سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ

Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 18

The Cave · Meccan · Juz 15 · Page 295

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اُردوEn
وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا ﴿18﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And you would have thought them awake, whereas they were asleep. And We turned them on their right and on their left sides, and their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance [of the Cave or in the space near to the entrance of the Cave (as a guard at the gate)]. Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ wataḥsabuhum And you (would) think them
أَيْقَاظًۭا ayqāẓan awake
وَهُمْ wahum while they
رُقُودٌۭ ۚ ruqūdun (were) asleep
وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ wanuqallibuhum And We turned them
ذَاتَ dhāta to
ٱلْيَمِينِ l-yamīni the right
وَذَاتَ wadhāta and to
ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ l-shimāli the left
وَكَلْبُهُم wakalbuhum while their dog
بَـٰسِطٌۭ bāsiṭun stretched
ذِرَاعَيْهِ dhirāʿayhi his two forelegs
بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ bil-waṣīdi at the entrance
لَوِ lawi If
ٱطَّلَعْتَ iṭṭalaʿta you had looked
عَلَيْهِمْ ʿalayhim at them
لَوَلَّيْتَ lawallayta you (would) have surely turned back
مِنْهُمْ min'hum from them
فِرَارًۭا firāran (in) flight
وَلَمُلِئْتَ walamuli'ta and surely you would have been filled
مِنْهُمْ min'hum by them
رُعْبًۭا ruʿ'ban (with) terror

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 18) ➊ { وَ تَحْسَبُهُمْ اَيْقَاظًا وَّ هُمْ رُقُوْدٌ : ’’ اَيْقَاظًا ‘‘} is the plural of {’’يَقِظٌ‘‘} and {’’ رُقُوْدٌ ‘‘} is the plural of {’’رَاقِدٌ‘‘}, meaning this is a wondrous manifestation of Allah Almighty’s power that if you were to see them, you would think they are awake, although they are asleep; that is, due to their eyes being open while sleeping and their turning from side to side, you would think they are awake. And We turn them to the right and to the left, so that the earth does not consume their bodies by lying on one side for too long, and their dog is stretching out its two forelegs at the threshold, as if standing guard. Their lying in such a way in a secluded cave and the dog sitting at the threshold presented such a terrifying scene that if anyone even tried to peek inside, he would flee in fear. All this was Allah Almighty’s arrangement to keep them resting in peace for a long period.

➋ The reason for the dog sitting at the threshold and not entering the cave seems to be that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيْهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ تَصَاوِيْرُ ] [ بخاری، اللباس، باب التصاویر : ۵۹۴۹ ] “The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.” However, it is permissible to keep a dog for farming, protecting livestock, and for hunting.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

18. 1 Ayqaz is the plural of yaqiz, and ruqud is the plural of raqid. They appeared awake because their eyes were open, just like a person who is awake. Some say that due to frequently changing sides, they appeared to be awake.
18. 2 So that their bodies would not be consumed by the earth.
18. 3 This was an arrangement from Allah for their protection so that no one could come near them.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

18. (O listener, if you had seen them) you would have thought they were awake, though they were [17] asleep. We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched out its forelegs at the entrance of the cave. If you had looked at them, you would have surely fled from them in terror.

[17]
The Eyes of the Sleepers and the Guard Dog Also Remained Open:

Although these people were under the influence of deep sleep, their eyes remained open, which would make an onlooker suspect that they were awake and not asleep. Then, at the mouth of the cave, their guard dog was also sitting in such a manner as dogs sit when they are awake. Its eyes were also open, and if anyone passed by, it would seem to them as if some robbers were hiding inside the cave and this dog was guarding them. If anyone approached them, this dog would come to tear and bite, and at its bark, its master might be alerted and possibly attack. In other words, it was such a terrifying scene and impression that no one would dare to go near, and during this long period of sleep, their condition was exactly as it is with a person sleeping in a normal state, and as needed and according to the body's requirement, in sleep, they would turn from right to left and from left to right.
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