الكهف
Surah Al-Kahf
The Cave · Surah 18 · Meccan · 110 verses
1ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَلَمۡ يَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَاۜ ١Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness.InsightElmalılı explains “iwaj” as winding and crookedness: the Qur’an is neither winding nor crooked; it has no lie and no error.2قَيِّمࣰا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأۡسࣰا شَدِيدࣰا مِّن لَّدُنۡهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرًا حَسَنࣰا ٢(But hath made it) straight, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to bring unto the believers who do good works the news that theirs will be a fair reward.InsightElmalılı explains “qayyim” as a straight judge: the Book both warns of the punishment of the Hereafter and gives good news to those who do good.3مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدࣰا ٣Wherein they will abide for ever.4وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدࣰا ٤And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this includes those who called the angels Allah’s daughters and those who call the Messiah the son of Allah.5مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمࣲ وَلَا لِأٓبَآئِهِمۡۚ كَبُرَتۡ كَلِمَةࣰ تَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ أَفۡوَٰهِهِمۡۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبࣰا ٥(A thing) whereof they have no knowledge, nor (had) their fathers, Dreadful is the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, those who say this speak not from knowledge but from ignorance, imitating their forefathers, whose view was not based on knowledge either.6فَلَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعࣱ نَّفۡسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ٦Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet grieved so much that the disbelievers would perish that the sorrow almost consumed him. The verse conveys this deep compassion.7إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ زِينَةࣰ لَّهَا لِنَبۡلُوَهُمۡ أَيُّهُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلࣰا ٧Lo! We have placed all that is on the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah adorned the earth so that those who do good and those who do evil would be shown in practice, and each rewarded accordingly.8وَإِنَّا لَجَٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيۡهَا صَعِيدࣰا جُرُزًا ٨And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the adornments that dazzle eyes today will tomorrow turn to dust as if they never were. The finest deed is not chasing passing adornment but serving its everlasting Creator.9أَمۡ حَسِبۡتَ أَنَّ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡكَهۡفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُواْ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا عَجَبًا ٩Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents.InsightElmalılı explains “kahf” as a wide mountain cave, and “raqim” as an inscribed stone or tablet. For Allah, who brings wondrous adornment out of dry earth, this story is not the only marvel.10إِذۡ أَوَى ٱلۡفِتۡيَةُ إِلَى ٱلۡكَهۡفِ فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحۡمَةࣰ وَهَيِّئۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَمۡرِنَا رَشَدࣰا ١٠When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give us mercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight.11فَضَرَبۡنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمۡ فِي ٱلۡكَهۡفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدࣰا ١١Then We sealed up their hearing in the Cave for a number of years.InsightElmalılı explains “We struck upon their ears” as “We laid them down and put them to sleep.”12ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَٰهُمۡ لِنَعۡلَمَ أَيُّ ٱلۡحِزۡبَيۡنِ أَحۡصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوٓاْ أَمَدࣰا ١٢And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “to know” means to make it evident in fact. The two parties are the believing Companions of the Cave and their idolatrous opponents; on waking they saw they had succeeded.13نَّحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ إِنَّهُمۡ فِتۡيَةٌ ءَامَنُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ وَزِدۡنَٰهُمۡ هُدࣰى ١٣We narrate unto thee their story with truth. Lo! they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, their names, number and homeland do not matter for the lesson of the story. What matters is their quality: a few brave young men who believed in their Lord.14وَرَبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ إِذۡ قَامُواْ فَقَالُواْ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَن نَّدۡعُوَاْ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَٰهࣰاۖ لَّقَدۡ قُلۡنَآ إِذࣰا شَطَطًا ١٤And We made firm their hearts when they stood forth and said: Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We cry unto no Allah beside Him, for then should we utter an enormity.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this was the core of these young men’s cause: standing up against the idolaters and proclaiming the oneness of God. And Allah gave their hearts firmness.15هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمُنَا ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةࣰۖ لَّوۡلَا يَأۡتُونَ عَلَيۡهِم بِسُلۡطَٰنِۭ بَيِّنࣲۖ فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبࣰا ١٥These, our people, have chosen (other) gods beside Him though they bring no clear warrant (vouchsafed) to them. And who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there are plain proofs like the heavens and the earth for Allah’s divinity, but no such proof exists for the divinity of any other.16وَإِذِ ٱعۡتَزَلۡتُمُوهُمۡ وَمَا يَعۡبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ فَأۡوُۥٓاْ إِلَى ٱلۡكَهۡفِ يَنشُرۡ لَكُمۡ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحۡمَتِهِۦ وَيُهَيِّئۡ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَمۡرِكُم مِّرۡفَقࣰا ١٦And when ye withdraw from them and that which they worship except Allah, then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will spread for you of His mercy and will prepare for you a pillow in your plight.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the light of faith finally brings one to the mercy of the Most Merciful; Allah would ease their affair and grant success in what they stood for.17۞وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمۡسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهۡفِهِمۡ ذَاتَ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقۡرِضُهُمۡ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمۡ فِي فَجۡوَةࣲ مِّنۡهُۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِۗ مَن يَهۡدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدِۖ وَمَن يُضۡلِلۡ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيࣰّا مُّرۡشِدࣰا ١٧And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, not even sunlight touched them; the cave was protected on all sides, and they lay comfortably in a wide part of it.18وَتَحۡسَبُهُمۡ أَيۡقَاظࣰا وَهُمۡ رُقُودࣱۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمۡ ذَاتَ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِۖ وَكَلۡبُهُم بَٰسِطࣱ ذِرَاعَيۡهِ بِٱلۡوَصِيدِۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ لَوَلَّيۡتَ مِنۡهُمۡ فِرَارࣰا وَلَمُلِئۡتَ مِنۡهُمۡ رُعۡبࣰا ١٨And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, their eyes were open though they slept; their state was so awe-inspiring that no one could approach them.19وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثۡنَٰهُمۡ لِيَتَسَآءَلُواْ بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ قَالَ قَآئِلࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ كَمۡ لَبِثۡتُمۡۖ قَالُواْ لَبِثۡنَا يَوۡمًا أَوۡ بَعۡضَ يَوۡمࣲۚ قَالُواْ رَبُّكُمۡ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثۡتُمۡ فَٱبۡعَثُوٓاْ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمۡ هَٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ فَلۡيَنظُرۡ أَيُّهَآ أَزۡكَىٰ طَعَامࣰا فَلۡيَأۡتِكُم بِرِزۡقࣲ مِّنۡهُ وَلۡيَتَلَطَّفۡ وَلَا يُشۡعِرَنَّ بِكُمۡ أَحَدًا ١٩And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, waking them, like their sleep, was a sign, like the dead being raised; on waking their first concern was to understand their own state.20إِنَّهُمۡ إِن يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَيۡكُمۡ يَرۡجُمُوكُمۡ أَوۡ يُعِيدُوكُمۡ فِي مِلَّتِهِمۡ وَلَن تُفۡلِحُوٓاْ إِذًا أَبَدࣰا ٢٠For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, if stoned they would die as martyrs and be saved; but if they turned to disbelief they would be saved neither in this world nor the next, for worldly life passes, while disbelief’s punishment lasts.21وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعۡثَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ لِيَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقࣱّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهَآ إِذۡ يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ أَمۡرَهُمۡۖ فَقَالُواْ ٱبۡنُواْ عَلَيۡهِم بُنۡيَٰنࣰاۖ رَّبُّهُمۡ أَعۡلَمُ بِهِمۡۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِهِمۡ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيۡهِم مَّسۡجِدࣰا ٢١And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, despite all their caution Allah made them known; according to a report, the old coin carried by the one sent to the city led to his discovery.22سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَٰثَةࣱ رَّابِعُهُمۡ كَلۡبُهُمۡ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمۡسَةࣱ سَادِسُهُمۡ كَلۡبُهُمۡ رَجۡمَۢا بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبۡعَةࣱ وَثَامِنُهُمۡ كَلۡبُهُمۡۚ قُل رَّبِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعۡلَمُهُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلࣱۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمۡ إِلَّا مِرَآءࣰ ظَٰهِرࣰا وَلَا تَسۡتَفۡتِ فِيهِم مِّنۡهُمۡ أَحَدࣰا ٢٢(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the first two views are guesses at the unseen; the third is not. But knowing their number is not needed by everyone for the purpose of the story.23وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَاْيۡءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلࣱ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا ٢٣And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, a person’s resolve and will are not by themselves sufficient cause for something to happen.24إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَٱذۡكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلۡ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقۡرَبَ مِنۡ هَٰذَا رَشَدࣰا ٢٤Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, when intending something for the future one should tie it to Allah’s will; if one forgets, one should remember Allah on recalling it, by saying “inshallah” or by glorifying Him and asking forgiveness.25وَلَبِثُواْ فِي كَهۡفِهِمۡ ثَلَٰثَ مِاْئَةࣲ سِنِينَ وَٱزۡدَادُواْ تِسۡعࣰا ٢٥And (it is said) they tarried in their Cave three hundred years and add nine.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, it is said that three hundred is by the solar year, and the extra nine by the lunar year.26قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُواْۖ لَهُۥ غَيۡبُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ أَبۡصِرۡ بِهِۦ وَأَسۡمِعۡۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِيࣲّ وَلَا يُشۡرِكُ فِي حُكۡمِهِۦٓ أَحَدࣰا ٢٦Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They have no protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.27وَٱتۡلُ مَآ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلۡتَحَدࣰا ٢٧And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him.28وَٱصۡبِرۡ نَفۡسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلۡعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَهُۥۖ وَلَا تَعۡدُ عَيۡنَاكَ عَنۡهُمۡ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَلَا تُطِعۡ مَنۡ أَغۡفَلۡنَا قَلۡبَهُۥ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمۡرُهُۥ فُرُطࣰا ٢٨Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.29وَقُلِ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلۡيُؤۡمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلۡيَكۡفُرۡۚ إِنَّآ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمۡ سُرَادِقُهَاۚ وَإِن يَسۡتَغِيثُواْ يُغَاثُواْ بِمَآءࣲ كَٱلۡمُهۡلِ يَشۡوِي ٱلۡوُجُوهَۚ بِئۡسَ ٱلشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتۡ مُرۡتَفَقًا ٢٩Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place.30إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ مَنۡ أَحۡسَنَ عَمَلًا ٣٠Lo! as for those who believe and do good works - Lo! We suffer not the reward of one whose work is goodly to be lost.31أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدۡنࣲ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ يُحَلَّوۡنَ فِيهَا مِنۡ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبࣲ وَيَلۡبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضۡرࣰا مِّن سُندُسࣲ وَإِسۡتَبۡرَقࣲ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَآئِكِۚ نِعۡمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتۡ مُرۡتَفَقࣰا ٣١As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place.32۞وَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُم مَّثَلࣰا رَّجُلَيۡنِ جَعَلۡنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيۡنِ مِنۡ أَعۡنَٰبࣲ وَحَفَفۡنَٰهُمَا بِنَخۡلࣲ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمَا زَرۡعࣰا ٣٢Coin for them a similitude: Two men, unto one of whom We had assigned two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms and had put between them tillage.33كِلۡتَا ٱلۡجَنَّتَيۡنِ ءَاتَتۡ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمۡ تَظۡلِم مِّنۡهُ شَيۡـࣰٔاۚ وَفَجَّرۡنَا خِلَٰلَهُمَا نَهَرࣰا ٣٣Each of the gardens gave its fruit and withheld naught thereof. And We caused a river to gush forth therein.34وَكَانَ لَهُۥ ثَمَرࣱ فَقَالَ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَنَا۠ أَكۡثَرُ مِنكَ مَالࣰا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرࣰا ٣٤And he had fruit. And he said unto his comrade, when he spake with him: I am more than thee in wealth, and stronger in respect of men.35وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُۥ وَهُوَ ظَالِمࣱ لِّنَفۡسِهِۦ قَالَ مَآ أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَٰذِهِۦٓ أَبَدࣰا ٣٥And he went into his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself. He said: I think not that all this will ever perish.36وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةࣰ وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيۡرࣰا مِّنۡهَا مُنقَلَبࣰا ٣٦I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back unto my Lord I surely shall find better than this as a resort.37قَالَ لَهُۥ صَاحِبُهُۥ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَكَفَرۡتَ بِٱلَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابࣲ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةࣲ ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰكَ رَجُلࣰا ٣٧His comrade, when he (thus) spake with him, exclaimed: Disbelievest thou in Him Who created thee of dust, then of a drop (of seed), and then fashioned thee a man.38لَّـٰكِنَّا۠ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّي وَلَآ أُشۡرِكُ بِرَبِّيٓ أَحَدࣰا ٣٨But He is Allah, my Lord, and I ascribe unto my Lord no partner.39وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ دَخَلۡتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلۡتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالࣰا وَوَلَدࣰا ٣٩If only, when thou enteredst thy garden, thou hadst said: That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah! Though thou seest me as less than thee in wealth and children.40فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّيٓ أَن يُؤۡتِيَنِ خَيۡرࣰا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡهَا حُسۡبَانࣰا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتُصۡبِحَ صَعِيدࣰا زَلَقًا ٤٠Yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and will send on it a bolt from heaven, and some morning it will be a smooth hillside.41أَوۡ يُصۡبِحَ مَآؤُهَا غَوۡرࣰا فَلَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ لَهُۥ طَلَبࣰا ٤١Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for it.42وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصۡبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيۡهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي لَمۡ أُشۡرِكۡ بِرَبِّيٓ أَحَدࣰا ٤٢And his fruit was beset (with destruction). Then began he to wring his hands for all that he had spent upon it, when (now) it was all ruined on its trellises, and to say: Would that I had ascribed no partner to my Lord.43وَلَمۡ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةࣱ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ٤٣And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he save himself.44هُنَالِكَ ٱلۡوَلَٰيَةُ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡحَقِّۚ هُوَ خَيۡرࣱ ثَوَابࣰا وَخَيۡرٌ عُقۡبࣰا ٤٤In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward, and best for consequence.45وَٱضۡرِبۡ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخۡتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَأَصۡبَحَ هَشِيمࣰا تَذۡرُوهُ ٱلرِّيَٰحُۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ مُّقۡتَدِرًا ٤٥And coin for them the similitude of the life of the world as water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it and then becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter. Allah is able to do all things.46ٱلۡمَالُ وَٱلۡبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابࣰا وَخَيۡرٌ أَمَلࣰا ٤٦Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord’s sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.47وَيَوۡمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلۡجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَارِزَةࣰ وَحَشَرۡنَٰهُمۡ فَلَمۡ نُغَادِرۡ مِنۡهُمۡ أَحَدࣰا ٤٧And (bethink you of) the Day when we remove the hills and ye see the earth emerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not one of them behind.48وَعُرِضُواْ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفࣰّا لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةِۭۚ بَلۡ زَعَمۡتُمۡ أَلَّن نَّجۡعَلَ لَكُم مَّوۡعِدࣰا ٤٨And they are set before thy Lord in ranks (and it is said unto them): Now verily have ye come unto Us as We created you at the first. But ye thought that We had set no tryst for you.49وَوُضِعَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ مُشۡفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَٰوَيۡلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةࣰ وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحۡصَىٰهَاۚ وَوَجَدُواْ مَا عَمِلُواْ حَاضِرࣰاۗ وَلَا يَظۡلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدࣰا ٤٩And the Book is placed, and thou seest the guilty fearful of that which is therein, and they say: What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a small thing nor a great thing but hath counted it! And they find all that they did confronting them, and thy Lord wrongeth no-one.50وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأٓدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِبۡلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّهِۦٓۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمۡ لَكُمۡ عَدُوُّۢۚ بِئۡسَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَدَلࣰا ٥٠And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord’s command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil-doers.51۞مَّآ أَشۡهَدتُّهُمۡ خَلۡقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا خَلۡقَ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ ٱلۡمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدࣰا ٥١I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation; nor choose I misleaders for (My) helpers.52وَيَوۡمَ يَقُولُ نَادُواْ شُرَكَآءِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ فَدَعَوۡهُمۡ فَلَمۡ يَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لَهُمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُم مَّوۡبِقࣰا ٥٢And (be mindful of) the Day when He will say: Call those partners of Mine whom ye pretended. Then they will cry unto them, but they will not hear their prayer, and We shall set a gulf of doom between them.53وَرَءَا ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ ٱلنَّارَ فَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمۡ يَجِدُواْ عَنۡهَا مَصۡرِفࣰا ٥٣And the guilty behold the Fire and know that they are about to fall therein, and they find no way of escape thence.54وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَا فِي هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلࣲۚ وَكَانَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ أَكۡثَرَ شَيۡءࣲ جَدَلࣰا ٥٤And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur’an all manner of similitudes, but man is more than anything contentious.55وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤۡمِنُوٓاْ إِذۡ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَيَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ رَبَّهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَن تَأۡتِيَهُمۡ سُنَّةُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ أَوۡ يَأۡتِيَهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ قُبُلࣰا ٥٥And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance cometh unto them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord unless (it be that they wish) that the judgment of the men of old should come upon them or (that) they should be confronted with the Doom.56وَمَا نُرۡسِلُ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَۚ وَيُجَٰدِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ لِيُدۡحِضُواْ بِهِ ٱلۡحَقَّۖ وَٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ ءَايَٰتِي وَمَآ أُنذِرُواْ هُزُوࣰا ٥٦We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Those who disbelieve contend with falsehood in order to refute the Truth thereby. And they take Our revelations and that wherewith they are threatened as a jest.57وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ فَأَعۡرَضَ عَنۡهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ يَدَاهُۚ إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفۡقَهُوهُ وَفِيٓ ءَاذَانِهِمۡ وَقۡرࣰاۖ وَإِن تَدۡعُهُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهۡتَدُوٓاْ إِذًا أَبَدࣰا ٥٧And who doth greater wrong than he who hath been reminded of the revelations of his Lord, yet turneth away from them and forgetteth what his hands send forward (to the Judgment)? Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so that they understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them to the guidance, in that case they can never be led aright.58وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ذُو ٱلرَّحۡمَةِۖ لَوۡ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُواْ لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابَۚ بَل لَّهُم مَّوۡعِدࣱ لَّن يَجِدُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَوۡئِلࣰا ٥٨Thy Lord is the Forgiver, Full of Mercy. If He took them to task (now) for what they earn, He would hasten on the doom for them; but theirs is an appointed term from which they will find no escape.59وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡ لَمَّا ظَلَمُواْ وَجَعَلۡنَا لِمَهۡلِكِهِم مَّوۡعِدࣰا ٥٩And (all) those townships! We destroyed them when they did wrong, and We appointed a fixed time for their destruction.60وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبۡرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبۡلُغَ مَجۡمَعَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَمۡضِيَ حُقُبࣰا ٦٠And when Moses said unto his servant: I will not give up until I reach the point where the two rivers meet, though I march on for ages.61فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجۡمَعَ بَيۡنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ سَرَبࣰا ٦١And when they reached the point where the two met, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the waters, being free.62فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدۡ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبࣰا ٦٢And when they had gone further, he said unto his servant: Bring us our breakfast. Verily we have found fatigue in this our journey.63قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَ إِذۡ أَوَيۡنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخۡرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ ٱلۡحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَنۡ أَذۡكُرَهُۥۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ عَجَبࣰا ٦٣He said: Didst thou see, when we took refuge on the rock, and I forgot the fish - and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it - it took its way into the waters by a marvel.64قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبۡغِۚ فَٱرۡتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصࣰا ٦٤He said: This is that which we have been seeking. So they retraced their steps again.65فَوَجَدَا عَبۡدࣰا مِّنۡ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ رَحۡمَةࣰ مِّنۡ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمۡنَٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلۡمࣰا ٦٥Then found they one of Our slaves, unto whom We had given mercy from Us, and had taught him knowledge from Our presence.66قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلۡ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمۡتَ رُشۡدࣰا ٦٦Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach me right conduct of that which thou hast been taught.67قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبۡرࣰا ٦٧He said: Lo! thou canst not bear with me.68وَكَيۡفَ تَصۡبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِهِۦ خُبۡرࣰا ٦٨How canst thou bear with that whereof thou canst not compass any knowledge.69قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِيٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرࣰا وَلَآ أَعۡصِي لَكَ أَمۡرࣰا ٦٩He said: Allah willing, thou shalt find me patient and I shall not in aught gainsay thee.70قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعۡتَنِي فَلَا تَسۡـَٔلۡنِي عَن شَيۡءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحۡدِثَ لَكَ مِنۡهُ ذِكۡرࣰا ٧٠He said: Well, if thou go with me, ask me not concerning aught till I myself make mention of it unto thee.71فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي ٱلسَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَاۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقۡتَهَا لِتُغۡرِقَ أَهۡلَهَا لَقَدۡ جِئۡتَ شَيۡـًٔا إِمۡرࣰا ٧١So they twain set out till, when they were in the ship, he made a hole therein. (Moses) said: Hast thou made a hole therein to drown the folk thereof? Thou verily hast done a dreadful thing.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this knowledge would be learned not by sitting and talking but by living it; so they set out together as soon as they had agreed.72قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُلۡ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبۡرࣰا ٧٢He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me.73قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرۡهِقۡنِي مِنۡ أَمۡرِي عُسۡرࣰا ٧٣(Moses) said: Be not wroth with me that I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my fault.74فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَٰمࣰا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسࣰا زَكِيَّةَۢ بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسࣲ لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتَ شَيۡـࣰٔا نُّكۡرࣰا ٧٤So they twain journeyed on till, when they met a lad, he slew him. (Moses) said: What! Hast thou slain an innocent soul who hath slain no man? Verily thou hast done a horrid thing.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, most commentators say this was a boy not yet of age, though there is also a report that he was a youth of twenty.75۞قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبۡرࣰا ٧٥He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me.76قَالَ إِن سَأَلۡتُكَ عَن شَيۡءِۭ بَعۡدَهَا فَلَا تُصَٰحِبۡنِيۖ قَدۡ بَلَغۡتَ مِن لَّدُنِّي عُذۡرࣰا ٧٦(Moses) said: If I ask thee after this concerning aught, keep not company with me. Thou hast received an excuse from me.77فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَيَآ أَهۡلَ قَرۡيَةٍ ٱسۡتَطۡعَمَآ أَهۡلَهَا فَأَبَوۡاْ أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارࣰا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُۥۖ قَالَ لَوۡ شِئۡتَ لَتَّخَذۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ أَجۡرࣰا ٧٧So they twain journeyed on till, when they came unto the folk of a certain township, they asked its folk for food, but they refused to make them guests. And they found therein a wall upon the point of falling into ruin, and he repaired it. (Moses) said: If thou hadst wished, thou couldst have taken payment for it.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this was a town; Antioch, Ubulla, Nazareth and other places have been named. The story tells of a kindness done without expecting a return.78قَالَ هَٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنِكَۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأۡوِيلِ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡتَطِع عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرًا ٧٨He said: This is the parting between thee and me! I will announce unto thee the interpretation of that thou couldst not bear with patience.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the interpretation is explaining the hidden meaning and inner wisdom of what was done to the ship, the boy and the wall, which had been concealed from Moses.79أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتۡ لِمَسَٰكِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنۡ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكࣱ يَأۡخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصۡبࣰا ٧٩As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working on the river, and I wished to mar it, for there was a king behind them who is taking every ship by force.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the king was seizing every sound ship by force; damaging it a little to save it from seizure was choosing the lesser of two evils.80وَأَمَّا ٱلۡغُلَٰمُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤۡمِنَيۡنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرۡهِقَهُمَا طُغۡيَٰنࣰا وَكُفۡرࣰا ٨٠And as for the lad, his parents were believers and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the boy was not as innocent as he seemed; he was either a grown transgressor or of a nature that would later drag his parents into disbelief.81فَأَرَدۡنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيۡرࣰا مِّنۡهُ زَكَوٰةࣰ وَأَقۡرَبَ رُحۡمࣰا ٨١And we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer to mercy.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the parents would be saved from the harm they would have suffered through the boy, and in return for the pain of his death would be given a more beloved child.82وَأَمَّا ٱلۡجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَٰمَيۡنِ يَتِيمَيۡنِ فِي ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحۡتَهُۥ كَنزࣱ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَٰلِحࣰا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبۡلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسۡتَخۡرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحۡمَةࣰ مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ وَمَا فَعَلۡتُهُۥ عَنۡ أَمۡرِيۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأۡوِيلُ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡطِع عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرࣰا ٨٢And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been righteous, and thy Lord intended that they should come to their full strength and should bring forth their treasure as a mercy from their Lord; and I did it not upon my own command. Such is the interpretation of that wherewith thou couldst not bear.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, that treasure was the lawfully earned legacy of a righteous father. The father’s righteousness became a means of protecting his children.83وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَن ذِي ٱلۡقَرۡنَيۡنِۖ قُلۡ سَأَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡكُم مِّنۡهُ ذِكۡرًا ٨٣They will ask thee of Dhu’l-Qarneyn. Say: I shall recite unto you a remembrance of him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the askers were, by some reports, the idolaters and, by others, the People of the Book; the Quraysh idolaters asked it at the prompting of the Jews.84إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ سَبَبࣰا ٨٤Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah gave him material and spiritual powers, knowledge, ability, tools and means, so that whatever he took hold of, he found a way to his aim.85فَأَتۡبَعَ سَبَبًا ٨٥And he followed a road.86حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغۡرِبَ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغۡرُبُ فِي عَيۡنٍ حَمِئَةࣲ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوۡمࣰاۖ قُلۡنَا يَٰذَا ٱلۡقَرۡنَيۡنِ إِمَّآ أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّآ أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمۡ حُسۡنࣰا ٨٦Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu’l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, he reached the western end of the lands he ruled, the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. The sun setting in mud is how it appeared to his eyes.87قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوۡفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابࣰا نُّكۡرࣰا ٨٧He said: As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, though Dhul-Qarnayn was free to do as he wished, he did not act without cause; he kept punishment for wrongdoers and kindness for those who believed and did good, for he knew he too would return to his Lord.88وَأَمَّا مَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحࣰا فَلَهُۥ جَزَآءً ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُۥ مِنۡ أَمۡرِنَا يُسۡرࣰا ٨٨But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command.89ثُمَّ أَتۡبَعَ سَبَبًا ٨٩Then he followed a road.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, after doing what he had to in the west, like the setting sun returning to the east, he took a road leading from west to east.90حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطۡلِعَ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطۡلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمࣲ لَّمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتۡرࣰا ٩٠Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they had no buildings and not even clothes; they burned under the sun.91كَذَٰلِكَۖ وَقَدۡ أَحَطۡنَا بِمَا لَدَيۡهِ خُبۡرࣰا ٩١So (it was). And We knew all concerning him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Dhul-Qarnayn had so many means that only Allah knew them all, while that bare people had not even a covering from the sun.92ثُمَّ أَتۡبَعَ سَبَبًا ٩٢Then he followed a road.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this time he took a road between east and west; according to the commentators, he went north.93حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيۡنَ ٱلسَّدَّيۡنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوۡمࣰا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفۡقَهُونَ قَوۡلࣰا ٩٣Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hither side a folk that scarce could understand a saying.InsightElmalılı explains “sadd” as firmly closing a gap; it is also said of a barrier between two things and of a mountain. Here it is interpreted as two mountains.94قَالُواْ يَٰذَا ٱلۡقَرۡنَيۡنِ إِنَّ يَأۡجُوجَ وَمَأۡجُوجَ مُفۡسِدُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَهَلۡ نَجۡعَلُ لَكَ خَرۡجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجۡعَلَ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَهُمۡ سَدࣰّا ٩٤They said: O Dhu’l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they destroyed everything before them, and if left alone would corrupt the whole earth. Their names came into Arabic from another language.95قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيۡرࣱ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجۡعَلۡ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَبَيۡنَهُمۡ رَدۡمًا ٩٥He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, he needed no payment; he was able to do better than asked, freely, and only asked for labour.96ءَاتُونِي زُبَرَ ٱلۡحَدِيدِۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيۡنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيۡنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُواْۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارࣰا قَالَ ءَاتُونِيٓ أُفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡهِ قِطۡرࣰا ٩٦Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour thereon.InsightElmalılı explains “zubrah” as a large piece of iron; the iron blocks were piled until level between the two mountain sides.97فَمَا ٱسۡطَٰعُوٓاْ أَن يَظۡهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ لَهُۥ نَقۡبࣰا ٩٧And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, many high mountains have been crossed and many strong fortresses breached; so the secret of this barrier was not an ordinary material but a divine power.98قَالَ هَٰذَا رَحۡمَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّيۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَۖ وَكَانَ وَعۡدُ رَبِّي حَقࣰّا ٩٨He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Dhul-Qarnayn credited the success not to himself but to Allah’s grace; it too has a term, and the Hour is certain.99۞وَتَرَكۡنَا بَعۡضَهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعۡضࣲۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَجَمَعۡنَٰهُمۡ جَمۡعࣰا ٩٩And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and the Trumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering.100وَعَرَضۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ لِّلۡكَٰفِرِينَ عَرۡضًا ١٠٠On that day we shall present hell to the disbelievers, plain to view.101ٱلَّذِينَ كَانَتۡ أَعۡيُنُهُمۡ فِي غِطَآءٍ عَن ذِكۡرِي وَكَانُواْ لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ سَمۡعًا ١٠١Those whose eyes were hoodwinked from My reminder, and who could not bear to hear.102أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَن يَتَّخِذُواْ عِبَادِي مِن دُونِيٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَۚ إِنَّآ أَعۡتَدۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ نُزُلࣰا ١٠٢Do the disbelievers reckon that they can choose My bondmen as protecting friends beside Me? Lo! We have prepared hell as a welcome for the disbelievers.103قُلۡ هَلۡ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلۡأَخۡسَرِينَ أَعۡمَٰلًا ١٠٣Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works.104ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعۡيُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَهُمۡ يَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمۡ يُحۡسِنُونَ صُنۡعًا ١٠٤Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work.105أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَزۡنࣰا ١٠٥Those are they who disbelieve in the revelations of their Lord and in the meeting with Him. Therefor their works are vain, and on the Day of Resurrection We assign no weight to them.106ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُواْ وَٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ ءَايَٰتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا ١٠٦That is their reward: hell, because they disbelieved, and made a jest of Our revelations and Our messengers.107إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ كَانَتۡ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسِ نُزُلًا ١٠٧Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs are the Gardens of Paradise for welcome.108خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبۡغُونَ عَنۡهَا حِوَلࣰا ١٠٨Wherein they will abide, with no desire to be removed from thence.109قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ مِدَادࣰا لِّكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ ٱلۡبَحۡرُ قَبۡلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَٰتُ رَبِّي وَلَوۡ جِئۡنَا بِمِثۡلِهِۦ مَدَدࣰا ١٠٩Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah’s words are infinite while seas are finite; adding finite to finite stays finite and can never match the infinite.110قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرࣱ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهࣱ وَٰحِدࣱۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلۡيَعۡمَلۡ عَمَلࣰا صَٰلِحࣰا وَلَا يُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدَۢا ١١٠Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allah is only One Allah. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet does not claim to encompass all of Allah’s words. Whoever hopes to meet his Lord should do good and associate no one in worship.