سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 102
أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ عِبَادِى مِن دُونِىٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نُزُلًا ﴿102﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do then those who disbelieved think that they can take My slaves [i.e., the angels, Allâh’s Messengers, ‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)] as Auliyâ’ (lords, gods, protectors) besides Me? Verily, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَفَحَسِبَ
afaḥasiba
Do then think
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوٓا۟
kafarū
disbelieve
أَن
an
that
يَتَّخِذُوا۟
yattakhidhū
they (can) take
عِبَادِى
ʿibādī
My servants
مِن
min
besides Me
دُونِىٓ
dūnī
besides Me
أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ
awliyāa
(as) protectors
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed, We
أَعْتَدْنَا
aʿtadnā
We have prepared
جَهَنَّمَ
jahannama
Hell
لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
lil'kāfirīna
for the disbelievers
نُزُلًۭا
nuzulan
(as) a lodging
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 102) ➊ {اَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْۤا … :} The beginning of the Surah was with warning those who attribute offspring to Allah and mentioning the proclamation of monotheism by the Companions of the Cave. In the end, the same matter is repeated, that is, have these disbelievers, by making My special servants—such as the Messiah, Uzair, the Holy Spirit, and the angels, etc.—their deities, assumed that they will set them up against Me and take them as their protectors? The interrogative is negative, meaning this assumption is utterly wrong; rather, all of them will declare their disassociation from their worship and will stand as claimants against them. See Surah Maryam (82) and Ahqaf (5, 6). Although by {’’ عِبَادِيْ ‘‘} both the righteous and the wicked can be meant, because all are Allah’s servants (see Maryam: 93), but the first meaning is more authentic, because by saying “My servants,” the honor that is given is the share of only the special servants.
➋ The meaning of {اِنَّاۤ اَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ نُزُلًا : ’’ نُزُلًا ‘‘} is those things that are presented for hospitality. Hell as hospitality for the disbelievers is a mockery. One meaning of {’’ نُزُلًا ‘‘} is also “abode,” that is, We have prepared Hell as the abode for the disbelievers.
➋ The meaning of {اِنَّاۤ اَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ نُزُلًا : ’’ نُزُلًا ‘‘} is those things that are presented for hospitality. Hell as hospitality for the disbelievers is a mockery. One meaning of {’’ نُزُلًا ‘‘} is also “abode,” that is, We have prepared Hell as the abode for the disbelievers.
