الكهف
The Cave
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
falammā balaghā majmaʿa baynihimā nasiyā ḥūtahumā fa-ittakhadha sabīlahu fī l-baḥri saraban
But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.
falammā jāwazā qāla lifatāhu ātinā ghadāanā laqad laqīnā min safarinā hādhā naṣaban
So when they had passed beyond it, [Moses] said to his boy, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue."
qāla ara-ayta idh awaynā ilā l-ṣakhrati fa-innī nasītu l-ḥūta wamā ansānīhu illā l-shayṭānu an adhkurahu wa-ittakhadha sabīlahu fī l-baḥri ʿajaban
He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly."
qāla dhālika mā kunnā nabghi fa-ir'taddā ʿalā āthārihimā qaṣaṣan
[Moses] said, "That is what we were seeking." So they returned, following their footprints.
fawajadā ʿabdan min ʿibādinā ātaynāhu raḥmatan min ʿindinā waʿallamnāhu min ladunnā ʿil'man
And they found a servant from among Our servants [i.e., al-Khiḍr] to whom We had given mercy from Us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.
qāla lahu mūsā hal attabiʿuka ʿalā an tuʿallimani mimmā ʿullim'ta rush'dan
Moses said to him, "May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?"
qāla innaka lan tastaṭīʿa maʿiya ṣabran
He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.
wakayfa taṣbiru ʿalā mā lam tuḥiṭ bihi khub'ran
And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"
qāla satajidunī in shāa l-lahu ṣābiran walā aʿṣī laka amran
[Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allāh wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order."
qāla fa-ini ittabaʿtanī falā tasalnī ʿan shayin ḥattā uḥ'ditha laka min'hu dhik'ran
He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention [i.e., explanation]."
fa-inṭalaqā ḥattā idhā rakibā fī l-safīnati kharaqahā qāla akharaqtahā litugh'riqa ahlahā laqad ji'ta shayan im'ran
So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, he [i.e., al-Khiḍr] tore it open. [Moses] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing."
qāla alam aqul innaka lan tastaṭīʿa maʿiya ṣabran
[Al-Khiḍr] said, "Did I not say that with me you would never be able to have patience?"
qāla lā tuākhidh'nī bimā nasītu walā tur'hiq'nī min amrī ʿus'ran
[Moses] said, "Do not blame me for what I forgot and do not overwhelm me in my matter with difficulty."
fa-inṭalaqā ḥattā idhā laqiyā ghulāman faqatalahu qāla aqatalta nafsan zakiyyatan bighayri nafsin laqad ji'ta shayan nuk'ran
So they set out, until when they met a boy, he [i.e., al-Khiḍr] killed him. [Moses] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing."
qāla alam aqul laka innaka lan tastaṭīʿa maʿiya ṣabran
[Al-Khiḍr] said, "Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?"
qāla in sa-altuka ʿan shayin baʿdahā falā tuṣāḥib'nī qad balaghta min ladunnī ʿudh'ran
[Moses] said, "If I should ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion. You have obtained from me an excuse."
fa-inṭalaqā ḥattā idhā atayā ahla qaryatin is'taṭʿamā ahlahā fa-abaw an yuḍayyifūhumā fawajadā fīhā jidāran yurīdu an yanqaḍḍa fa-aqāmahu qāla law shi'ta lattakhadhta ʿalayhi ajran
So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so he [i.e., al-Khiḍr] restored it. [Moses] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment."
qāla hādhā firāqu baynī wabaynika sa-unabbi-uka bitawīli mā lam tastaṭiʿ ʿalayhi ṣabran
[Al-Khiḍr] said, "This is parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.
ammā l-safīnatu fakānat limasākīna yaʿmalūna fī l-baḥri fa-aradttu an aʿībahā wakāna warāahum malikun yakhudhu kulla safīnatin ghaṣban
As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force.
wa-ammā l-ghulāmu fakāna abawāhu mu'minayni fakhashīnā an yur'hiqahumā ṭugh'yānan wakuf'ran
And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.