۞ وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا 17
Translations
And [had you been present], you would see the sun when it rose, inclining away from their cave on the right, and when it set, passing away from them on the left, while they were [lying] within an open space thereof. That was from the signs of Allāh. He whom Allāh guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He sends astray - never will you find for him a protecting guide.
Transliteration
Wa tara ash-shamsa idha tala'at tazawaru 'an kahfihim dhat al-yameen wa idha gharabat taqriduhum dhat ash-shimal wa hum fi fajwatin minhu. Dhaalika min ayat Allah. Man yahdi Allah fahuwa al-muhtad wa man yudhlil falan tajida lahu waliyyan murshida.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the miraculous placement of the Cave of the Sleepers, positioned such that the sun never directly enters it—when the sun rises to the right, it veers away, and when it sets to the left, it avoids striking them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a divine sign (ayah) protecting the youths from the sun's harmful rays during their long sleep, demonstrating Allah's care and preservation. The ayah concludes with a reminder that guidance comes solely from Allah, and whoever He leaves astray will find no guide to set them right.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Kahf, a Meccan surah that addresses the story of Ashab al-Kahf (the Companions of the Cave), youths who fled persecution for their faith and were miraculously preserved in sleep for centuries. The surah emphasizes divine signs and protection for the believers, with this particular verse highlighting the physical preservation of the cave as evidence of Allah's power and guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned that Surah Al-Kahf protects from the trials of Dajjal (Antichrist). Additionally, hadiths encourage reciting this surah on Fridays for spiritual protection and guidance, emphasizing the theme of divine guidance mentioned in verse 18:17 (Jami' at-Tirmidhi and others).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's signs are manifest in creation and in the protection He grants to those who have faith and righteousness; believers should recognize these divine interventions and trust that true guidance comes exclusively from Allah, with no other source of direction or protection available to those He does not guide.