سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 12
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَىُّ ٱلْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوٓا۟ أَمَدًا ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then We raised them up (from their sleep), that We might test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period that they had tarried.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ
baʿathnāhum
We raised them up
لِنَعْلَمَ
linaʿlama
that We make evident
أَىُّ
ayyu
which
ٱلْحِزْبَيْنِ
l-ḥiz'bayni
(of) the two parties
أَحْصَىٰ
aḥṣā
best calculated
لِمَا
limā
for what
لَبِثُوٓا۟
labithū
(they had) remained
أَمَدًۭا
amadan
(in) time
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 meaning of (Ayah 12){ ثُمَّ بَعَثْنٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ اَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ … : ’’بَعَثَ‘‘} is to bring something stationary into motion. This word is used for reviving the dead and awakening the sleeping, that is, then We raised them, so that We might know which of the two groups among the sleepers is better at remembering the duration of their stay. This translation applies when {’’اَحْصٰى ‘‘} is considered a comparative noun, and this meaning is preferred, because from the form of باب افعال, the comparative form also comes on the pattern of {’’أَفْعَلُ‘‘}. The second meaning is in the case that {’’ اَحْصٰى ‘‘} is considered a past active verb, then the meaning will be: which of the two groups has remembered the duration they stayed. Remember that Allah Almighty has knowledge of everything past, present, and future—what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen—but it is obvious that the knowledge that a certain event has occurred can only be when that event has taken place, that is, so that We may know, according to Our knowledge, its occurrence.
