الكهف

18 - The Cave (Al-Kahf)

Order of Revelation: 69

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا

Transliteration:

FalaAAallaka bakhiAAun nafsaka AAala atharihim in lam yu/minoo bihatha alhadeethi asafan

Word by Word:

Then perhaps you would (be) the one who kills yourself over their footsteps, if not they believe in this [the] narration, (in) grief.

Translations:

But wouldst thou, perhaps, torment thyself to death with grief over them if they are not willing to believe in this message?

Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message.

Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps.

Then maybe thou wilt kill thyself with grief, sorrowing after them, if they believe not in this announcement.

Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

Transliteration:

Inna jaAAalna ma AAala al-ardi zeenatan laha linabluwahum ayyuhum ahsanu AAamalan

Word by Word:

Indeed, We We have made what (is) on the earth adornment for it, that We may test [them] which of them (is) best (in) deed.

Translations:

Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which We put men to a test, [showing] which of them are best in conduct;

That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct.

Lo! 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.

Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try which of them is best in works.

Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.

وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا

Transliteration:

Wa-inna lajaAAiloona ma AAalayha saAAeedan juruzan

Word by Word:

And indeed, We (will) surely make what (is) on it soil barren.

Translations:

and, verily, [in time] We shall reduce all that is on it to barren dust!

Verily what is on earth we shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage).

And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound.

And We shall surely make what is on it dust, without herbage.

And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground.

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا

Transliteration:

Am hasibta anna as-haba alkahfi waalrraqeemi kanoo min ayatina AAajaban

Word by Word:

Or you think that (the) companions (of) the cave and the inscription were, among Our Signs, a wonder?

Translations:

[AND SINCE the life of this world is but a test, dost thou [really] think that [the parable of] the Men of the Cave and of [their devotion to] the scriptures could be deemed more wondrous than any [other] of Our messages?

Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Sign?

Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents?

Or, thinkest thou that the companions of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wonderful signs?

Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Transliteration:

Ith awa alfityatu ila alkahfi faqaloo rabbana atina min ladunka rahmatan wahayyi/ lana min amrina rashadan

Word by Word:

When retreated the youths to the cave, and they said, "Our Lord! Grant us from Yourself Mercy, and facilitate for us [from] our affair (in the) right way."

Translations:

When those youths took refuge in the cave, they prayed: "O our Sustainer! Bestow on us grace from Thyself, and endow us, whatever our [outward] condition, with consciousness of what is right!"

Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!"

When 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.

When the youths sought refuge in the Cave, they said: Our Lord, grant us mercy from Thyself, and provide for us a right course in our affair.

[Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance."

فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰ آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا

Transliteration:

Fadarabna AAala athanihim fee alkahfi sineena AAadadan

Word by Word:

So We cast over their ears in the cave years - a number.

Translations:

And thereupon We veiled their ears in the cave for many a year,

Then We draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not):

Then We sealed up their hearing in the Cave for a number of years.

So We prevented them from hearing in the Cave for a number of years,

So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years.