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
أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْكَهْفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا۟ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا عَجَبًا
Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you.
فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ فِى ٱلْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا
So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years.
وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَـٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth exposed, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone.