Translation of Surah Al-Kahf in English by A. Y. Ali

Surah Al-Kahf

In The Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness: (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:1)

(He hath made it) Straight (and Clear) in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him, and that He may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly Reward, (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:2)

Wherein they shall remain for ever: (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:3)

Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son": (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:4)

No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood! (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:5)

Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:6)

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. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:7)

Verily what is on earth we shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage). (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:8)

Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Sign? (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:9)

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!" (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:10)

Then We draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not): (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:11)

Then We roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried! (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:12)

We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance: (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:13)

We gave strength to their hearts: Behold, they stood up and said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity! (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:14)

"These our people have taken for worship gods other than Him: why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing) for what they do? Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah? (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:15)

"When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah, betake yourselves to the Cave: Your Lord will shower His mercies on you and disposes of your affair towards comfort and ease." (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:16)

Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray,- for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:17)

Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:18)

Such (being their state), we raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them, "How long have ye stayed (here)?" They said, "We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day." (At length) they (all) said, "Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here.... Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may) satisfy your hunger therewith: And let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform any one about you. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:19)

"For if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity." (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:20)

Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said, "Construct a building over them": Their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said, "Let us surely build a place of worship over them." (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:21)

(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:22)

Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow"- (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:23)

Without adding, "So please Allah!" and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road." (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:24)

So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more) (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:25)

Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees, how finely He hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:26)

And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:27)

And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; no obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:28)

Say, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrong-doers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on! (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)

As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:30)

For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade: They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on! (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:31)

Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grape-vines and surrounded them with date palms; in between the two We placed corn-fields. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:32)

Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:33)

(Abundant) was the produce this man had : he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "more wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men." (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:34)

He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said, "I deem not that this will ever perish, (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:35)

"Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange." (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:36)

His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust, then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man? (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:37)

"But (I think) for my part that He is Allah, My Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord. (Quran Surah Al-Kahf 18:38)

"Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say: 'Allah's will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons, (Quran 18:39)

"It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden, and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand!- (Quran 18:40)

"Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it." (Quran 18:41)

So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say, "Woe is me! Would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!" (Quran 18:42)

Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself. (Quran 18:43)

There, the (only) protection comes from Allah, the True One. He is the Best to reward, and the Best to give success. (Quran 18:44)

Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: It is like the rain which we send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over all things. (Quran 18:45)

Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: But the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes. (Quran 18:46)

One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. (Quran 18:47)

And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks, (with the announcement), "Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!": (Quran 18:48)

And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say, "Ah! woe to us! what a Book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great, but takes account thereof!" They will find all that they did, placed before them: And not one will thy Lord treat with injustice. (Quran 18:49)

Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers! (Quran 18:50)

I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: nor is it for helpers such as Me to take as lead (men) astray! (Quran 18:51)

One Day He will say, "Call on those whom ye thought to be My partners," and they will call on them, but they will not listen to them; and We shall make for them a place of common perdition. (Quran 18:52)

And the Sinful shall see the fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein: no means will they find to turn away therefrom. (Quran 18:53)

We have explained in detail in this Qur'an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude: but man is, in most things, contentious. (Quran 18:54)

And what is there to keep back men from believing, now that Guidance has come to them, nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord, but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be repeated with them, or the Wrath be brought to them face to face? (Quran 18:55)

We only send the messengers to give Glad Tidings and to give warnings: But the unbelievers dispute with vain argument, in order therewith to weaken the truth, and they treat My Signs as a jest, as also the fact that they are warned! (Quran 18:56)

And who doth more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord, but turns away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this, and over their ears, deafness, if thou callest them to guidance, even then will they never accept guidance. (Quran 18:57)

But your Lord is Most forgiving, full of Mercy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge. (Quran 18:58)

Such were the populations we destroyed when they committed iniquities; but we fixed an appointed time for their destruction. (Quran 18:59)

Behold, Moses said to his attendant, "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel." (Quran 18:60)

But when they reached the Junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. (Quran 18:61)

When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: "Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this (stage of) our journey." (Quran 18:62)

He replied: "Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvellous way!" (Quran 18:63)

Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after:" So they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come). (Quran 18:64)

So they found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence. (Quran 18:65)

Moses said to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?" (Quran 18:66)

(The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me!" (Quran 18:67)

"And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?" (Quran 18:68)

Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught." (Quran 18:69)

The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it." (Quran 18:70)

So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!" (Quran 18:71)

He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" (Quran 18:72)

Moses said: "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case." (Quran 18:73)

Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!" (Quran 18:74)

He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" (Quran 18:75)

(Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side." (Quran 18:76)

Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!" (Quran 18:77)

He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience. (Quran 18:78)

"As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force. (Quran 18:79)

"As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man). (Quran 18:80)

"So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection. (Quran 18:81)

"As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: So thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure - a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience." (Quran 18:82)

They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story." (Quran 18:83)

Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends. (Quran 18:84)

One (such) way he followed, (Quran 18:85)

Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness." (Quran 18:86)

He said: "Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of (before). (Quran 18:87)

"But whoever believes, and works righteousness,- he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by our Command." (Quran 18:88)

Then followed he (another) way, (Quran 18:89)