Al-Kahf 18:97
The Cave · Meccan · Juz 16 · Page 303
Neither Scaled Nor Pierced
فَمَا ٱسۡطَٰعُوٓاْ أَن يَظۡهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ لَهُۥ نَقۡبࣰا ٩٧
And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
So they could neither scale it nor pierce it.
Insight
According 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.
Reflect
Don’t forget where strength comes from.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›