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.

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

✦

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The Surah · Verses 60 to 110

﴾٦٠﴿ وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًۭا

Wa iz qaalaa Moosaa lifataahu laaa abrahu hattaaa ablugha majma'al bahrayni aw amdiya huqubaa

And when Musa said to his young companion, "I will not stop until I reach the meeting place of the two seas, or I will go on for a long time."

﴾٦١﴿ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًۭا

Falammaa balaghaa majma'a bainihimaa nasiyaa hootahumaa fattakhaza sabeelahoo fil bahri sarabaa

When they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the sea, slipping away.

﴾٦٢﴿ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبًۭا

Falammaa jaawazaa qaala lifataahu aatinaa ghadaaa'anaa laqad laqeena min safarinaa haazaa nasabaa

When they had passed on, he said to his companion, "Bring us our morning meal. We have met fatigue from this journey of ours."

﴾٦٣﴿ قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ ۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًۭا

Qaala ara'ayta iz awainaaa ilas sakhrati fa innee naseetul hoota wa maaa ansaaneehu illash Shaitaanu an azkurah; wattakhaza sabeelahoo fil bahri'ajabaa

He said, "Do you see? When we took shelter at the rock, I forgot the fish. Only Satan made me forget to mention it. And it took its way into the sea, strangely."

﴾٦٤﴿ قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَٱرْتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًۭا

Qaala zaalika maa kunnaa nabgh; fartaddaa 'alaa aasaari him maa qasasaa

He said, "That is what we were seeking." So they returned, following their own footprints.

﴾٦٥﴿ فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًۭا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًۭا

Fa wajadaa 'abdam min 'ibaadinaaa aatainaahu Rahmatam min 'indinaa wa 'allamnaahu mil ladunnaa 'ilmaa

And they found a servant from Our servants, to whom We had given mercy from Us, and whom We had taught knowledge from Ourselves.

﴾٦٦﴿ قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًۭا

Qaala lahoo Moosaa hal attabi'uka 'alaaa an tu'allimani mimmaa 'ullimta rushdaa

Musa said to him, "May I follow you, so that you may teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught?"

﴾٦٧﴿ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًۭا

Qaalaa innaka lan tastatee'a ma'iya sabraa

He said, "You will not be able to have patience with me.

﴾٦٨﴿ وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرًۭا

Wa kaifa tasbiru 'alaa maa lam tuhit bihee khubraa

And how can you be patient over what you have no full knowledge of?"

﴾٦٩﴿ قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرًۭا وَلَآ أَعْصِى لَكَ أَمْرًۭا

Qaala satajiduneee in shaa 'al laahu saabiranw wa laaa a'see laka amraa

He said, "You will find me patient, if Allah wills, and I will not disobey you in any matter."

﴾٧٠﴿ قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًۭا

Qaala fa init taba'tanee falaa tas'alnee 'an shai'in hattaaa uhdisa laka minhu zikraa

He said, "If you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I mention it to you myself."

﴾٧١﴿ فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِى ٱلسَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا ۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًٔا إِمْرًۭا

Fantalaqaa hattaaa izaa rakibaa fis safeenati kharaqahaa qaala akharaqtahaa litughriqa ahlahaa laqad ji'ta shai'an imraa

So they set out, until, when they had boarded the ship, he made a hole in it. He said, "Have you made a hole in it to drown its people? You have done a serious thing."

﴾٧٢﴿ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًۭا

Qaala alam aqul innaka lan tastatee'a ma'iya sabraa

He said, "Did I not say you would not be able to have patience with me?"

﴾٧٣﴿ قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِى مِنْ أَمْرِى عُسْرًۭا

Qaala laa tu'aakhiznee bimaa naseetu wa laa turhiqnee min amree 'usraa

He said, "Do not blame me for what I forgot, and do not burden me with difficulty in my affair."

﴾٧٤﴿ فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَٰمًۭا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۭا زَكِيَّةًۢ بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍۢ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًۭٔا نُّكْرًۭا

Fantalaqaa hattaa izaa laqiyaa ghulaaman faqatalahoo qaala aqatalta nafsan zakiy yatam bighairi nafs; laqad ji'ta shai'an nukraa

So they set out, until, when they met a boy, he killed him. He said, "Have you killed a pure soul who had killed no one? You have done something terrible."

﴾٧٥﴿ ۞ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًۭا

Qaala alam aqul laka innaka lan tastatee'a ma'iya sabraa

He said, "Did I not tell you that you would not be able to have patience with me?"

﴾٧٦﴿ قَالَ إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَىْءٍۭ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَٰحِبْنِى ۖ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّى عُذْرًۭا

Qaala in sa altuka 'an shai'im ba'dahaa falaa tusaahibnee qad balaghta mil ladunnee 'uzraa

He said, "If I ask you about anything after this, do not keep me as a companion. You have received an excuse from me."

﴾٧٧﴿ فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَيَآ أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ ٱسْتَطْعَمَآ أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا۟ أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًۭا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُۥ ۖ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًۭا

Fantalaqaa hattaaa izaaa atayaaa ahla qaryatinis tat'amaaa ahlahaa fa abaw any yudaiyifoohumaa fawajadaa feehaa jidaarany yureedu any yanqadda fa aqaamah; qaala law shi'ta lattakhazta 'alaihi ajraa

So they set out, until, when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to host them. Then they found in it a wall about to fall, and he set it up straight. He said, "If you had wished, you could have taken payment for it."

﴾٧٨﴿ قَالَ هَٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا

Qaala haazaa firaaqu bainee wa bainik; sa unabi 'uka bitaaweeli maa lam tastati' 'alaihi sabraa

He said, "This is the parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of what you were not able to bear patiently.

﴾٧٩﴿ أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَٰكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكٌۭ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًۭا

Ammas safeenatu fakaanat limasaakeena ya'maloona fil bahri fa arattu an a'eebahaa wa kaana waraaa' ahum malikuny yaakhuzu kulla safeenatin ghasbaa

As for the ship, it belonged to poor men working at sea, and I wanted to make it defective, because behind them was a king seizing every sound ship by force.

﴾٨٠﴿ وَأَمَّا ٱلْغُلَٰمُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْيَٰنًۭا وَكُفْرًۭا

Wa aammal ghulaamu fakaana abawaahu mu'minaini fakhasheenaaa any yurhiqa humaa tughyaananw wa kufraa

As for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would burden them with rebellion and disbelief.

﴾٨١﴿ فَأَرَدْنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُ زَكَوٰةًۭ وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمًۭا

Faradnaa any yubdila humaa Rabbuhumaa khairam minhu zakaatanw wa aqraba ruhmaa

So we wanted their Lord to replace him for them with one better in purity and nearer in mercy.

﴾٨٢﴿ وَأَمَّا ٱلْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُۥ كَنزٌۭ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَٰلِحًۭا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةًۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُۥ عَنْ أَمْرِى ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًۭا

Wa ammal jidaaru fakaana lighulaamaini yateemaini fil madeenati wa kaana tahtahoo kanzul lahumaa wa kaana aboohumaa saalihan fa araada Rabbuka any yablughaaa ashuddahumaa wa yastakhrijaa kanzahumaa rahmatam mir Rabbik; wa maa fa'altuhoo 'an amree; zaalika taaweelu maa lam tasti' 'alaihi sabra

As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and beneath it was a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord willed that they reach their maturity and bring out their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did not do it of my own accord. That is the interpretation of what you could not bear patiently."

﴾٨٣﴿ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَن ذِى ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا

Wa yas'aloonaka 'an Zil Qarnaini qul sa atloo 'alaikum minhu zikraa

And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, "I will recite to you a mention of him."

﴾٨٤﴿ إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ سَبَبًۭا

Innaa makkannaa lahoo fil ardi wa aatainaahu min kulli shai'in sababaa

We established him in the earth and gave him a way to everything.

﴾٨٥﴿ فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا

Fa atba'a sababaa

So he followed a way,

﴾٨٦﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِى عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍۢ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًۭا ۗ قُلْنَا يَٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّآ أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّآ أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًۭا

Hattaaa izaa balagha maghribash shamsi wajadahaaa taghrubu fee 'aynin hami'a tinw wa wajada 'indahaa qawmaa; qulnaa yaa Zal Qarnaini immaaa an tu'az ziba wa immaaa an tattakhiza feehim husnaa

until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a dark spring, and he found near it a people. We said, "Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish, or you take a good course with them."

﴾٨٧﴿ قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًۭا نُّكْرًۭا

Qaala amaa man zalama fasawfa nu'azzibuhoo summa yuraddu ilaa Rabbihee fa yu 'azzibuhoo azaaban nukraa

He said, "As for the one who does wrong, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment.

﴾٨٨﴿ وَأَمَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا فَلَهُۥ جَزَآءً ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًۭا

Wa ammaa man aamana wa 'amila saalihan falahoo jazaaa'anil husnaa wa sanaqoolu lahoo min amrinaa yusraa

But as for the one who believes and does righteous work, he will have the best reward, and we will speak to him easily of our command."

﴾٨٩﴿ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا

Summa atba'a sababaa

Then he followed a way,

﴾٩٠﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًۭا

Hattaaa izaa balagha matli'ash shamsi wajdahaa tatlu'u alaa qawmil lam naj'al lahum min doonihaa sitraa

until, when he reached the rising of the sun, he found it rising upon a people for whom We had made no cover against it.

﴾٩١﴿ كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًۭا

Kazaalika wa qad ahatnaa bimaa ladaihi khubraa

So it was, and We encompassed in knowledge what he had.

﴾٩٢﴿ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا

Summa atba'a sababaa

Then he followed a way,

﴾٩٣﴿ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًۭا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًۭا

Hattaaa izaa balagha bainas saddaini wajada min doonihimaa qawmal laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa

until, when he reached a place between two mountains, he found beneath them a people who could hardly understand speech.

﴾٩٤﴿ قَالُوا۟ يَٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّۭا

Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini inna Yaajooja wa Maajooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj'alu laka kharjan 'alaaa an taj'ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddas

They said, "Dhul-Qarnayn, Yajuj and Majuj are spreading corruption in the land. Shall we pay you a tribute, so that you set a barrier between us and them?"

﴾٩٥﴿ قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌۭ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا

Qaala maa makkannee feehi Rabbee khairun fa-a'eenoonee biquwwatin aj'al bainakum wa bainahum radmaa

He said, "What my Lord has established me in is better. So help me with strength, and I will set a solid wall between you and them.

﴾٩٦﴿ ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًۭا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًۭا

Aatoonee zubaral hadeed, hattaaa izaa saawaa bainas sadafaini qaalan fukhoo hattaaa izaa ja'alahoo naaran qaala aatooneee ufrigh 'alaihi qitraa

Bring me sheets of iron." Then, when he had leveled it between the two cliffs, he said, "Blow." Then, when he had made it fire, he said, "Bring me molten copper to pour over it."

﴾٩٧﴿ فَمَا ٱسْطَٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًۭا

Famas taa'ooo any yazharoohu wa mastataa'oo lahoo naqbaa

So they were not able to scale it, and they were not able to bore through it.

﴾٩٨﴿ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَحْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّۭا

Qaala haaza rahmatummir Rabbee fa izaa jaaa'a wa'du Rabbee ja'alahoo dakkaaa'a; wa kaana; wa du Rabbee haqqaa

He said, "This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level ground. And the promise of my Lord is true."

﴾٩٩﴿ ۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ يَمُوجُ فِى بَعْضٍۢ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَٰهُمْ جَمْعًۭا

Wa taraknaa ba'dahum Yawma'iziny yamooju fee ba'dinw wa nufikha fis Soori fajama'naahum jam'aa

And We will leave them that Day surging over one another, and the horn will be blown, and We will gather them all together.

﴾١٠٠﴿ وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَرْضًا

Wa 'aradnaa jahannama Yawma'izil lilkaafireena 'ardaa

And We will present Hell that Day to the disbelievers, laid out,

﴾١٠١﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِى غِطَآءٍ عَن ذِكْرِى وَكَانُوا۟ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعًا

Allazeena kaanat a'yunuhum fee ghitaaa'in 'an zikree wa kaanoo la yastatee'oona sam'aa

those whose eyes were under a cover from My remembrance, and who were not able to hear.

﴾١٠٢﴿ أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ عِبَادِى مِن دُونِىٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ نُزُلًۭا

Afahasibal lazeena kafarooo any yattakhizoo 'ibaadee min dooneee awliyaaa'; innaaa a'tadnaa jahannama lilkaafi reena nuzulaa

Do those who disbelieve think they can take My servants as protectors besides Me? We have prepared Hell as a lodging for the disbelievers.

﴾١٠٣﴿ قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَٰلًا

Qul hal nunabbi'ukum bilakhsareena a'maalaa

Say, "Shall we inform you of the greatest losers in deeds?

﴾١٠٤﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا

Allazeena dalla sa'yuhum fil hayaatid dunyaa wa hum yahsaboona annahum yuhsinoona sun'aa

Those whose effort was lost in the life of this world, while they thought they were doing well in work."

﴾١٠٥﴿ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ وَزْنًۭا

Ulaaa'ikal lazeena kafaroo bi aayaati Rabbihim wa liqaaa'ihee fahabitat a'maaluhum falaa nuqeemu lahum Yawmal Qiyaamati waznaa

Those are the ones who disbelieved in the verses of their Lord and in meeting Him, so their deeds were worthless, and We will assign them no weight on the Day of Resurrection.

﴾١٠٦﴿ ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا۟ وَٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ ءَايَٰتِى وَرُسُلِى هُزُوًا

Zaalika jazaaa'uhum jahannamu bimaa kafaroo wattakhazooo Aayaatee wa Rusulee huzuwaa

That is their reward, Hell, for having disbelieved and taken My verses and My messengers in mockery.

﴾١٠٧﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتُ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا

Innal lazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati kaanat lahum Jannaatul Firdawsi nuzulaa

Those who believed and did righteous deeds will have the gardens of Firdaws as a lodging,

﴾١٠٨﴿ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًۭا

Khaalideena feeha la yabghoona 'anhaa hiwalaa

remaining in them, seeking no transfer from them.

﴾١٠٩﴿ قُل لَّوْ كَانَ ٱلْبَحْرُ مِدَادًۭا لِّكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِۦ مَدَدًۭا

Qul law kaanal bahru midaadal lik Kalimaati Rabbee lanafidal bahru qabla an tanfada Kalimaatu Rabbee wa law ji'naa bimislihee madadaa

Say, "If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would run out before the words of my Lord ran out, even if We brought the like of it to add."

﴾١١٠﴿ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًۭا صَٰلِحًۭا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا

Qul innamaaa ana basharum mislukum yoohaaa ilaiya annamaa ilaahukum Ilaahunw Waahid; faman kaana yarjoo liqaaa'a Rabbihee falya'mal 'amalan saalihanw wa laa yushrik bi'ibaadati Rabbiheee ahadaa

Say, "I am only a human being like you. It is revealed to me that your God is one God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and associate no one in the worship of his Lord."

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Overview

Knowledge, and Power.

Part Three holds the last two trials. First knowledge, in the account of Musa traveling to learn from a man who knew what he did not, where every act he witnesses looks like a crime and every explanation turns it into a mercy. Then power, in the account of Dhul-Qarnayn, a man given a way to everything, who is offered money and asks for labor instead, builds a wall nobody can breach, and then predicts its destruction in the same sentence in which he takes no credit for it. The surah closes on the verse that should keep a productive man awake, and then on the two conditions that decide whether any of his work counted.

Verses 60 to 82

You Will Not Be Able to Have Patience With Me.

Verse 60 opens with a prophet who has been given the Book, the staff, and a nation, saying he will keep walking until he reaches a specific place or spend a very long time trying. He is traveling to learn. Verse 65 introduces the man he finds without a name, describing him only by two things he was given: mercy from Us, and knowledge from Ourselves. Verse 66 is the request, and the wording is the lesson in it. May I follow you, so that you may teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught? Musa asks to follow, asks for some rather than all, and describes the other man's knowledge as taught to him rather than possessed by him. Verses 67 and 68 give the refusal and then the reason, and the reason is the important half. You will not be able to have patience with me. And how can you be patient over what you have no full knowledge of? Patience fails here for lack of information, not for lack of will. A man watching an outcome he does not understand will react, and the verse locates that reaction in the gap in his knowledge rather than in a weak character.

Verse 69 is Musa's answer, and note the clause he attaches after Part One taught it to him. You will find me patient, if Allah wills. He says it, and he still cannot keep the promise, which is honest about what that clause is and is not. Then three acts, each worse than the last on its face. A hole in the boat that carried them. A boy killed. And then, after a town refuses them food, a wall repaired for free. Musa objects to the first two out of justice and to the third out of practicality: if you had wished, you could have taken payment for it. Verses 79 through 82 turn every one of them over. The damaged boat was protected from a king seizing sound ships. The boy was taken before he could ruin two believing parents. The wall was propped up so two orphans could reach maturity and find what their father left them.

Read the three explanations for how the speaker attributes them, because the pronouns move. Of the ship he says, I wanted. Of the boy, we wanted. Of the wall, your Lord willed. The harm rises to him, the mixed act is shared, and the pure mercy is assigned entirely to Allah. And verse 82 closes it with the line that governs the whole account. And I did not do it of my own accord. Every disturbing thing Musa watched had a reason he was standing too close to see, and the man carrying it out was not the author of any of it.

Verses 83 to 98

This Is a Mercy From My Lord.

Verse 84 defines what Dhul-Qarnayn was given in the plainest possible terms. We established him in the earth and gave him a way to everything. Sabab, a means, a route to whatever he needed. That is the trial of power stated as a resource, not a title. Verses 87 and 88 give his policy in two sentences, and any man running anything should read them together. The wrongdoer is punished, and then his real reckoning is named as being with his Lord rather than with the king. The one who believes and works well gets the best reward, and then a detail nobody would have written into a king's biography: we will speak to him easily of our command. Ease of speech, listed alongside reward. He governs without making people afraid of the conversation.

Verses 94 and 95 are the moment that separates him from every other powerful man in this Book. A people offer him tribute to build them a wall. He refuses the money in a single clause, what my Lord has established me in is better, and then asks for the one thing that actually helps: so help me with strength. He takes their labor instead of their cash, which builds the thing and also builds them. Verse 96 shows him working: iron sheets, level it between the cliffs, blow, and then molten copper poured over the whole thing. Verse 97 gives the result in two failures, and the pairing is exact: they could not scale it, and they could not bore through it. Over the top or through the middle, both closed.

Then verse 98, which is the reason this account sits in a surah about trials rather than in a chronicle of kings. This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level ground. He attributes his best work to his Lord and forecasts its flattening in the same breath. A man who built the most durable thing in the surah announces its expiration date himself.

Verses 99 to 110

The Greatest Losers in Deeds.

Verse 101 describes the condition underneath everything the surah has warned about. Those whose eyes were under a cover from My remembrance, and who were not able to hear. Not refusing to look. Covered. Then verses 103 and 104, which are the most frightening two verses in the Quran for a man who works hard. Shall we inform you of the greatest losers in deeds? Those whose effort was lost in the life of this world, while they thought they were doing well in work. Not the lazy. Not the openly wicked. The busy, the productive, the satisfied. Wa hum yahsabuna annahum yuhsinuna sun'a, and they reckon that they are doing fine work. The disaster and the confidence coexist for an entire lifetime.

Verse 105 names the mechanism, and it is upstream of the deeds: they disbelieved in the verses of their Lord and in meeting Him, so the deeds had nothing under them. Verse 109 then answers anyone who thinks he has the matter covered. If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would run out before the words of my Lord ran out, even if We brought the like of it to add. Whatever a man knows, he is holding a cup from that sea. And verse 110 closes the entire surah with two conditions and nothing else. Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and associate no one in the worship of his Lord. The act has to be correct and the intention has to be undivided. Everything in the four accounts, the cave, the gardens, the journey and the wall, is answered by those two clauses.

Structural Summary

Verses Sixty to One Hundred Ten. They Thought They Were Doing Well in Work.

A prophet travels to learn from a man described only by the mercy and the knowledge he was given, and is told his patience will fail because of what he does not know rather than because of who he is. Three acts that look like crimes are turned over into protection, and the man who performed them attributes the pure mercy entirely to Allah and says he did none of it on his own. Then a man given a way to everything refuses payment, asks for labor, seals a barrier top and middle, calls it a mercy from his Lord, and announces that it will be leveled. The surah closes by naming the greatest losers as the ones who worked hard and were satisfied while it all came to nothing, and by reducing the entire matter to two conditions.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 68. Name the thing in your life you have been objecting to. Then write what you would have to know for the objection to disappear.

Verse 95. The next time you are offered payment for something you should be building anyway, ask for the help instead.

Verse 104. Audit one week of your work against verse 110's two conditions: was the act right, and was the intention undivided.

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 601 / 12

The Verse

What does Musa say in verse 60?