سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ

Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 86

The Cave · Meccan · Juz 16 · Page 303

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حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِى عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا ۗ قُلْنَا يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّآ أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّآ أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا ﴿86﴾

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

Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allâh) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

حَتَّىٰٓ ḥattā Until
إِذَا idhā when
بَلَغَ balagha he reached
مَغْرِبَ maghriba (the) setting place
ٱلشَّمْسِ l-shamsi (of) the sun
وَجَدَهَا wajadahā he found it
تَغْرُبُ taghrubu setting
فِى fī in
عَيْنٍ ʿaynin a spring
حَمِئَةٍۢ ḥami-atin (of) dark mud
وَوَجَدَ wawajada and he found
عِندَهَا ʿindahā near it
قَوْمًۭا ۗ qawman a community
قُلْنَا qul'nā We said
يَـٰذَا yādhā O Dhul-qarnain
ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ l-qarnayni O Dhul-qarnain
إِمَّآ immā Either
أَن an [that]
تُعَذِّبَ tuʿadhiba you punish
وَإِمَّآ wa-immā or
أَن an [that]
تَتَّخِذَ tattakhidha you take
فِيهِمْ fīhim [in] them
حُسْنًۭا ḥus'nan (with) goodness

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.

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

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.

86. 1. By "Ayn" is meant a spring or sea. "Hami'ah" means muddy, swampy, found (was found), i.e., shown, felt. The meaning is that when Dhul-Qarnayn, conquering land after land in the western direction, reached the place where the last settlement was, there was a spring or sea of muddy water, which appeared black from below. It seemed to him as if the sun was setting in that spring. To those observing the sunset from the seashore, far away, where there is nothing beyond as far as the eye can see, it appears as if the sun is setting into the sea or the earth, although it actually remains in its place in the sky.

86. 2. "Qulna" (We said) — by means of revelation. From this, some scholars have deduced proof of prophethood, and those who do not accept his prophethood say that We said this to him through the prophet of that time.

86. 3. That is, We gave him dominance over this nation, granting him authority to kill them, take them captive, or release them as a favor by taking ransom.

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.

86. Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. We said: "O Dhul-Qarnayn! You have the option either to punish them [72.1] or to treat them kindly."

[72۔ 1]
The First Expedition of Dhul-Qarnayn to the West:

His first journey was to the westernmost boundary of his kingdom, that is, the farthest limit of Asia Minor, beyond which lies the sea where the Aegean Sea takes the form of small bays. Upon reaching there, it appeared to Dhul-Qarnayn as if the sun was setting in a dark, muddy body of water. There, the people whom Dhul-Qarnayn encountered were ignorant and disbelieving. Allah Almighty gave Dhul-Qarnayn the authority to either kill them, adopt a harsh attitude, or invite them to become obedient to Allah and treat them gently.
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