About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

All form of praise and thanks are for Allah (Alone), Who has sent down to His slave [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] the Book which has no crookedness (in its wordings and meanings and no deviation from the middle path).

It is a straight forward and firm Book to warn (the disbelievers) about a se-vere torment from Him and to give glad tidings to the believers who do good deeds that there is a fantastic reward (i.e. Paradise) for them.

They shall reside there forever.

And to warn those who say: “Allah has begotten a son.”

Neither they nor their fore-fathers have any knowledge about it. It is a terri-ble wording which they express by their mouths. They utter nothing but a lie.

So if they don’t believe in this statement (i.e. the Quran) would you kill yourself [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] with the grief while convincing them?

Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth as an adorn-ment for it to test who among them performs the best deeds.

And, indeed, We shall make everything on the earth a clear flat field (with-out any adornment).

Do you think that the people of the Cave and Inscription (in the cave) were extraordinary things among Our signs? (In fact, all Our Signs are extraordinary).

(Remember) when a few young men took refuge in the Cave and they said: “O our Creator! Bestow upon us your mercy and facilitate our mission in the right direction for us.”

Hence, We put a cover on their hearing (sense) (i.e. put them to deep sleep) in the Cave for several years.

       Then We woke them up from their sleep to test which of the two groups was best at calculating the time period of their stay there.

We describe here to you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] their story with truth. Indeed, they were young men who believed in their Creator and We increased their guidance.

And We strengthened their hearts (to speak and practice the truth and to bear the separation from their relatives), when they stood up (i.e. took a stand against the king, or stood to make mutual consultation outside the town), so they said: “Our Creator is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. We shall not worship any other god besides Him. If we did, we would, indeed, be making a big mis-take.

“The people of our community are worshipping other gods besides Him. Why don’t they bring for them a clear proof? So who will be more unjust than he who coins lies against Allah?”

And (the young men said to each other): “Since you have disassociated yourselves from them and the gods they worship, except Allah, so it is better for you to take refuge in a Cave (to worship Allah peacefully). Allah will shower His Mercy on you and will make your mission easy for you.”

And (the location of this cave was such that) when the sun rose it moved away to the right from their Cave, and when it set, it turned away from them to the left, while they were in the wide open part of this Cave. That is one of the signs of Allah. He whom Allah guides, he is the truly guided person. And he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find any friend for him to guide him (to the Right Path).

And (We had put them to a deep sleep in the Cave but if you had the chance to see them). You would consider them awake although they were asleep. And (during the sleep) We made them turn to their right side as well as to their left side (time to time), while their dog (which happened to come with them) was at the entrance of the Cave stretching forth his two legs. If you tried to peep in the Cave, you would run away from them, and would certainly be filled with awe from them.

And (just like how We gave them a miraculously long sleep, similarly) We woke them up from their sleep to question each other (through this questioning Allah’s power and wisdom will become even more clear). One of them said: “How long was your stay here?” They responded: “A day or part of a day.” They added: “Your Creator knows best how long you have stayed (leave this discussion). So send one of you to the city with your currency to see which of the lawful meal is available so that he can bring some of that to you. And he should be careful and courteous lest any one of them know about you.

“Since if they come to know about you (or dominate you), they will stone you (to death) or turn you back to their religion, and in that case you will never be successful.”

And (just like how We put them to a deep sleep and then woke them up with Our power) and thus We made (it) known to the people of the town about the people of the Cave (with Our power and wisdom). (One of the benefits of this event was that) they might know that Allah’s Promise is true and that there is no doubt about the Day of Resurrection. (Finally the people of the cave died there in the Cave). And (remember) when the people of their city disputed among them-selves about their matter, they said: “Construct a building over them. Their Crea-tor knows best about them.” Then those people who had dominating role, said: “We shall build a masjid over them.” (Masjid will remind others that the people of the Cave worshipped Allah. If another building is constructed, people may start worshiping that building in due course of time).

Some say that they were three, and the fourth was their dog, and others say that they were five, the dog was the sixth, they are simply guessing about the unseen. And some others say that they were seven and the dog was the eighth. [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “My Creator knows best their number; none knows their number but a few.” Hence, don’t in-dulge in this debate except in a passing way and don’t ask any of them (i.e.the people of the Scripture) about them (i.e.the people of the cave). 

And never say about anything: “I shall certainly do it tomorrow.”

Except (by adding to it): “If Allah wills.” And remember your Creator when you forget, and say: “I am very hopeful that my Creator will lead me to a more guided way of truth (than that which I have chosen).”

And (just like how people differ about the number of the people of the cave, similarly they differ in the period of their sleep. Here is the correct information). And they stayed in their Cave for three hundred (solar) years, adding nine (for lunar years) (Tafsir Qurtubi).

(If they differ about it even after this correct information) Say: “Allah knows best how long they stayed. Allah has (the knowledge of) the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. What a Great Seer and Hearer! They have no helper be-sides Him and He makes none to share His Authority.

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And recite the Book of your Creator which is revealed to you. Nobody can change Allah’s Words, and you will not find any refuge besides Him. 

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] And pa-tiently keep the company of the people who call on their Creator morning and evening seeking His Pleasure. Your attention should not divert from them desir-ing shine and show of this life. And don’t obey one whose heart We have made negligent of Our remembrance, and who follows his own vain desires and his affairs are beyond limit.

And announce: “This absolute truth (i.e. the Quran) is from your Creator.” Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve. In-deed, We have prepared for the wrong-doers the Fire whose walls will be sur-rounding them. And if they cry for water, they will be given water which looks like boiling oil and it will roast their faces. What a terrible drink and what an evil resting place!

Indeed, those who believed and did good deeds, We shall not waste the re-ward of any good doer.

For them, there will be ever-lasting Gardens, beneath which the rivers flow, they will be decorated with bracelets of gold there and they will wear green gar-ments of fine and thick silk. They will be resting on the raised couches there. What a marvellous reward and what an excellent resting place.

And (in order to explain how pointless this worldly life is and how lasting the Hereafter is) give them an example of two men (who were well known to each other). We gave one of them (a disbeliever) two gardens of grapes and both gardens were bordered by palm-trees, and between these gardens there were green crops too. 

Each of those two gardens had its fruit and there was never shortage of fruit in either of them. And We made a river flow in the midst of them.

And he had (plenty of) fruits. So he said to his friend during an argument: “I am wealthier than you and I also command more respect in the society.”

And he entered his garden (along with his friend), and he was unjust to himself. He said: “I don’t think that it will ever perish.

“And I don’t think that the Day of Judgement will occur. And if I am brought back to my Creator (as you believe) I shall definitely find the returning place even better than this.”

His friend (a poor believer) said to him during the argument: “Do you disbe-lieve in Allah Who created you out of dust [through your father Adam ( ) ], then out of mixed semen drops of male and female discharge, then made you a complete man? (Inspite of this you disbelieve in Allah).

“But I believe that Allah is my Creator and I don’t associate any partners in worship with my Creator.

“And why did you not say when you enter your garden: ‘That which Allah wills (will occur) and there is no power except with Him?’ If you see me less than you in wealth and children,

“It may be that my Creator will give me something better than your garden (may be Here or in the Hereafter), and He may send a torment from the sky, then your garden will become a barren, slippery field.

 “Or totally dry up the water of your gardens (by sinking it into the ground), so you will not be able to even recover this (water).”

(After this mutual conversation a torment struck his gardens). And (all) his fruits were encircled and he remained rubbing his hands (with sorrow) for what he had spent (on his gardens). And his garden was totally destroyed on its trellises (i.e. the wooden frames), and he could only say: “Would that I had not ascribed partners with my Creator.”

And he had no other group of people to help him against Allah nor was he able to take revenge from Us.

This proves that (the total) authority belongs to Allah (Alone), the True God. He is the Best for reward and the Best for the final end.

And explain to them about the worldly life by the following example: it is like the rain water which We send down from the sky and it gives rise to plenty of vegetation mingled with it (which is fresh and green) and then becomes dry and tiny pieces which the winds blow all over. (Exactly this is the situation of the worldly life. There is no sign of it left after temporary glitter and fun). And Allah is Able to do everything.

Wealth and children are adornment of the life of this world. And the good deeds are going to last forever and they are better for reward from your Creator and are better in respect of expectation (i.e. will be rewarded more than your expectation).

And (remember) the Day We shall cause the mountains to move (like clouds of dust) and you will see the earth as a levelled plain. And We shall gather them all together, so We shall not leave any one of them behind.

And all of them will be brought before your Creator in rows, (and Allah will say): “Indeed, you have come to Us (after resurrection) as We created you the first time. (But you did not believe in the resurrection even after observing your first birth). Rather you thought that We had appointed no meeting for you (with Us).

       And the Book (of record) will be placed and you will see that the criminals will be fearful due to what is written in it. And they will say: “Woe to us! What a strange Book it is! It has not omitted any small or major thing but has recorded in it. They will find all that they did, placed before them, and your Creator will not treat anybody unjustly.

And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves to Adam ( ) .” So they all prostrated except Satan. He was one of the jinn, so he disobeyed the Command of his Creator. Will you then make Satan and his children as your protectors in place of Me while they are your enemies? What an evil alternative the wrong-doers followed! (Also Surah At-Tahrim:6)

I (Allah) did not make them (Satan and his children) witnesses at the time of the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor at the time of their creation. And I was not (so weak) that I had to take help from those who lead others astray.

And (remember) the Day when Allah will say: “Call those whom you con-sidered Our partners.” They will try to call them but they will not answer them and We will put a barrier between them. (Hence, they will be totally disappointed since the barrier will prevent any possibility of help).

And the criminals will see the Hell and they (will be filled with fear) realiz-ing that they are about to fall into it. And they will find no escape from there.

Indeed, We have described every kind of example in this Quran for man-kind. But man is the most argumentative of all beings.

And nothing else stopped people from believing, when guidance (the Quran) has come to them, and from seeking Forgive-ness of Allah except that the ways of the ancients be repeated (i.e. destruction), or the torment be brought clearly in front of their faces.

And We send the messengers only to convey the glad tidings and the warnings. And the disbelievers dispute with false reasoning to refute the truth with it, and they mock at Our revelations and that with which they are warned.

And who can be more wrong than he who is reminded about the revelations of his Creator, but he turns away from them and forgets the (result) of the deeds his hands have sent forth. We have put a cover on their hearts so that they cannot understand this (the Quran) and deafness is in their ears (so they cannot hear the Quran). And even if you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] keep inviting them to the guidance, they will never be guided.

And your Creator is Most Forgiving, Extremely Merciful. If He had siezed them for their (evil) deeds, He would have hastened their punishment. In fact, there is a fixed time for them, (and when that time arrives) they will not be able to find an escape from it.

And We destroyed these com-munities (e.g. A’d and Thamud etc), when they wronged, and We had fixed a time for their destruction. (Similarly the present disbelievers will be destroyed at an appointed time).

And (remember) when Musa ( )  said to his servant [Yushaa-bin-Noon () mentioned in Bukhari] I shall not give up my journey till I arrive at the junction of two rivers even if I have to travel for it year after year.

When they arrived at the junction of the two rivers, they forgot their fish and the fish (became alive with the Permission of Allah) and made its way through the sea as in a tunnel.

       So when they proceeded further (in their journey), Musa ( )  said to his servant: “Serve the breakfast. Indeed, we have experienced much fatigue in our journey.”

The servant said: “Did you see that also? When we took refuge near that rock, so I, indeed, forgot the fish. (In fact) Satan made me forget to mention to you. (That strange event was, the fish became alive) and made its way into the sea in a strange (way).”

Musa ( )  said: “That was the spot which we were look-ing for.” So they went back following their footsteps.

(After reaching there) they found one of Our slaves (Khidr) on whom We had bestowed Our Mercy and We had given him very special knowledge (i.e. knowledge of some unseen events).

Musa ( )  said to him (after greeting him): “May I fol-low you so that you teach me some of that beneficial knowledge which you have been taught (by Allah).”

He [Khidr ( ) ] said: “Indeed, you will not be able to have patience with me.

“And how can you have patience about something which you don’t know.”

Musa ( )  said: “If Allah wills, you will find me quite patient, and I don’t intend to disobey you in anything.”

He [Khidr ( ) ], said: “So if you are keen to follow me, (you are welcome) but make sure that you don’t ask me about anything till I myself mention it to you.”

So they both proceeded till they embarked a boat. He [Khidr ( ) ] (deliberately) damaged the boat (by breaking its planks). [Musa ( ) ] remarked: “Have you damaged it to drown its people? Indeed, you have done a terrible thing.”

He [Khidr ( ) ] said: “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to have patience with me?”

[Musa ( ) ] said: “Excuse me (this time) since I forgot, and don’t be hard in your dealing with me.”

Then they both proceeded, till they came across a (young) boy, and he [Khidr ( ) ] killed him. Musa ( )  said: “Have you killed an innocent child who has killed none? Indeed, you have com-mitted a prohibited thing.”

       He [Khidr ( ) ] said: “Did I not tell you that you shall not be able to have patience with me?”

       [Musa ( ) ] said: “Don’t keep me in your company if I ask you anything after this. This will, indeed, be my last excuse.”

       So they both proceeded till they passed near a village. They requested meals from the villagers. The villagers refused to entertain them (as guests). Then they saw a wall (in the village) which was about to fall down. Khidr straightened up the wall. Musa ( )  said: “If you wished, you could have taken some wages for this job.”

       He [Khidr ( ) ] said: “This is the parting between me and you. Now I shall give you the interpreta-tion of those things regarding which you were unable to have patience.

       “The boat belonged to a few poor people. They used to make their living working in the river. I intended to (partially) damage the boat since there was a king on the other side (of the river) who seizes every (good) boat by force. (If this boat was seized, the poor people will lose their means of livelihood).

       “And as for the boy, his parents were believers. (The boy was to grow up as a disbeliever). We feared lest the grown up boy may oppress his parents by his rebellion and disbelief.

       “Hence, we intended (to get rid of this young boy) and their Creator should replace for them a better one who is pious and is more loving child.

       “And as for the wall, there are two orphan boys in this village and there was a treasure for them buried under this wall, And their father (who had passed away) was a righteous person. Hence, your Creator intended that they should reach their age of maturity and then they would take out their treasure, as a Mercy from your Creator. And I did not act like this on my own accord. That is the interpretation of those things regarding which you could not keep patience.”

       And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnain. Say: “I shall relate to you his story.”

       Indeed, We bestowed upon him power in the land and We gave him means of everything.

       So he followed a path (or he travelled, towards western countries to make conquests). 

       Until, when he reached the setting time of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy water. He also found some people near the spring. We (Allah) said: “O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them right away or treat them with kindness (i.e. first introduce them to Islam; if they still disbelieve then punish them).”

       He (Dhul-Qarnain) said: “(I shall follow the second option, which is the better option). Whoever shall disbelieve, I shall punish him (in this world) and then he will be brought back to his Creator Who will give him an awful punishment (in the Hereafter).

       “But as for him who believes and does good deeds, he shall be rewarded with goodness i.e. Paradise (in the Hereafter), and we (Dhul-Qarnain) will order good treatment for him in our dealing with him (in this world).”

       And he travelled again (to-wards the eastern countries to make conquests).

       Until he reached the rising time of the sun and he noticed it rising on the people for whom We (Allah) had provided no shelter against the sun.

       This story is exactly like this. We (Allah) knew it, whatever Dhul-Qarnain had (in the form of equipment and capabilities).

       And he travelled again (to another direction).

       Until he reached a site which was situated between two moun-tains. He found a people near  the mountains who did not seem to un-derstand any word.

       They said: “O Dhul-Qarnain! Indeed, Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog) are spreading mischief in the land. Should we collect some funds for you so that you erect a barrier between us and them?”

       (Dhul-Qarnain) said: “What my Creator has bestowed upon me (in the form of wealth, power etc) is far better (than your funding). However help me with manpower and I shall erect a barrier between you and them.

       “Give me iron sheets.” When he had filled up the opening (or gap) between the two mountains, he ordered: “Blow.” When the iron sheet became (red hot) like fire, he said: “Bring me molten copper to pour over them.” 

       Hence, Yajuj and Majuj could not climb over this wall nor were able to dig (a hole) through it.

       (When Dhul-Qarnain saw this solid wall which was not an easy job to do) He said: “This is mercy from my Creator (who enabled me to accomplish this job and it is mercy for the people since they will be saved from the mischief of Yajuj and Majuj). So when the Promise of my Creator will come, He shall destroy it. And the Promise of my Creator is always true.”

       And (when this wall will be destroyed) on that Day we will let loose Yajuj and Majuj in very large numbers falling one over the other. And the (second) Trumpet will be blown (everything will become alive) and We will gather (all the creatures) together.

       And on that Day We shall bring Hell in the direct view of the disbelievers.

       Those who had a cover on their eyes regarding My remembrance and they could not bear to hear (the truth or the Quran).

       Do the disbelievers think that they can take My slaves as their protectors besides Me? Indeed, We have prepared Hell-Fire as an initial welcome for the disbelievers.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)! Say: “Shall we tell you the greatest loser regarding their deeds?

       “Those whose efforts in the worldly life have been wasted while they were under the impression that they were performing good deeds.

       “They denied the revelations of their Creator and the meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). Hence, all their deeds became null and void. So We shall assign no weight for their deeds on the Day of Resurrection.

       “Their reward will be Hell since they disbelieved and mocked at My revelations and My messengers.

       “Indeed, those who believe and do good deeds, they shall have Gardens of Paradise as an initial hospitality for them.

       “They will reside there forever. And they will have no desire to leave that place.”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Creator, the sea will be used up before the Words of my Creator are finished, even if We bring a similar (sea) to help out.”  

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “I am, indeed, a man like you. (However) it has been revealed to me that your God is one God (i.e. Allah). So whoever hopes to Meet his Creator, he should perform good deeds and don’t make anybody partner in worship with his Creator.”