بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمـٰنِ الرَّحيمِ الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي أَنزَلَ عَلىٰ عَبدِهِ الكِتابَ وَلَم يَجعَل لَهُ عِوَجًا ۜ

Praise be to God, who revealed to His servant the Scripture, free from any distortions.

قَيِّمًا لِيُنذِرَ بَأسًا شَديدًا مِن لَدُنهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ المُؤمِنينَ الَّذينَ يَعمَلونَ الصّالِحاتِ أَنَّ لَهُم أَجرًا حَسَنًا

It is invaluable—to warn of severe punishment from Him, and as good news to the believers who do righteous deeds, that for them is a good reward.

ماكِثينَ فيهِ أَبَدًا

Remaining in it forever.

وَيُنذِرَ الَّذينَ قالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا

And to warn those who say, “God has begotten a son.”

ما لَهُم بِهِ مِن عِلمٍ وَلا لِآبائِهِم ۚ كَبُرَت كَلِمَةً تَخرُجُ مِن أَفواهِهِم ۚ إِن يَقولونَ إِلّا كَذِبًا

They have no knowledge of this, nor did their ancestors. A monstrous utterance comes out of their mouths. They speak nothing but lies.

فَلَعَلَّكَ باخِعٌ نَفسَكَ عَلىٰ آثارِهِم إِن لَم يُؤمِنوا بِهـٰذَا الحَديثِ أَسَفًا

Perhaps, you may destroy yourself with grief, chasing after them, if they don’t believe in this narrative.

إِنّا جَعَلنا ما عَلَى الأَرضِ زينَةً لَها لِنَبلُوَهُم أَيُّهُم أَحسَنُ عَمَلًا

We’ve made everything on earth an adornment for it, to test them, and ascertain who performs the best deeds among them.

وَإِنّا لَجاعِلونَ ما عَلَيها صَعيدًا جُرُزًا

But ultimately, We will reduce everything on it into a barren wasteland.

أَم حَسِبتَ أَنَّ أَصحابَ الكَهفِ وَالرَّقيمِ كانوا مِن آياتِنا عَجَبًا

Do you consider the people of the Cave and the Inscription as among Our extraordinary miracles?

إِذ أَوَى الفِتيَةُ إِلَى الكَهفِ فَقالوا رَبَّنا آتِنا مِن لَدُنكَ رَحمَةً وَهَيِّئ لَنا مِن أَمرِنا رَشَدًا

When they sought sanctuary in the cave, they prayed, “Our Lord, shower us with Your mercy, and arrange our affairs with wisdom.”

فَضَرَبنا عَلىٰ آذانِهِم فِي الكَهفِ سِنينَ عَدَدًا

Then We sealed their ears in the cave for some years.

ثُمَّ بَعَثناهُم لِنَعلَمَ أَيُّ الحِزبَينِ أَحصىٰ لِما لَبِثوا أَمَدًا

Then We awakened them, to determine which of the two groups could best estimate the duration of their stay.

نَحنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُم فِتيَةٌ آمَنوا بِرَبِّهِم وَزِدناهُم هُدًى

We tell you their story with truth. They were young men who had faith in their Lord, and We augmented them in guidance.

وَرَبَطنا عَلىٰ قُلوبِهِم إِذ قاموا فَقالوا رَبُّنا رَبُّ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ لَن نَدعُوَ مِن دونِهِ إِلـٰهًا ۖ لَقَد قُلنا إِذًا شَطَطًا

We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We will never call upon any deity other than Him, for then we would be uttering a colossal falsehood.”

هـٰؤُلاءِ قَومُنَا اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ لَولا يَأتونَ عَلَيهِم بِسُلطانٍ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَن أَظلَمُ مِمَّنِ افتَرىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا

“These, our people, have taken gods besides Him, without producing clear evidence for them. Who is more unjust than one who fabricates lies against God?”

وَإِذِ اعتَزَلتُموهُم وَما يَعبُدونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأووا إِلَى الكَهفِ يَنشُر لَكُم رَبُّكُم مِن رَحمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئ لَكُم مِن أَمرِكُم مِرفَقًا

“Now that you have isolated yourself from them and from what they worship other than God, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will extend His mercy upon you and arrange your affairs with ease.”

وَتَرَى الشَّمسَ إِذا طَلَعَت تَزاوَرُ عَن كَهفِهِم ذاتَ اليَمينِ وَإِذا غَرَبَت تَقرِضُهُم ذاتَ الشِّمالِ وَهُم في فَجوَةٍ مِنهُ ۚ ذٰلِكَ مِن آياتِ اللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ المُهتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضلِل فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُرشِدًا

You would have seen the sun, as it rose, veering away from their cave to the right, and as it set, bypassing them to the left, while they lay within the spacious area of the cave. This was one of God’s signs. Whomever God guides is guided, and whomever He leaves to stray, you will find no guiding mentor for him.

وَتَحسَبُهُم أَيقاظًا وَهُم رُقودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُم ذاتَ اليَمينِ وَذاتَ الشِّمالِ ۖ وَكَلبُهُم باسِطٌ ذِراعَيهِ بِالوَصيدِ ۚ لَوِ اطَّلَعتَ عَلَيهِم لَوَلَّيتَ مِنهُم فِرارًا وَلَمُلِئتَ مِنهُم رُعبًا

You would have thought they were awake, yet they were asleep. We turned them over, to the right and to the left, with their dog stretching its forelegs at the entrance. If you had observed them, you would’ve turned away from them in fear, and terror-filled.

وَكَذٰلِكَ بَعَثناهُم لِيَتَساءَلوا بَينَهُم ۚ قالَ قائِلٌ مِنهُم كَم لَبِثتُم ۖ قالوا لَبِثنا يَومًا أَو بَعضَ يَومٍ ۚ قالوا رَبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِما لَبِثتُم فَابعَثوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُم هـٰذِهِ إِلَى المَدينَةِ فَليَنظُر أَيُّها أَزكىٰ طَعامًا فَليَأتِكُم بِرِزقٍ مِنهُ وَليَتَلَطَّف وَلا يُشعِرَنَّ بِكُم أَحَدًا

We then awakened them, prompting them to question each other. One of them asked, “How long did you stay?” They answered, “We stayed a day or part of a day.” They concluded, “Only your Lord knows the duration of your stay.” “Send one of you with your money to the city, and let him find the best sustenance and bring it back to us. He must be discreet and not draw any attention to you.”

إِنَّهُم إِن يَظهَروا عَلَيكُم يَرجُموكُم أَو يُعيدوكُم في مِلَّتِهِم وَلَن تُفلِحوا إِذًا أَبَدًا

“If they discover you, they may stone you or force you to revert to their religion, and then you will never succeed.”

وَكَذٰلِكَ أَعثَرنا عَلَيهِم لِيَعلَموا أَنَّ وَعدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السّاعَةَ لا رَيبَ فيها إِذ يَتَنازَعونَ بَينَهُم أَمرَهُم ۖ فَقالُوا ابنوا عَلَيهِم بُنيانًا ۖ رَبُّهُم أَعلَمُ بِهِم ۚ قالَ الَّذينَ غَلَبوا عَلىٰ أَمرِهِم لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيهِم مَسجِدًا

We made their story known to mankind, to demonstrate that God’s promise is true, and that there is no doubt about the Hour. When they disputed among themselves their affair, they proposed, “Let us build a structure over them.” Their Lord knows them best. Those who prevailed in the argument said, “We will erect a place of worship over them.”

سَيَقولونَ ثَلاثَةٌ رابِعُهُم كَلبُهُم وَيَقولونَ خَمسَةٌ سادِسُهُم كَلبُهُم رَجمًا بِالغَيبِ ۖ وَيَقولونَ سَبعَةٌ وَثامِنُهُم كَلبُهُم ۚ قُل رَبّي أَعلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم ما يَعلَمُهُم إِلّا قَليلٌ ۗ فَلا تُمارِ فيهِم إِلّا مِراءً ظاهِرًا وَلا تَستَفتِ فيهِم مِنهُم أَحَدًا

Some say, “They were three, their dog being the fourth.” Others will say, “They were five, their dog being the sixth,” guessing at the unseen. Yet, others will say, “They were seven, their dog being the eighth.” Say, “My Lord is more knowledgeable of their number; only a few truly know.” Therefore, don’t argue about them without solid evidence, and don’t seek anyone’s opinion about them.

وَلا تَقولَنَّ لِشَيءٍ إِنّي فاعِلٌ ذٰلِكَ غَدًا

And don’t say about anything, “I will do this tomorrow.”

إِلّا أَن يَشاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذكُر رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسيتَ وَقُل عَسىٰ أَن يَهدِيَنِ رَبّي لِأَقرَبَ مِن هـٰذا رَشَدًا

Without adding, “If God wills.” And remember your Lord when you forget, and say, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me towards better conduct than this.”

وَلَبِثوا في كَهفِهِم ثَلاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنينَ وَازدادوا تِسعًا

They remained in their cave for three hundred years, and nine more.

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعلَمُ بِما لَبِثوا ۖ لَهُ غَيبُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۖ أَبصِر بِهِ وَأَسمِع ۚ ما لَهُم مِن دونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلا يُشرِكُ في حُكمِهِ أَحَدًا

Say, “God knows best how long they stayed.” His are the mysteries of the heavens and the earth. His sight is perfect, His hearing is perfect. They have no protector against Him, and He shares His rule with no one.

وَاتلُ ما أوحِيَ إِلَيكَ مِن كِتابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دونِهِ مُلتَحَدًا

Communicate what was revealed to you from your Lord’s Scripture. None can alter His words, and you won’t find any refuge besides Him.

وَاصبِر نَفسَكَ مَعَ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَداةِ وَالعَشِيِّ يُريدونَ وَجهَهُ ۖ وَلا تَعدُ عَيناكَ عَنهُم تُريدُ زينَةَ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَلا تُطِع مَن أَغفَلنا قَلبَهُ عَن ذِكرِنا وَاتَّبَعَ هَواهُ وَكانَ أَمرُهُ فُرُطًا

Be content with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His countenance. Don’t turn your eyes away from them, desiring the splendors of this worldly life. And don’t obey him whose heart We made heedless of Our remembrance, who follows his desires, and whose affairs are in disarray.

وَقُلِ الحَقُّ مِن رَبِّكُم ۖ فَمَن شاءَ فَليُؤمِن وَمَن شاءَ فَليَكفُر ۚ إِنّا أَعتَدنا لِلظّالِمينَ نارًا أَحاطَ بِهِم سُرادِقُها ۚ وَإِن يَستَغيثوا يُغاثوا بِماءٍ كَالمُهلِ يَشوِي الوُجوهَ ۚ بِئسَ الشَّرابُ وَساءَت مُرتَفَقًا

Say, “The truth is from your Lord; let whoever wishes believe, and whoever wishes disbelieve.” We’ve prepared for the wrongdoers a fire, whose walls will enclose them. When they plead for help, they will be helped with water like molten brass, which scalds the faces. Wretched is the drink, and terrible is the resting place.

إِنَّ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ إِنّا لا نُضيعُ أَجرَ مَن أَحسَنَ عَمَلًا

As for those who believe and perform righteous deeds—We never let the reward of any such person, who does good, be wasted.

أُولـٰئِكَ لَهُم جَنّاتُ عَدنٍ تَجري مِن تَحتِهِمُ الأَنهارُ يُحَلَّونَ فيها مِن أَساوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلبَسونَ ثِيابًا خُضرًا مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِستَبرَقٍ مُتَّكِئينَ فيها عَلَى الأَرائِكِ ۚ نِعمَ الثَّوابُ وَحَسُنَت مُرتَفَقًا

They will have gardens of eternal bliss, through which rivers flow. They will be adorned with golden bracelets and wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, reclining on plush couches. Excellent is the reward, and what a splendid resting place.

وَاضرِب لَهُم مَثَلًا رَجُلَينِ جَعَلنا لِأَحَدِهِما جَنَّتَينِ مِن أَعنابٍ وَحَفَفناهُما بِنَخلٍ وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُما زَرعًا

Present to them the parable of two men: We blessed one with two vineyards, surrounded by date palms, with crops in the middle.

كِلتَا الجَنَّتَينِ آتَت أُكُلَها وَلَم تَظلِم مِنهُ شَيئًا ۚ وَفَجَّرنا خِلالَهُما نَهَرًا

Both gardens produced their full yield and never failed, and We caused a river to gush through them.

وَكانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقالَ لِصاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحاوِرُهُ أَنا أَكثَرُ مِنكَ مالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا

And he had fruit. In a conversation with his friend, he boasted, “I have more wealth and have a larger following than you.”

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظالِمٌ لِنَفسِهِ قالَ ما أَظُنُّ أَن تَبيدَ هـٰذِهِ أَبَدًا

And he entered his garden, while he wronged himself, saying, “I don’t think this will ever perish.”

وَما أَظُنُّ السّاعَةَ قائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُدِدتُ إِلىٰ رَبّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيرًا مِنها مُنقَلَبًا

“And I don’t think the Hour will ever come. And even if I’m returned to my Lord, I will surely find something better in place of it.”

قالَ لَهُ صاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرتَ بِالَّذي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُطفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوّاكَ رَجُلًا

His companion said to him while conversing with him, “Do you deny the One who created you from dust, then from a drop, and then developed you into a man?

لـٰكِنّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبّي وَلا أُشرِكُ بِرَبّي أَحَدًا

But He, God, is my Lord, and I don’t associate anyone with my Lord.

وَلَولا إِذ دَخَلتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلتَ ما شاءَ اللَّهُ لا قُوَّةَ إِلّا بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مالًا وَوَلَدًا

Why didn’t you say, when you entered into your garden, Whatever God wills, there is no strength except in God, though you see me lesser than you in wealth and children.’

فَعَسىٰ رَبّي أَن يُؤتِيَنِ خَيرًا مِن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرسِلَ عَلَيها حُسبانًا مِنَ السَّماءِ فَتُصبِحَ صَعيدًا زَلَقًا

Perhaps my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and He may send upon it a calamity from the sky, reducing it to a smooth, slippery plain.

أَو يُصبِحَ ماؤُها غَورًا فَلَن تَستَطيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا

Or its water might sink so deep into the ground—that you won’t be able to seek it.”

وَأُحيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيهِ عَلىٰ ما أَنفَقَ فيها وَهِيَ خاوِيَةٌ عَلىٰ عُروشِها وَيَقولُ يا لَيتَني لَم أُشرِك بِرَبّي أَحَدًا

And his fruits were encircled, and he started wringing his hands in regret over all that he had invested in it, while it lay in ruins on its trellises. He said, “I wish I had not associated anyone with my Lord.”

وَلَم تَكُن لَهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرونَهُ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَما كانَ مُنتَصِرًا

There was no party to assist him against God, nor was he capable of helping himself.

هُنالِكَ الوَلايَةُ لِلَّهِ الحَقِّ ۚ هُوَ خَيرٌ ثَوابًا وَخَيرٌ عُقبًا

All sovereignty belongs only to God, the Truth. He is the best at rewarding and the best at determining outcomes.

وَاضرِب لَهُم مَثَلَ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا كَماءٍ أَنزَلناهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ فَاختَلَطَ بِهِ نَباتُ الأَرضِ فَأَصبَحَ هَشيمًا تَذروهُ الرِّياحُ ۗ وَكانَ اللَّهُ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ مُقتَدِرًا

And give them an example of the life of this world: it’s like water that We send down from the sky, absorbed by the earth’s plants, and it becomes debris that the winds scatter. God has the power over all things.

المالُ وَالبَنونَ زينَةُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَالباقِياتُ الصّالِحاتُ خَيرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوابًا وَخَيرٌ أَمَلًا

Wealth and children are the embellishments of worldly life. But the enduring righteous deeds hold more outstanding merit with your Lord, both in reward and hope.

وَيَومَ نُسَيِّرُ الجِبالَ وَتَرَى الأَرضَ بارِزَةً وَحَشَرناهُم فَلَم نُغادِر مِنهُم أَحَدًا

On the Day when We set the mountains in motion, and you see the earth laid bare, We will gather them all, not leaving any of them behind.

وَعُرِضوا عَلىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَقَد جِئتُمونا كَما خَلَقناكُم أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ بَل زَعَمتُم أَلَّن نَجعَلَ لَكُم مَوعِدًا

They will be presented before your Lord: “You’ve come to Us as We created you the first time. Yet you assumed that We wouldn’t set a date for you.”

وَوُضِعَ الكِتابُ فَتَرَى المُجرِمينَ مُشفِقينَ مِمّا فيهِ وَيَقولونَ يا وَيلَتَنا مالِ هـٰذَا الكِتابِ لا يُغادِرُ صَغيرَةً وَلا كَبيرَةً إِلّا أَحصاها ۚ وَوَجَدوا ما عَمِلوا حاضِرًا ۗ وَلا يَظلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

The document will be placed, and you’ll see the guilty fearful of its contents. They will lament, “Woe to us! What kind of document is this that omits nothing, small or large, but takes it into account?” They will find everything they did present. Your Lord doesn’t wrong anyone.

وَإِذ قُلنا لِلمَلائِكَةِ اسجُدوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدوا إِلّا إِبليسَ كانَ مِنَ الجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَن أَمرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَولِياءَ مِن دوني وَهُم لَكُم عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئسَ لِلظّالِمينَ بَدَلًا

When We commanded the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam, they all did, except for Iblis. He belonged to jinn and deviated from his Lord’s command. Will you then take him and his offspring as allies, even though they are your enemies? Terrible is the exchange for the wrong-doers!

ما أَشهَدتُهُم خَلقَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ وَلا خَلقَ أَنفُسِهِم وَما كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ المُضِلّينَ عَضُدًا

I didn’t make them witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation. I don’t take misleaders as helpers.

وَيَومَ يَقولُ نادوا شُرَكائِيَ الَّذينَ زَعَمتُم فَدَعَوهُم فَلَم يَستَجيبوا لَهُم وَجَعَلنا بَينَهُم مَوبِقًا

On that Day, He will say, “Call upon those you claimed were My partners.” They will call upon them, but they won’t answer them. We put a gap between them.

وَرَأَى المُجرِمونَ النّارَ فَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم مُواقِعوها وَلَم يَجِدوا عَنها مَصرِفًا

The wrongdoers will see the Fire, and realize they are about to fall into it. They will find no deliverance from it.

وَلَقَد صَرَّفنا في هـٰذَا القُرآنِ لِلنّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكانَ الإِنسانُ أَكثَرَ شَيءٍ جَدَلًا

In this Quran, We present various parables for people, yet man is the most argumentative being.

وَما مَنَعَ النّاسَ أَن يُؤمِنوا إِذ جاءَهُمُ الهُدىٰ وَيَستَغفِروا رَبَّهُم إِلّا أَن تَأتِيَهُم سُنَّةُ الأَوَّلينَ أَو يَأتِيَهُمُ العَذابُ قُبُلًا

What prevents people from believing and seeking their Lord’s forgiveness when the guidance comes to them? Unless the precedent of the ancients comes to them, or the torment comes to them face to face?

وَما نُرسِلُ المُرسَلينَ إِلّا مُبَشِّرينَ وَمُنذِرينَ ۚ وَيُجادِلُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِالباطِلِ لِيُدحِضوا بِهِ الحَقَّ ۖ وَاتَّخَذوا آياتي وَما أُنذِروا هُزُوًا

We send messengers only as bearers of good news and as warners. Yet, those who disbelieve argue with falsehood to defeat the truth, and they treat My signs and warnings as a joke.

وَمَن أَظلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآياتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعرَضَ عَنها وَنَسِيَ ما قَدَّمَت يَداهُ ۚ إِنّا جَعَلنا عَلىٰ قُلوبِهِم أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفقَهوهُ وَفي آذانِهِم وَقرًا ۖ وَإِن تَدعُهُم إِلَى الهُدىٰ فَلَن يَهتَدوا إِذًا أَبَدًا

Who is more unjust than the one who, when reminded of his Lord’s verses, turns away from them, and forgets what his hands have put forth? We place covers over their hearts, so they don’t understand it, and deafness in their ears. Even if you call them to guidance, they will never be guided at all.

وَرَبُّكَ الغَفورُ ذُو الرَّحمَةِ ۖ لَو يُؤاخِذُهُم بِما كَسَبوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ العَذابَ ۚ بَل لَهُم مَوعِدٌ لَن يَجِدوا مِن دونِهِ مَوئِلًا

Your Lord is All-Forgiving, Full of Mercy. If He were to call them to account for what they’ve earned, He would accelerate their punishment. But they have an appointed time from which they will find no escape.

وَتِلكَ القُرىٰ أَهلَكناهُم لَمّا ظَلَموا وَجَعَلنا لِمَهلِكِهِم مَوعِدًا

And those cities—We destroyed them when they wronged, and We set a fixed time for their destruction.

وَإِذ قالَ موسىٰ لِفَتاهُ لا أَبرَحُ حَتّىٰ أَبلُغَ مَجمَعَ البَحرَينِ أَو أَمضِيَ حُقُبًا

When Moses said to his young servant, “I won’t give up until I reach the junction of the two seas, even if it takes me a long time.”

فَلَمّا بَلَغا مَجمَعَ بَينِهِما نَسِيا حوتَهُما فَاتَّخَذَ سَبيلَهُ فِي البَحرِ سَرَبًا

But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, which took its course into the sea, slipping away.

فَلَمّا جاوَزا قالَ لِفَتاهُ آتِنا غَداءَنا لَقَد لَقينا مِن سَفَرِنا هـٰذا نَصَبًا

As they journeyed, he told his companion, “Bring us our lunch; we’ve experienced hardship on this journey.”

قالَ أَرَأَيتَ إِذ أَوَينا إِلَى الصَّخرَةِ فَإِنّي نَسيتُ الحوتَ وَما أَنسانيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيطانُ أَن أَذكُرَهُ ۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبيلَهُ فِي البَحرِ عَجَبًا

He replied, “Do you see when we rested by the rock? I forgot about the fish. Only Satan made me forget to remember it. Amazingly, it made its way into the sea.”

قالَ ذٰلِكَ ما كُنّا نَبغِ ۚ فَارتَدّا عَلىٰ آثارِهِما قَصَصًا

He said, “That’s what we were seeking!” So they returned following their footsteps.

فَوَجَدا عَبدًا مِن عِبادِنا آتَيناهُ رَحمَةً مِن عِندِنا وَعَلَّمناهُ مِن لَدُنّا عِلمًا

Then they came across one of Our servants, to whom We had given mercy from Us and taught knowledge from Us.

قالَ لَهُ موسىٰ هَل أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمّا عُلِّمتَ رُشدًا

Moses asked him, “May I follow you, so that you may teach me some of the righteousness you were taught?”

قالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِيَ صَبرًا

He answered, “You won’t be able to endure with me patiently.

وَكَيفَ تَصبِرُ عَلىٰ ما لَم تُحِط بِهِ خُبرًا

How could you endure things that you don’t understand?”

قالَ سَتَجِدُني إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ صابِرًا وَلا أَعصي لَكَ أَمرًا

He responded, “If God wills, you’ll find me patient, and I won’t disobey any of your instructions.”

قالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعتَني فَلا تَسأَلني عَن شَيءٍ حَتّىٰ أُحدِثَ لَكَ مِنهُ ذِكرًا

He said, “If you follow me, then don’t question me about anything until I choose to explain it to you.”

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا رَكِبا فِي السَّفينَةِ خَرَقَها ۖ قالَ أَخَرَقتَها لِتُغرِقَ أَهلَها لَقَد جِئتَ شَيئًا إِمرًا

They set out, until, when they boarded the boat, he made a hole in it. He exclaimed, “Did you make a hole in it to drown its passengers? You did a strange thing!”

قالَ أَلَم أَقُل إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِيَ صَبرًا

He replied, “Didn’t I tell you that you couldn’t be patient with me?”

قالَ لا تُؤاخِذني بِما نَسيتُ وَلا تُرهِقني مِن أَمري عُسرًا

He responded, “Don’t reprimand me for forgetting, and don’t be harsh with me.”

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا لَقِيا غُلامًا فَقَتَلَهُ قالَ أَقَتَلتَ نَفسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيرِ نَفسٍ لَقَد جِئتَ شَيئًا نُكرًا

They journeyed on. Upon encountering a boy, he killed him. He questioned, “Did you kill an innocent soul who hadn’t taken another’s life? You did a terrible thing!”

قالَ أَلَم أَقُل لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِيَ صَبرًا

He replied, “Didn’t I tell you that you couldn’t be patient with me?”

قالَ إِن سَأَلتُكَ عَن شَيءٍ بَعدَها فَلا تُصاحِبني ۖ قَد بَلَغتَ مِن لَدُنّي عُذرًا

He said, “If I ask you about anything after this, don’t keep me in your company. You’ve already received enough excuses from me.”

فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا أَتَيا أَهلَ قَريَةٍ استَطعَما أَهلَها فَأَبَوا أَن يُضَيِّفوهُما فَوَجَدا فيها جِدارًا يُريدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقامَهُ ۖ قالَ لَو شِئتَ لَاتَّخَذتَ عَلَيهِ أَجرًا

They journeyed on. Upon reaching a town, they asked its residents for food, but they denied them hospitality. There, they found a wall that was about to collapse, and he repaired it. He commented, “If you had wished, you could’ve demanded a wage for it.”

قالَ هـٰذا فِراقُ بَيني وَبَينِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأويلِ ما لَم تَستَطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا

He said, “This is where we part ways. I am going to make known to you the interpretation of those things over which you couldn’t hold patience.

أَمَّا السَّفينَةُ فَكانَت لِمَساكينَ يَعمَلونَ فِي البَحرِ فَأَرَدتُ أَن أَعيبَها وَكانَ وَراءَهُم مَلِكٌ يَأخُذُ كُلَّ سَفينَةٍ غَصبًا

As for the boat, it belonged to poor people who worked at sea. I intended to damage it because a king was approaching who was seizing every boat by force.

وَأَمَّا الغُلامُ فَكانَ أَبَواهُ مُؤمِنَينِ فَخَشينا أَن يُرهِقَهُما طُغيانًا وَكُفرًا

As for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared he would overburden them with transgression and disbelief.

فَأَرَدنا أَن يُبدِلَهُما رَبُّهُما خَيرًا مِنهُ زَكاةً وَأَقرَبَ رُحمًا

So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange someone better in purity and closer in mercy.

وَأَمَّا الجِدارُ فَكانَ لِغُلامَينِ يَتيمَينِ فِي المَدينَةِ وَكانَ تَحتَهُ كَنزٌ لَهُما وَكانَ أَبوهُما صالِحًا فَأَرادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبلُغا أَشُدَّهُما وَيَستَخرِجا كَنزَهُما رَحمَةً مِن رَبِّكَ ۚ وَما فَعَلتُهُ عَن أَمري ۚ ذٰلِكَ تَأويلُ ما لَم تَسطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا

As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and beneath it was a treasure that was theirs. Their father was righteous, and your Lord intended for them to reach maturity and retrieve their treasure. I didn’t act of my own accord. This is the interpretation of that over which you couldn’t be patient.”

وَيَسأَلونَكَ عَن ذِي القَرنَينِ ۖ قُل سَأَتلو عَلَيكُم مِنهُ ذِكرًا

They ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, “I will narrate a portion of his story to you.”

إِنّا مَكَّنّا لَهُ فِي الأَرضِ وَآتَيناهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ سَبَبًا

We established him on earth, and We provided him with a means to do all things.

فَأَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

He then continued his journey.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَغرِبَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَغرُبُ في عَينٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَها قَومًا ۗ قُلنا يا ذَا القَرنَينِ إِمّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فيهِم حُسنًا

Upon reaching the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a vast muddy spring, and he found people there. We said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, you can either punish or treat them with kindness.”

قالَ أَمّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذابًا نُكرًا

He answered, “As for those who commit wrongdoings, we will punish them. Then, they will be returned to their Lord, subjecting them to an even more severe punishment.

وَأَمّا مَن آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحًا فَلَهُ جَزاءً الحُسنىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقولُ لَهُ مِن أَمرِنا يُسرًا

However, those who believe and perform righteous deeds will receive the finest rewards, we will command them in an easy way.”

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

He then continued on his way.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَطلِعَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَطلُعُ عَلىٰ قَومٍ لَم نَجعَل لَهُم مِن دونِها سِترًا

Upon reaching the rising point of the sun, he found it rising over a people for whom We had not provided any form of protection against it.

كَذٰلِكَ وَقَد أَحَطنا بِما لَدَيهِ خُبرًا

We had full knowledge of what he encountered during his journey.

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Subsequently, he embarked on another expedition.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ بَينَ السَّدَّينِ وَجَدَ مِن دونِهِما قَومًا لا يَكادونَ يَفقَهونَ قَولًا

Upon reaching a pass between two mountains, he encountered people who could hardly understand any language.

قالوا يا ذَا القَرنَينِ إِنَّ يَأجوجَ وَمَأجوجَ مُفسِدونَ فِي الأَرضِ فَهَل نَجعَلُ لَكَ خَرجًا عَلىٰ أَن تَجعَلَ بَينَنا وَبَينَهُم سَدًّا

They implored, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, Gog, and Magog are wreaking havoc in the land; could we possibly compensate you to build a barrier between us and them?’

قالَ ما مَكَّنّي فيهِ رَبّي خَيرٌ فَأَعينوني بِقُوَّةٍ أَجعَل بَينَكُم وَبَينَهُم رَدمًا

He replied, “The strength my Lord has granted me is sufficient. Assist me, and I will erect a fortification between you and them.”

آتوني زُبَرَ الحَديدِ ۖ حَتّىٰ إِذا ساوىٰ بَينَ الصَّدَفَينِ قالَ انفُخوا ۖ حَتّىٰ إِذا جَعَلَهُ نارًا قالَ آتوني أُفرِغ عَلَيهِ قِطرًا

“Bring me blocks of iron.” Once he had filled the space between the two sides, he said, “Light it up!” Once it was red-hot, he directed, “Bring me molten copper to pour over it.”

فَمَا اسطاعوا أَن يَظهَروهُ وَمَا استَطاعوا لَهُ نَقبًا

As a result, they were unable to climb it or to tunnel through it.

قالَ هـٰذا رَحمَةٌ مِن رَبّي ۖ فَإِذا جاءَ وَعدُ رَبّي جَعَلَهُ دَكّاءَ ۖ وَكانَ وَعدُ رَبّي حَقًّا

He declared, “This is a mercy from my Lord. However, when my Lord’s promise is fulfilled, He will reduce it to rubble. The promise of my Lord is always true.”

وَتَرَكنا بَعضَهُم يَومَئِذٍ يَموجُ في بَعضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصّورِ فَجَمَعناهُم جَمعًا

On that Day, We will let them surge like waves into each other. Then the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather them all together.

وَعَرَضنا جَهَنَّمَ يَومَئِذٍ لِلكافِرينَ عَرضًا

On that Day, We will expose Hell in full view for the unbelievers.

الَّذينَ كانَت أَعيُنُهُم في غِطاءٍ عَن ذِكري وَكانوا لا يَستَطيعونَ سَمعًا

Those whose eyes were covered from My remembrance, and were unable to hear.

أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا أَن يَتَّخِذوا عِبادي مِن دوني أَولِياءَ ۚ إِنّا أَعتَدنا جَهَنَّمَ لِلكافِرينَ نُزُلًا

Do those who disbelieve presume they can take My servants as protectors instead of Me? We prepared Hell as a reception for the unbelievers.

قُل هَل نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالأَخسَرينَ أَعمالًا

Say, “Shall we inform you of who will be the greatest losers in respect to their deeds?”

الَّذينَ ضَلَّ سَعيُهُم فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَهُم يَحسَبونَ أَنَّهُم يُحسِنونَ صُنعًا

“Those whose efforts in this worldly life are misguided, while they assume themselves to be doing well in work.”

أُولـٰئِكَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِآياتِ رَبِّهِم وَلِقائِهِ فَحَبِطَت أَعمالُهُم فَلا نُقيمُ لَهُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ وَزنًا

These are the ones who denied their Lord’s signs and the meeting with Him. Therefore, their deeds are worthless, and We won’t assign any weight to them on Resurrection Day.

ذٰلِكَ جَزاؤُهُم جَهَنَّمُ بِما كَفَروا وَاتَّخَذوا آياتي وَرُسُلي هُزُوًا

Their compensation will be Hell, because of their disbelief and mockery of My verses and messengers.

إِنَّ الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ كانَت لَهُم جَنّاتُ الفِردَوسِ نُزُلًا

As for those who believe and perform righteous deeds, they will have the Gardens of Paradise as their place of hospitality.

خالِدينَ فيها لا يَبغونَ عَنها حِوَلًا

There, they will reside eternally, with no desire for relocation.

قُل لَو كانَ البَحرُ مِدادًا لِكَلِماتِ رَبّي لَنَفِدَ البَحرُ قَبلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِماتُ رَبّي وَلَو جِئنا بِمِثلِهِ مَدَدًا

Say, “If the ocean were ink for my Lord’s words, the ocean would run out, before my Lord’s words run out,” even if we replenished it with another like it.

قُل إِنَّما أَنا بَشَرٌ مِثلُكُم يوحىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّما إِلـٰهُكُم إِلـٰهٌ واحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كانَ يَرجو لِقاءَ رَبِّهِ فَليَعمَل عَمَلًا صالِحًا وَلا يُشرِك بِعِبادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

Say, “I am only a human like you, revealed to me that your God is One God. Whoever is hopeful for the meeting with his Lord, let him act righteously, and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”