وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا 18
Translations
And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror.
Transliteration
Wa tahsabuhum ayqazan wa hum ruqud. Wa nuqallibuhum dhata al-yameen wa dhata al-shimal. Wa kalbuhum basitun dhiraaʿayhi bil-wasid. Law ittalaʿta ʿalayhim lawallayta minhum firara wa lamalliʾta minhum ruʿba.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the miraculous state of the Companions of the Cave (Ashab al-Kahf), who appeared awake with their eyes open despite being in deep sleep, divinely preserved by Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Allah turned their bodies side to side to prevent decomposition and maintain their flesh, while their dog stretched its paws at the cave entrance as a guardian. The verse conveys that had an observer witnessed their state directly, they would have fled in terror at the supernatural sight, yet the sleepers were protected by divine will.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Kahf's narrative of the Young Men of the Cave (verses 9-26), a Meccan surah revealed during early Islam to strengthen believers' faith in resurrection and divine protection. The story addresses polytheists' doubts about resurrection and God's power, illustrating how Allah miraculously preserves life across centuries.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned the Companions of the Cave as one of the greatest marvels: 'The greatest marvels are three: the Companions of the Cave, the man with the inscription on his forehead (Dhul-Qarnayn), and Moses' (Tirmidhi reports related accounts). Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet recommended reciting Surah Al-Kahf for protection and blessing.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's protection transcends natural laws—believers persecuted for their faith can trust in divine care that may operate beyond human comprehension. For modern readers, it reinforces reliance on Allah (tawakkul) during trials, reminding us that apparent helplessness before worldly power does not diminish God's absolute authority and ability to deliver His servants through means we cannot foresee.
Related Ayahs
فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا
And they found a servant from among Our servants [i.e., al-Khiḍr] to whom We had given mercy from Us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.
۞ 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
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.
وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allāh willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allāh'? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children,
۞ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا
[Al-Khiḍr] said, "Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?"