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
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَـٰنًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
So he followed a way
أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَآؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَن تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُۥ طَلَبًا
Or its water will become sunken [into the earth], so you would never be able to seek it."
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength [i.e., manpower]; I will make between you and them a dam.