Surah Al-Kahf

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Verses 1 to 31

﴾١﴿ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ

Alhamdu lillaahil lazie anzala 'alaa 'abdihil kitaaba wa lam yaj'al lahu 'iwajaa

Praise belongs to Allah, who sent down the Book upon His servant and placed no crookedness in it,

﴾٢﴿ قَيِّمًۭا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًۭا شَدِيدًۭا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًۭا

Qaiyimal liyunzira baasan shadidam mil ladunhu wa yubashshiral mu'mininal lazina ya'malunas saalihaati anna lahum ajran hasanaa

straight, to warn of a severe punishment from Him, and to give good news to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward,

﴾٣﴿ مَّٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًۭا

Maakisina fihi abadaa

remaining in it forever,

﴾٤﴿ وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًۭا

Wa yunziral lazina qaalut takhazal laahu waladaa

and to warn those who say, "Allah has taken a son."

﴾٥﴿ مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍۢ وَلَا لِءَابَآئِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةًۭ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًۭا

Maa lahum bihi min 'ilminw wa laa li aabaaa'ihim; kaburat kalimatan takhruju min afwaahihim; iny yaquluna illaa kazibaa

They have no knowledge of it, and neither did their fathers. It is a monstrous word coming out of their mouths. They say nothing but a lie.

﴾٦﴿ فَلَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٌۭ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا

Fala'allaka baakhi'un nafsaka 'alaaa aasaarihim illam yu;minu bihaazal hadisi asafaa

Perhaps you will destroy yourself with grief over them, if they do not believe in this account.

﴾٧﴿ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةًۭ لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا

Innaa ja'alnaa ma 'alal ardi zinatal lahaa linabluwahum ayyuhum ahsanu 'amalaa

We made what is on the earth an adornment for it, so that We may test them as to which of them is best in deed.

﴾٨﴿ وَإِنَّا لَجَٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًۭا جُرُزًا

Wa innaa lajaa 'iluna maa 'alaihaa sa'aidan juruzaa

And We will make what is on it a barren plain.

﴾٩﴿ أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلْكَهْفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا۟ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَا عَجَبًا

Am hasibta anna Ashaabal Kahfi war Raqimi kaanu min Aayaatinaa 'ajabaa

Or did you think that the companions of the cave and the inscription were a wonder among Our signs?

﴾١٠﴿ إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا

Iz awal fityatu ilal Kahfi faqaalu Rabbanaaa aatinaa mil ladunka rahmatanw wa haiyi' lanaa min amrinaa rashadaa

When the young men took refuge in the cave and said, "Our Lord, give us mercy from Yourself, and prepare for us right guidance in our affair."

﴾١١﴿ فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ فِى ٱلْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًۭا

Fadarabnaa 'alaaa aazaanihim fil Kahfi senina 'adadaa

So We drew a cover over their ears in the cave for a number of years.

﴾١٢﴿ ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَىُّ ٱلْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوٓا۟ أَمَدًۭا

Summa ba'asnaahum lina'lama ayyul hizbaini ahsaa limaa labisuo amadaa

Then We raised them, so that We may make evident which of the two parties best counted the time they had remained.

﴾١٣﴿ نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَٰهُمْ هُدًۭى

Nahnu naqussu 'alaika naba ahum bilhaqq; innahum fityatun aamanu bi Rabbihim wa zidnaahum hudaa

We relate their account to you in truth. They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

﴾١٤﴿ وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَٰهًۭا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًۭا شَطَطًا

Wa rabatnaa 'alaa qulu bihim iz qaamu faqaalu Rabbunaa Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi lan nad'uwa min dunihie ilaahal laqad qulnaaa izan shatataa

And We bound their hearts when they stood and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We will never call upon any god besides Him. We would then have said something outrageous.

﴾١٥﴿ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمُنَا ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةًۭ ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَٰنٍۭ بَيِّنٍۢ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا

Haaa'ulaaa'i qawmunat takhazu min dunihie aalihatal law laa yaatuna 'alaihim bisultaanim baiyin; faman azlamu mimmaniftaraa 'alal laahi kazibaa

These, our people, have taken gods besides Him. Why do they not bring a clear authority for them? Who does greater wrong than one who invents a lie about Allah?

﴾١٦﴿ وَإِذِ ٱعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ فَأْوُۥٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًۭا

Wa izi'tazal tumuhum wa maa ya'buduna illal laaha faawuo ilal kahfi yanshur lakum Rabbukum mir rahmatihi wa yuhaiyi' lakum min amrikum mirfaqa

And when you have withdrawn from them and from what they worship except Allah, take refuge in the cave. Your Lord will spread His mercy over you and prepare for you some ease in your affair."

﴾١٧﴿ ۞ وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍۢ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّۭا مُّرْشِدًۭا

Wa tarash shamsa izaa tala'at tazaawaru 'an kahfihim zaatal yamini wa izaa gharabat taqriduhum zaatash shimaali wa hum fi fajwatim minh; zaalika min Aayaatillaah; mai yahdil laahu fahuwal muhtad, wa mai yudlil falan tajida lahu waliyyam murshidaa

And you would see the sun, when it rose, inclining away from their cave to the right, and when it set, passing them by on the left, while they were in an open space within it. That is from the signs of Allah. Whoever Allah guides is guided, and whoever He leaves astray, you will find for him no protecting guide.

﴾١٨﴿ وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًۭا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌۭ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَٰسِطٌۭ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًۭا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًۭا

Wa tahsabuhum ayqaazanw wa hum ruqud; wa nuqallibuhum zaatal yamini wa zaatash shimaali wa kalbuhum baasitun ziraa'ayhi bilwasid; lawit tala'ta 'alaihim la wallaita minhum firaaranw wa lamuli'ta minhum rubaa

And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, and their dog stretched out its forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned away from them in flight and been filled with terror of them.

﴾١٩﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍۢ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًۭا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍۢ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا

Wa kazaalika ba'asnaahum liyatasaaa'alu bainahum; qaala qaaa'ilum minhum kam labistum qaalu labisnaa yawman aw ba'da yawm; qaalu Rabbukum a'almu bimaa labistum fab'asuo ahadakum biwariqikum haazihi ilal madinati falyanzur ayyuhaaa azkaa ta'aaman falyaatikum birizqim minhu walyatalattaf wa laa yush'iranna bikum ahadaa

And in the same way We raised them, so that they might question one another. One of them said, "How long have you remained?" They said, "We have remained a day, or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord knows best how long you have remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city, and let him see which food is purest, and bring you provision from it. And let him be gentle, and let no one become aware of you.

﴾٢٠﴿ إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِى مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًۭا

Innahum iny yazharu 'alaikum yarjumukum aw yu'idukum fi millatihim wa lan tuflihuo izan abadaa

If they come to know of you, they will stone you, or return you to their religion, and you would never succeed then."

﴾٢١﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَٰنًۭا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًۭا

Wa kazaalika a'sarnaa 'alaihim liya'lamuo anna wa'dal laahi haqqunw wa annas Saa'ata laa raiba fihaa iz yatanaaza'una bainahum amrahum faqaalub nu 'alaihim bunyaanaa; Rabbuhum a'lamu bihim; qaalal lazina ghalabu 'alaaa amrihim lanat takhizanna 'alaihim masjidaa

And in the same way We caused them to be discovered, so that they would know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there is no doubt about the Hour. When they disputed among themselves about their affair, they said, "Build a structure over them. Their Lord knows best about them." Those who prevailed in the matter said, "We will surely take a place of worship over them."

﴾٢٢﴿ سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَٰثَةٌۭ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌۭ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌۭ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌۭ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءًۭ ظَٰهِرًۭا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًۭا

Sa yaquluna salaasatur raabi'uhum kalbuhum wa yaquluna khamsatun saadisuhum kalbuhum rajmam bilghaib; wa yaquluna sab'atunw wa saaminuhum kalbuhum; qur Rabbie a'lamu bi'iddatihim maa ya'lamuhum illaa qalil; falaa tumaari fihim illaa miraaa'an zaahiranw wa laa tastafti fihim minhum ahadaa

They will say, "Three, the fourth of them their dog," and they will say, "Five, the sixth of them their dog," guessing at the unseen, and they will say, "Seven, and the eighth of them their dog." Say, "My Lord knows best their number. None knows them except a few." So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument, and do not ask any of them about them.

﴾٢٣﴿ وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌۭ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا

Wa laa taqulanna lishai'in inni faa'ilun zaalika ghadaa

And never say of anything, "I will do that tomorrow,"

﴾٢٤﴿ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّى لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًۭا

Illaaa any yashaaa'al laah; wazkur Rabbaka izaa nasita wa qul 'asaaa any yahdiyani Rabbi li aqraba min haazaa rashadaa

without adding, "if Allah wills." And remember your Lord when you forget, and say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to something nearer than this in right conduct."

﴾٢٥﴿ وَلَبِثُوا۟ فِى كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍۢ سِنِينَ وَٱزْدَادُوا۟ تِسْعًۭا

Wa labisu fi kahfihim salaasa mi'atin sinina wazdaadu tis'aa

And they remained in their cave three hundred years, and they added nine.

﴾٢٦﴿ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا۟ ۖ لَهُۥ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ أَبْصِرْ بِهِۦ وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِى حُكْمِهِۦٓ أَحَدًۭا

Qulil laahu a'lamu bimaa labisu lahu ghaibus samaawaati wal ardi absir bihi wa asmi'; maa lahum min dunihi minw waliyyinw wa laa yushriku fi hukmihi ahadaa

Say, "Allah knows best how long they remained. To Him belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth. How well He sees and how well He hears. They have no protector besides Him, and He shares His rule with no one."

﴾٢٧﴿ وَٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلْتَحَدًۭا

Watlu maaa uhiya ilaika min Kitaabi Rabbika laa mubaddila li Kalimaatihi wa lan tajida min dunihi multahadaa

And recite what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changing His words, and you will find no refuge besides Him.

﴾٢٨﴿ وَٱصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُۥ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُۥ فُرُطًۭا

Wasbir nafsaka ma'al lazina yad'una Rabbahum bilghadaati wal'ashiyyi yuriduna Wajhahu wa laa ta'du 'aynaaka 'anhum turidu zinatal hayaatid dunyaa wa laa tuti' man aghfalnaa qalbahu 'an zikrinaa wattaba'a hawaahu wa kaana amruhu furutaa

And hold yourself patiently with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His Face. And do not let your eyes pass beyond them, desiring the adornment of the life of this world. And do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who follows his own desire, and whose affair has gone to excess.

﴾٢٩﴿ وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا۟ يُغَاثُوا۟ بِمَآءٍۢ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى ٱلْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ ٱلشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا

Wa qulil haqqu mir Rabbikum faman shaaa'a falyu minw wa man shaaa'a falyakfur; innaaa a'tadnaa lizzaalimina Naaran ahaata bihim suraadiquhaa; wa iny yastaghisu yaghaasu bimaaa'in kalmuhli yashwil wujuh' bi'sash-sharaab; wa saaa'at murtafaqaa

And say, "The truth is from your Lord. So whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve." We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. If they call for relief, they will be given water like molten metal, which scalds the faces. What an evil drink, and what an evil resting place.

﴾٣٠﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا

Innal lazina aamanu wa 'amilus saalihaati innaa laa nudi'u ajra man ahsana 'amalaa

Those who believe and do righteous deeds, We do not waste the reward of one who does good work.

﴾٣١﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍۢ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًۭا مِّن سُندُسٍۢ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍۢ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًۭا

Ulaaa'ika lahum Jannaatu 'Adnin tajri min tahtihimul anhaaru yuhallawna fihaa min asaawira min zahabinw wa yalbasuna siyaaban khudram min sundusinw wa istabraqim muttaki'ina fihaa 'alal araaa'ik; ni'mas sawaab; wa hasunat murtafaqaa

Those will have gardens of perpetual residence, beneath which rivers flow, adorned in them with bracelets of gold and wearing green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining in them on couches. What an excellent reward, and what a good resting place.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Overview

An Adornment, Laid Down for a Test.

Verse 7 states the premise the whole surah runs on, and it is worth reading before the accounts begin. We made what is on the earth an adornment for it, so that We may test them as to which of them is best in deed. Three claims in one line. Everything visible is decoration. The decoration was placed deliberately. And its purpose is an examination, scored not by how much a man accumulates but by whose work is best. Ahsanu amala, the same phrase Al-Mulk uses in its second verse. Then verse 8 removes any doubt about the timeline: And We will make what is on it a barren plain. Part One then gives the first of the surah's four trials, which is the trial of faith, and shows young men who lost their safety, their city and their families for one sentence.

Verses 1 to 8

No Crookedness in It.

Verse 1 praises Allah for two things about the Book: that He sent it down, and that He placed no crookedness in it. Iwaj, a bend, a warp, the kind of deviation that makes a straight edge useless. Verse 2 then names it qayyim, straight and upright, and gives its two functions in one breath, warning and good news. Verse 6 addresses the man carrying it in the same language Ash-Shu'ara uses. Perhaps you will destroy yourself with grief over them. The concern is again aimed at the messenger rather than the audience. Verse 7 gives the frame, and the word to notice is zeenah. An adornment. Not a reward, not a verdict, not a trap. Decoration laid over a surface. Everything men compete over is described as the finish on a thing rather than the thing.

Verses 9 to 26

We Bound Their Hearts When They Stood.

Verse 10 is their prayer, and it has two halves. Our Lord, give us mercy from Yourself, and prepare for us right guidance in our affair. Rushdan, sound direction. They ask for mercy and for a way through, and they do not specify the way. Verse 13 describes them in one line: they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. Note the order. The belief came first, and the increase followed it. Nobody was given the full picture in advance. Verse 14 is the verse to build on, and the sequence inside it should be read carefully. We bound their hearts when they stood. Rabatna ala qulubihim iz qamu. The binding of the heart happened at the moment of standing, not before it. They did not receive courage and then act. They acted, and the steadiness was supplied in the act. Every man waiting to feel ready before he stands has the sequence backward, and this verse is the correction. Then verse 16 gives the instruction they received once they had made the break. When you have withdrawn from them and from what they worship except Allah, take refuge in the cave. Your Lord will spread His mercy over you and prepare for you some ease in your affair. A cave is not a plan. It is a hole in a hill. The promise attached to it is mercy and some ease, and both are stated after the withdrawal rather than before it. Verse 19 then does something unexpected in a miracle account: it gets practical. Send one of you with this silver coin, let him see which food is purest, bring provision, be gentle, and let no one become aware of you. Men who have just slept three centuries are shown worrying about halal food and about not being noticed. The care about what they eat outlasted the empire that persecuted them. Verse 22 handles the arguing that grew up around them afterward, and the instruction is sharp. Say, my Lord knows best their number. Do not argue about them except with an obvious argument, and do not ask any of them about them. The community spent its energy counting the sleepers and the surah tells it to stop. Verses 23 and 24 then give the correction that comes out of the whole account. Never say of anything, I will do that tomorrow, without adding, if Allah wills. A man who has just read about three hundred years passing without notice should not need convincing.

Verses 27 to 31

Hold Yourself With Them.

Verse 28 is the most practical instruction in Part One, and it has three commands in it. Hold yourself patiently with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His Face. Wasbir nafsaka, restrain yourself, keep yourself there, which implies the pull is in the other direction. Then, do not let your eyes pass beyond them, desiring the adornment of the life of this world. The same word from verse 7 comes back, zeenah, and here it names what makes a man look past the people who are good for him toward a better-dressed room. Then the third: do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who follows his own desire, and whose affair has gone to excess. Three markers for identifying whose instruction to refuse, and none of them is about the man's competence or his position. Heedless of remembrance, following desire, and out of bounds. Verse 29 then places the whole thing back in the reader's hands with a sentence that refuses to argue further. The truth is from your Lord. So whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve. Verse 30 answers the fear underneath every hard choice in this part. We do not waste the reward of one who does good work.

Structural Summary

Verses One to Thirty-One. We Bound Their Hearts When They Stood.

The surah opens by praising a Book with no bend in it, tells the one carrying it not to destroy himself over people who refuse, and states that everything on the earth is decoration laid down for an examination scored on whose deed is best. Then the first trial: young men who lost a city for one sentence, whose hearts were made steady at the moment they stood rather than before it, who asked for mercy and a way through without naming the way, and who came out of three centuries still asking which food was pure. It closes by telling the reader where to keep himself, whose company to hold, whose instruction to refuse, and whose eyes not to follow past the room he is in.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 14. Name the stand you have been waiting to feel ready for. The steadiness in this verse arrives during the standing, not before it.

Verse 28. Look at the last three rooms you chose to be in. Ask which ones held people calling on their Lord morning and evening, and adjust one standing arrangement this week.

Verse 23. For seven days, do not state a plan without attaching if Allah wills, out loud, and mean it.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 11 / 10

The Verse

What does verse 1 praise Allah for, about the Book?