فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا 97
Translations
So they [i.e., Gog and Magog] were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.
Transliteration
Fama ista'aa'u an yazharūhu wa mā istata'aw lahu naqbā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inability of Dhul-Qarnayn's people to scale or penetrate the wall he built against Gog and Magog (Ya'jūj wa Ma'jūj). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as emphasizing the impenetrability of the fortification—neither could they climb over it nor dig through it—demonstrating divine aid in constructing an insurmountable barrier. The verse illustrates how Allah grants capability to His chosen servants to accomplish great works that serve the interests of righteousness and protection of communities.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Dhul-Qarnayn narrative in Surah Al-Kahf (18:83-98), which discusses his journey and construction of a wall. The broader surah addresses tests of faith, and this story exemplifies trust in Allah's provision and wisdom. The narrative is Meccan, serving to strengthen the faith of early Muslims during persecution by highlighting divine protection and providential care.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific verse, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain traditions about Ya'jūj wa Ma'jūj (Gog and Magog) and their eschatological significance, including hadiths from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr and other companions regarding the signs of the Hour.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that when we align our efforts with righteousness and divine will, Allah grants us the ability to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks; it reminds us that obstacles to evil can be established through sincere effort combined with reliance on Allah's strength and wisdom.
Related Ayahs
أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَـٰكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًا
As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًا
Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech.
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۚ وَيُجَـٰدِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا۟ بِهِ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِى وَمَآ أُنذِرُوا۟ هُزُوًا
And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. And those who disbelieve dispute by [using] falsehood to [attempt to] invalidate thereby the truth and have taken My verses, and that of which they are warned, in ridicule.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.