وَإِذِ ٱعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ فَأْوُۥٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا 16
Translations
[The youths said to one another], "And when you have withdrawn from them and that which they worship other than Allāh, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair facility."
Transliteration
Wa-idhi'taazaltum-oohum wa maa ya'budoon illa-Allah fa-awoo ila-al-kahf yanshur lakum rabbukum min rahmatih wa yuhayyi' lakum min amrikum mirfaqa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the speech of the young believers of the Cave as they counsel one another to withdraw from their polytheistic society and seek refuge in the cave, trusting that Allah will provide them mercy and ease their circumstances. The classical scholars, particularly Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, emphasize that this verse teaches the permissibility of hijrah (migration/withdrawal) from lands of disbelief to preserve one's faith, with the assurance that Allah will sustain those who prioritize His worship over worldly comfort.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Ashab al-Kahf (the Companions of the Cave), a Meccan surah revealed to comfort the Prophet Muhammad and early Muslims facing persecution. The broader context shows young believers strategically withdrawing from an idolatrous society, seeking divine protection and guidance—a theme particularly relevant to the early Muslim community's struggles in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The story of the Companions of the Cave is referenced in various Quranic discussions of faith and perseverance. While no single hadith directly narrates this specific ayah, the principle is supported by hadiths on hijrah and seeking refuge from oppression, such as those in Sunan Ibn Majah regarding the virtue of migration for the sake of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that protecting one's faith sometimes requires making difficult choices and withdrawals from harmful environments, with the assurance that sincere reliance on Allah brings divine mercy and practical solutions to life's challenges—a timeless principle for maintaining spiritual integrity.