إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِى مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًا 20
Translations
Indeed, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or return you to their religion. And never would you succeed, then - ever."
Transliteration
Innahum in yaz-haroo AAalaykum yarjumookum aw yuAAeedookum fee millatihim walan tuflihoo iza abada
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of the speech of the young men of the Cave warning each other about the danger of being discovered by the disbelievers of their town. They caution that if their pursuers find them, they will either stone them to death or force them to return to idolatry, and in either case, they would never succeed or find happiness. Ibn Kathir notes this reflects the severity of the threat faced by those who abandon false religion for monotheism, emphasizing both physical persecution and spiritual corruption as grave dangers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Ashab al-Kahf (the Companions of the Cave), a central story in Surah Al-Kahf. It provides the internal dialogue of the young believers as they flee persecution and seek refuge in the cave, illustrating the courage required to maintain faith against societal pressure. The broader context of Surah Al-Kahf emphasizes divine protection of the faithful during trials.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 3159 narrates that the Prophet Muhammad mentioned the story of the Companions of the Cave as one of the greatest signs of Allah's power. Additionally, hadiths on persecution for faith (such as those in Surah Al-Buruj 85:10) relate thematically to the trials described here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that maintaining faith during persecution is preferable to physical survival coupled with spiritual compromise, and that believers should trust in Allah's protection when they prioritize their religion over worldly safety.
Related Ayahs
فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
So he followed a way
قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا
He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا
In which they will remain forever
وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ذُو ٱلرَّحْمَةِ ۖ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۚ بَل لَّهُم مَّوْعِدٌ لَّن يَجِدُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَوْئِلًا
And your Lord is the Forgiving, the possessor of mercy. If He were to impose blame upon them for what they earned, He would have hastened for them the punishment. Rather, for them is an appointment from which they will never find an escape.