سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ

Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 25

The Cave · Meccan · Juz 15 · Page 296

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وَلَبِثُوا۟ فِى كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَـٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍ سِنِينَ وَٱزْدَادُوا۟ تِسْعًا ﴿25﴾

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

And they stayed in their Cave three hundred (solar) years, adding nine (for lunar years). (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi)

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَلَبِثُوا۟ walabithū And they remained
فِى fī in
كَهْفِهِمْ kahfihim their cave
ثَلَـٰثَ thalātha (for) three
مِا۟ئَةٍۢ mi-atin hundred
سِنِينَ sinīna years
وَٱزْدَادُوا۟ wa-iz'dādū and add
تِسْعًۭا tis'ʿan nine

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 25){وَ لَبِثُوْا فِيْ كَهْفِهِمْ …:} Some commentators have stated that Allah Almighty mentioned the nine years separately because if the years were solar, then it would be three hundred years, and if lunar, then their period of stay would be three hundred and nine years. These scholars say that if this were not the case, then {’’ثَلاَثَ مِائَةٍ وَ تِسْعَ سِنِيْنَ‘‘} (that is, three hundred and nine years) would have been sufficient and concise. However, the reality is that there is no evidence for this difference between solar and lunar. The reason for mentioning the nine years separately is the endings of the verses (the final words), which creates beauty in the speech, and in terms of eloquence, the difference between the words of the Qur’an between {’’ ثَلٰثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِيْنَ وَ ازْدَادُوْا تِسْعًا ‘‘} and {’’ ثَلاَثَ مِائَةٍ وَ تِسْعَ سِنِيْنَ ‘‘} is like that of earth and sky. The rule of eloquence is that sometimes there is beauty in brevity and sometimes in elaboration. Therefore, their period of stay was three hundred and nine years; if they were lunar years, then all were lunar, and if solar, then all were solar. The distinction between three hundred solar and three hundred and nine lunar is nothing but a mental fabrication. (Muhasin al-Ta’wil)

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.

25. 1. The majority of commentators have considered this to be the statement of Allah. According to the solar calendar, it amounts to three hundred years, and according to the lunar calendar, it becomes three hundred and nine years. Some scholars are of the opinion that this is the statement of those people who mention their various numbers, the evidence for which is Allah’s statement: "that Allah alone has full knowledge of their stay," which, according to them, negates the aforementioned period. But according to the majority’s interpretation, its meaning is that if the People of the Book or anyone else disagrees with the stated period, then you should say to them: Do you know better or Allah? When He has stated the period as three hundred and nine years, then this is authentic, because He alone knows how long they stayed in the cave.

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.

25. And they remained in their cave for three hundred years, and some added nine [25].

[25]
The Duration of the Sleep of the People of the Cave in the Cave:

According to those who follow the solar calendar, this duration was three hundred years, and according to those who follow the lunar calendar, it was three hundred and nine years. The period mentioned in this verse is correct in the sense that if the fractions of months and days are omitted, then three hundred solar years become three hundred and nine lunar years. But the question is whether the determination of this period is the word of Allah or the statements of people which Allah has narrated here as a quotation. The clear answer is that these are the statements of people. If this were the word of Allah, then in the next verse Allah would not have said, "Allah knows best how long they stayed (in the cave)."
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