سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ

Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 42

The Cave · Meccan · Juz 15 · Page 298

‹
›
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا ﴿42﴾

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

So his fruits were encircled (with ruin). And he remained clapping his hands (with sorrow) over what he had spent upon it, while it was all destroyed on its trellises, and he could only say: "Would that I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!" [Tafsir Ibn Kathîr]

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَأُحِيطَ wa-uḥīṭa And were surrounded
بِثَمَرِهِۦ bithamarihi his fruits
فَأَصْبَحَ fa-aṣbaḥa so he began
يُقَلِّبُ yuqallibu twisting
كَفَّيْهِ kaffayhi his hands
عَلَىٰ ʿalā over
مَآ mā what
أَنفَقَ anfaqa he (had) spent
فِيهَا fīhā on it
وَهِىَ wahiya while it (had)
خَاوِيَةٌ khāwiyatun collapsed
عَلَىٰ ʿalā on
عُرُوشِهَا ʿurūshihā its trellises
وَيَقُولُ wayaqūlu and he said
يَـٰلَيْتَنِى yālaytanī Oh! I wish
لَمْ lam I had not associated
أُشْرِكْ ush'rik I had not associated
بِرَبِّىٓ birabbī with my Lord
أَحَدًۭا aḥadan anyone

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 42){ وَ اُحِيْطَ بِثَمَرِهٖ …:} The literal meaning is that its fruit was encompassed, that is, all was destroyed. Thus, it happened exactly as the believer had said: at night, by Allah’s command, some calamity such as a stormy rain, a severe wave of cold, or a fire destroyed his entire garden, the grape clusters fell along with their trellises, and when morning came, nothing was left there. Allah Almighty has drawn a remarkable picture of this disbeliever, because when a sudden shock occurs, a person is initially stunned, then after regaining composure, he speaks. This polytheist too, upon seeing the state of his garden, began to turn his hands over. Two meanings can be taken from this: one is that he began to rub one hand over the other, and the other is that, out of regret and sorrow, he began to turn them over separately, lamenting, “Alas! How much money I had spent on this, not only did I lose the profit, but even the principal is gone.” Now he remembered that the believer brother’s words were true and began to say, “If only I had not associated anyone with my Lord, had not followed my own ego out of pride and arrogance, but had accepted my brother’s words and considered all my grandeur and glory as a gift from Allah alone.”

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.

42. 1 This is an allusion to destruction and annihilation. That is, the entire garden was destroyed.
42. 2 That is, he began to regret the expenses incurred on the construction, improvement, and cultivation of the garden. "Rubbing hands" is an allusion to regret.
42. 3 That is, all the trellises and roofs on which the grapevines were spread fell to the ground, and the entire grape harvest was ruined.
42. 4 Now he realized that associating anyone with Allah, benefiting from His blessings while denying His commands, and rebelling against Him in any way is not befitting for a human being. But now, there was no benefit in feeling regret and sorrow; what use is repentance after the birds have already eaten the crop?

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.

(So it happened that) his garden was surrounded by disaster, and he began wringing his hands over what he had spent on it, as it had collapsed upon its trellises [40]. Now he said: "Alas! If only I had not associated anyone with my Lord."

[40]
The Punishment of Arrogance:

Thus, the words uttered by the monotheist were so pleasing to Allah Almighty that what he said was immediately accepted, and the polytheist received the punishment for his arrogance and pride. The very trees whose fruits and produce he was rejoicing over, uttering words of disbelief, were struck by the wrath of Allah, which brought them down to the ground. Not only was the current ready crop lost, but everything he had spent on the garden was also wasted and destroyed. At that moment, wringing his hands in regret, he said, "If only I had truly considered my Lord as my Lord and the Owner of benefit and harm." While he stood there and watched with his own eyes, calamity descended upon his garden, and he could do nothing to save it. When everything was destroyed, only then did he realize that, in reality, authority over everything belongs solely to Allah. This is the example presented to the Quraysh of Makkah to make them understand, and the warning for them in this example is that if they possess wealth, honor, and leadership today, they should not look down upon others. At any time, due to their pride and arrogance, these blessings can be taken away from them, as is further clarified by the example mentioned in the next verse.
← Previous All Surahs Next →
Telegram
Facebook