سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ

Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 79

The Cave · Meccan · Juz 16 · Page 302

أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَـٰكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًا ﴿79﴾
"As for the ship, it belonged to Masâkîn (poor people) working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was a king behind them who seized every ship by force.
أَمَّا ammā As for
ٱلسَّفِينَةُ l-safīnatu the ship
فَكَانَتْ fakānat it was
لِمَسَـٰكِينَ limasākīna of (the) poor people
يَعْمَلُونَ yaʿmalūna working
فِى in
ٱلْبَحْرِ l-baḥri the sea
فَأَرَدتُّ fa-aradttu So I intended
أَنْ an that
أَعِيبَهَا aʿībahā I cause defect (in) it
وَكَانَ wakāna (as there) was
وَرَآءَهُم warāahum after them
مَّلِكٌۭ malikun a king
يَأْخُذُ yakhudhu who seized
كُلَّ kulla every
سَفِينَةٍ safīnatin ship
غَصْبًۭا ghaṣban (by) force

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 79){ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسٰكِيْنَ …:} In this verse, despite being the owner of the boat and running it on rent, these people have been called "miskin" (needy). It is understood from this that a miskin is one whose income is less than his needs, that is, those needy people who neither ask (for help) nor does anyone know about their condition so that charity may be given to them. [ دیکھیے بخاري، الزکوٰۃ، باب قول اللہ عز و جل : « لا یسئلون الناس إلحافا…» : ۱۴۷۹۔ مسلم : ۱۰۳۹، عن أبي ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] The condition of a faqir (destitute) is worse than that of a miskin. The meaning of {’’ وَ كَانَ وَرَآءَهُمْ ‘‘} has been given by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) as "in front of them." [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب قولہ : « فلما بلغا مجمع بینھما نسیا …» : ۴۷۲۶ ]

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.

The explanation of this verse has been given along with the previous verse.

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.

79. As for the boat, it belonged to some poor people who worked on the river. I intended to damage it [67] because ahead of them was a king who seized every boat by force.

[67] That is, every good boat he would conscript for forced labor, and I thought that if this boat was taken from them, these poor people would lose their livelihood. Therefore, I broke a plank from the boat, and thus it was saved from being seized. In reality, I did good to the owners of the boat. In the end, what wrong did I do in this?