muhammadan myth, like many others throughout the Qur’an.

5. Typical of mankind, the devil, (Satan) is blamed for all of our shortcomings. In this myth where Moses went in search of a superior servant of Allah by the name of Al Khedr, who possessed more knowledge than Moses, Satan apparently caused both Moses and Joshua to forget the sign of Allah as to where they were to find this mythical servant of Allah.

⁶⁵So they found one of Our servants on whom We had bestowed mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own presence.

⁶⁶Moses said to him: “May I follow you on the footing that you teach me something of the Truth which you have been taught?”

⁶⁷The other said: “Verily, you will not be able to have patience with me!

⁶⁸“And how can you have patience about things about which your understanding is not complete?”

⁶⁹Moses said: “You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient: nor shall I disobey you in anything.”

⁶⁵Fa wajada abudan minibadina atainahu rahumatan min inudina wa allamunahu mi ladunna iluman.

⁶⁶Qala lahu Musa halu atabiuka alla an tuallimani mimma ullimuta rushudan.

⁶⁷Qala innaka lanu tasutattia maiya suaburan.

⁶⁸Wa kaifa tassubiru alla ma lam tuhittu bihi khuburan.

⁶⁹Qala satajiduni in shaallahu suabiran wa la asi laka amuran.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁰The other said: “If then you would follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to you concerning it.”

⁷¹So they both proceeded: until when they were in the boat he scuttled it. Said Moses: “Have you scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly, you have done a strange thing!”

⁷²He answered: “Did I not tell you that you cannot have patience with me?”

⁷³Moses said: “Rebuke me not for forgetting nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case.”

⁷⁴Then they proceeded: until when they met a young man he slew him. Moses said: “You have slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly you have done a foul thing!”

⁷⁵He answered: “Did I not tell you that you cannot have patience with me?”

⁷⁶He said: “If I ever ask you about anything after this, keep me not in your company: then you would have received excuse from my side.”

⁷⁰Qala fa in itabatani fala tasaluni an shaiin hata uhudisa laka minuhu zikuran.

⁷¹Fa nutualaqa hata iza rakiba fi safinati kharaqaha qala akharaqutaha lituguriqa ahulaha laqadu jita shaian imuran.

⁷²Qala alamu aqulu innaka lanu tasutattia maiya suaburan.

⁷³Qala la tuakhizuni bima nasitu wa la turuhiquni min amuri usuran.

⁷⁴Fa nutualaqa hata iza laqiya gulaman faqatalahu qala aqataluta nafusan zakiyyatan bi gairi nafusin laqadu jita shaian nukuran.

⁷⁵Qala alamu aqulu laka in naka lan tasutattia maiya suaburan.

⁷⁶Qala in sala lutuka an shaiin badaha fala tusuhahibuni qadu balaguta mi ladun ni uzuran.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁷⁷Then they proceeded: until when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: “If you have wished surely, you could have exacted some recompense for it!”

⁷⁸He answered: “This is the parting between me and you: now I will tell you the interpretation of those things over which you ware unable to hold patience.

⁷⁹As for the boat it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force.

⁸⁰“And as for the youth his parents were people of faith and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude to Allah and man.

⁷⁷Fanutualaqa hata iza ataya ahula qaruyatini tatama ahulaha fa abau anyuduayifuhuma fawajada fiha jidaran yuridu an yanuqadua fa aqamahu qala lau shita latakhazuta alaihi ajura.

⁷⁸Qala haza firaqu baini wa bainiku sa unabiuka bita wili ma lam tasutattiu alaihi suaburan.

⁷⁹Amma safinatu fakanatu limasakina yamaluna fil bahuri fa aratu an aibaha wa kana wara ahum ma likun yakhuzu kulla safinatin gassuban.

⁸⁰Wa ammal gulamu fakana abawahu muminaini fakhashina an yuruhi qahuma ttuguyanan wa kufuran.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸¹“So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange a son, better in purity of conduct and closer in affection.

⁸²“And as for the wall it belonged to two youths orphans in the town; there was beneath it a buried treasure to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: so your Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure, a mercy from your Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of those things over which you were unable to hold patience.”

⁸³And they ask you concerning Zul-qarnain. Say “I will rehearse to you something of his story.”⁶

⁸⁴Verily, We established his power on earth and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends.

⁸⁵One way he followed.

⁸¹Fa araduna an yubudilahuma rabbuhuma khairan minuhu zakatan wa aquraba ruhuma.

⁸²Wa amma lujidaru fakana liguhulamaini yatimaini fil madinati wa kana tahutahu kanuzun lahuma wa kana abuhuma sualihan fa arada rabbuka an yabuluguha ashudahuma wa yasutakhurija kanuzahuma rahumatan mi rab bik wa ma faalutuhu an amuri zalika tawilu ma lam tasuttiu alaihi suaburan.

⁸³Wa yasu alunaka anu zi luqarunain qulu sa atulu alaikum minhu zikuran.

⁸⁴Inna makanna lahu fil arddi wa atainahu min kulli shaiin sababan.

⁸⁵Fa atubaa sababan.

6. Popular opinion claims Zul-qarnain was Alexander the Great, the term or name literally means the “two horned”. Others claim that he was not Alexander the Great but a contemporary of Abraham who was known by the same name and probably, a Persian King. According to Yusuf Ali:

“The Qur-an gives us no material on which we can base a positive answer. Nor is it necessary to find an answer, as the story is treated as a Parable”.

Allah had told Muhammad to rehearse to the people who wanted to know about Zul-qarnain, his story. However, no facts but fiction was the story given about this historic figure whom the people wanted to know about.

⁸⁶Until when he reached the setting of the sun He found it set in a spring of murky water: near it he found a people: We said: “O Zul-qarnain! You have authority either to punish them or to treat them with kindness.”⁷

⁸⁷He said: “Whoever does wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard of before.

⁸⁸“But whoever believes and works righteousness he shall have a goodly reward and easy will be his task as we order it by our command.”

⁸⁹Then followed he another way.

⁹⁰Until when he came to the rising of the sun he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no protection against the sun.

⁸⁶Hata iza balaguha maguriba samusi wajadaha taguhurubu fi ainin hami atin wa wajada indaha qauma quluna ya za luqarunaini im ma an tuaziba wa imma an tatakhiza fihim husuna.

⁸⁷Qala amma man tualama fasaufa nuazibuhu summa yuradu illa rabbihi fayuazibuhu azaban nukran.

⁸⁸Wa amma man amana wa amila shalihan falahu jaza ani luhusuna wa sanaqulu lahu min amurina yusuran.

⁸⁹Summa atubaa sababan.

⁹⁰Hata iza balaguha mattulia samusi wajadaha tattuluu alla qaumin lamunajalahum min duniha situran.

7. Verse 86 says that he found the sun set in a spring of murky water. Think about it. Is that where the sun sets?

[Commentary continues below.]

⁹¹He left them as they were: We completely understood what was before him.

⁹²Then followed he another way.

⁹³Until when he reached a tract between two mountains, he found beneath them a people who scarcely understood a word.

⁹⁴They said: “O Zul-qarnain! the people of Gog and Magog do great mischief on earth: shall we then render you tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?”⁸

⁹⁵He said: “The power in which my Lord has established me is better than tribute: help me therefore with strength and labor: I will erect a strong barrier between you and them:

⁹¹Kazalika wa qadu ahattuna bima ladaihi khuburan.

⁹²Summa atubaa sababan.

⁹³Hata iza balaguha baina sadaini wajada min dunihima qauman la yakaduna yafuqahuna qaulan.

⁹⁴Qalu yaza luqarunaini inna yajuja wa majuja mufusiduna filarddi fahalu najalu laka kharujan alla an tajala bainana wa bainahum sadan.

⁹⁵Qala ma makanni fihi rabbi khairun fa ainuni biqun watin ajalu bainakum wa bainahum raduman.

8. According to the passage, these are a very mischievous people who ruled over the people before the coming of Zul-qarnain. However, the Bible speaks of Gog as the leader of the Magog people. These are said to be Indo-European people who are descendants of Japheth, one of Noah’s three sons. Most prophetic students believe that the reference is to Russia. Those who are of this persuasion also draw some of their points from the mention of Tubal and Meshech as Tobolsk and Moscow. Although, the Qur’an makes no distinction between leader and the people. It is most likely Russia which lies to the North of Arabia may have been implied, although, there are those who think that this reference is to Turks.

⁹⁶“Bring me blocks of iron.” At length when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain sides he said “Blow with your bellows.” Then when he had made it red as fire, he said: “Bring me that I may pour over it molten lead.”

⁹⁷Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it.

⁹⁸He said: “This is a mercy from my Lord: but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass He will make it into dust; and the promise of My Lord is true.”

⁹⁹On that day, We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; the trumpet will be blown and We shall collect them all together.

¹⁰⁰And We shall present hell that day for unbelievers to see, all spread out.

¹⁰¹Unbelievers whose eyes had been under a veil from remembrance of Me and who had been unable even to hear.

⁹⁶Atuni zubaral hadidu hata iza sawa baina suadafain qala anfukuhu hata iza jaalahu naran qala atuni ufurigu alaihi qitturan.

⁹⁷Famasutuau an yattuharuhu wa masutatuau lahu naquban.

⁹⁸Qala haza rahumatun mi rabbi fa iza ja a wadu rabbi jaalahu daka wa kana wadu rabbi haqqan.

⁹⁹Wa tarakuna baduahumu yaumaizin yamuju fi badin wa nufikuha fissuri fajamanahum jamaan.

¹⁰⁰Wa aradduna jahannama yaumaizin lil kafirina arudua.

¹⁰¹Allazina kanatu ayunuhum fi gituain an zikuri wa kanu la yasutattiuna samaan.

¹⁰²Do the unbelievers think that they can take my servants as protectors besides Me? Verily, We have prepared hell for the unbelievers, for their entertainment.

¹⁰³Say: “Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?

¹⁰⁴“Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?”

¹⁰⁵They are those who deny the signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him in the hereafter: vain will be their works, nor shall We on the day of judgment give them any weight.

¹⁰⁶That is their reward, hell; because they rejected faith and took My signs and My messengers by way of jest.

¹⁰²Afahasiba lazina kafaru anyatakhizu ibadi min duni auliya innan ataduna jahannama lilkafirina nuzulan.

¹⁰³Qulu halu nunabiukumu bil akhusarina aumalan.

¹⁰⁴Allazina duala sayuhum fil hayati dunuya wa hum yahusabuna annahum yuhusinuna ssunan.

¹⁰⁵Ulaika lazina kafaru bi ayati rabbihim wa liqa ihi fahabituatu amaluhum fala nuqimu lahum yaumal qiyamati wazunan.

¹⁰⁶Zalika jazauhum jahannamu bima kafaru watakhazu ayati wa rusuli huzuwan.

¹⁰⁷As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have for their entertainment the gardens of paradise.

¹⁰⁸Wherein they shall dwell: no change will they wish for from them.

¹⁰⁹Say: “If the ocean were ink, the words of my Lord sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it for its aid.”

¹¹⁰Say: “I am but a man like yourselves but the inspiration has come to me that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness and in the worship of his Lord admit no one as partner.”

¹⁰⁷Inna lazina amanu wa amilu sualihati kanatu lahum janatu lu firudausi nuzulan.

¹⁰⁸Khalidina fiha la yabuguuna anuha hiwalan.

¹⁰⁹Qulu lau kana lubahuru midadan likalimati rabbi lanafida lubahuru qabula anutanufada kalimatu rabbi wa lau jiuna bimituslihi madadan.

¹¹⁰Qulu innama ana basharun mitusulukum yuha ilay ya an nama ilahukum ilahuw wahid faman kana yarju liqa a rabbihi falyamal amalan salihaw wa la yusrik biibadati rabbihi ahada