مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا 3
Translations
In which they will remain forever
Transliteration
Maa kitheen feehi abada
Tafsir (Explanation)
This phrase means 'remaining therein forever,' referring to the people of the Cave who will dwell in Paradise eternally as a reward for their faith and steadfastness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this denotes the permanent, unending nature of their abode in Paradise, emphasizing Allah's promise of eternal reward for those who sacrifice for their deen. The word 'abada' (forever/eternally) underscores the Islamic concept that righteous deeds yield everlasting consequences in the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Kahf, a Meccan surah revealed to strengthen the hearts of believers facing persecution. The broader context (18:1-3) praises Allah and warns against false deities, while setting up the narrative of the People of the Cave as an example of believers who fled persecution for their faith, making their eternal reward in Paradise a powerful message of hope for the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 4476) where the Prophet ﷺ described the permanence of Paradise: 'In it [Paradise] is what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever conceived.' This reinforces the ayah's emphasis on the eternal and incomparable nature of the believer's reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that sacrificing worldly comfort and security for one's faith yields eternal, incomparable rewards that last forever. It encourages steadfastness during trials by connecting present hardship to permanent spiritual gain in the afterlife.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَـٰنِهِمْ ۖ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens of Pleasure.
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Wherein they abide eternally; [it is] the promise of Allāh [which is] truth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhājireen and the Anṣār and those who followed them with good conduct - Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
۞ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ سُعِدُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّكَ ۖ عَطَآءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ
And as for those who were [destined to be] prosperous, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will - a bestowal uninterrupted.