الكهف
The Cave
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
fa-aradnā an yub'dilahumā rabbuhumā khayran min'hu zakatan wa-aqraba ruḥ'man
So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy.
wa-ammā l-jidāru fakāna lighulāmayni yatīmayni fī l-madīnati wakāna taḥtahu kanzun lahumā wakāna abūhumā ṣāliḥan fa-arāda rabbuka an yablughā ashuddahumā wayastakhrijā kanzahumā raḥmatan min rabbika wamā faʿaltuhu ʿan amrī dhālika tawīlu mā lam tasṭiʿ ʿalayhi ṣabran
And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."
wayasalūnaka ʿan dhī l-qarnayni qul sa-atlū ʿalaykum min'hu dhik'ran
And they ask you, [O Muḥammad], about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, "I will recite to you about him a report."
innā makkannā lahu fī l-arḍi waātaynāhu min kulli shayin sababan
Indeed, We established him upon the earth, and We gave him from everything a way [i.e., means].
fa-atbaʿa sababan
So he followed a way
ḥattā idhā balagha maghriba l-shamsi wajadahā taghrubu fī ʿaynin ḥami-atin wawajada ʿindahā qawman qul'nā yādhā l-qarnayni immā an tuʿadhiba wa-immā an tattakhidha fīhim ḥus'nan
Until, when he reached the setting of the sun [i.e., the west], he found it [as if] setting in a body of dark water, and he found near it a people. We [i.e., Allāh] said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
qāla ammā man ẓalama fasawfa nuʿadhibuhu thumma yuraddu ilā rabbihi fayuʿadhibuhu ʿadhāban nuk'ran
He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
wa-ammā man āmana waʿamila ṣāliḥan falahu jazāan l-ḥus'nā wasanaqūlu lahu min amrinā yus'ran
But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of the best [i.e., Paradise], and we [i.e., Dhul-Qarnayn] will speak to him from our command with ease."
thumma atbaʿa sababan
Then he followed a way
ḥattā idhā balagha maṭliʿa l-shamsi wajadahā taṭluʿu ʿalā qawmin lam najʿal lahum min dūnihā sit'ran
Until, when he came to the rising of the sun [i.e., the east], he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made against it any shield.
kadhālika waqad aḥaṭnā bimā ladayhi khub'ran
Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.
thumma atbaʿa sababan
Then he followed a way.
ḥattā idhā balagha bayna l-sadayni wajada min dūnihimā qawman lā yakādūna yafqahūna qawlan
Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech.
qālū yādhā l-qarnayni inna yajūja wamajūja muf'sidūna fī l-arḍi fahal najʿalu laka kharjan ʿalā an tajʿala baynanā wabaynahum saddan
They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?"
qāla mā makkannī fīhi rabbī khayrun fa-aʿīnūnī biquwwatin ajʿal baynakum wabaynahum radman
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength [i.e., manpower]; I will make between you and them a dam.
ātūnī zubara l-ḥadīdi ḥattā idhā sāwā bayna l-ṣadafayni qāla unfukhū ḥattā idhā jaʿalahu nāran qāla ātūnī uf'righ ʿalayhi qiṭ'ran
Bring me bars of iron" - until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, "Blow [with bellows]," until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper."
famā is'ṭāʿū an yaẓharūhu wamā is'taṭāʿū lahu naqban
So they [i.e., Gog and Magog] were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.
qāla hādhā raḥmatun min rabbī fa-idhā jāa waʿdu rabbī jaʿalahu dakkāa wakāna waʿdu rabbī ḥaqqan
[Dhul-Qarnayn] said, "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes [i.e., approaches], He will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Lord true."
wataraknā baʿḍahum yawma-idhin yamūju fī baʿḍin wanufikha fī l-ṣūri fajamaʿnāhum jamʿan
And We will leave them that day surging over each other, and [then] the Horn will be blown, and We will assemble them in [one] assembly.
waʿaraḍnā jahannama yawma-idhin lil'kāfirīna ʿarḍan
And We will present Hell that Day to the disbelievers, on display -