سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 11
فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ فِى ٱلْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Therefore We covered up their (sense of) hearing (causing them to go in deep sleep) in the Cave for a number of years.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَضَرَبْنَا
faḍarabnā
So We cast
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
over
ءَاذَانِهِمْ
ādhānihim
their ears
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْكَهْفِ
l-kahfi
the cave
سِنِينَ
sinīna
years
عَدَدًۭا
ʿadadan
a number
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 object of {فَضَرَبْنَا عَلٰۤى اٰذَانِهِمْ …:’’ فَضَرَبْنَا ‘‘} is implied, that is, {’’حِجَابًا‘‘} “So We cast a cover over their ears,” meaning We made them sleep, so that their distress and anxiety would be alleviated, because sleep is the best remedy for this, and they would also be safe from their polytheist people. This is an idiom in the Arabic language; when someone falls asleep, it is said {’’ ضُرِبَ عَلٰي آذَانِهِ ‘‘} “a cover has been cast over his ears.” Although in sleep, the eyes and other organs are also covered and they have no awareness of the outside world, it is the hearing of the ears that ceases last, and then a person falls into deep sleep. {’’ سِنِيْنَ عَدَدًا ‘‘} for a number of years, the count of which is mentioned ahead.
