سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 13
نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًى ﴿13﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
We narrate unto you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) their story with truth: Truly they were young men who believed in their Lord (Allâh), and We increased them in guidance.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
نَّحْنُ
naḥnu
We
نَقُصُّ
naquṣṣu
narrate
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
to you
نَبَأَهُم
naba-ahum
their story
بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ
bil-ḥaqi
in truth
إِنَّهُمْ
innahum
Indeed, they (were)
فِتْيَةٌ
fit'yatun
youths
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
who believed
بِرَبِّهِمْ
birabbihim
in their Lord
وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ
wazid'nāhum
and We increased them
هُدًۭى
hudan
(in) guidance
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 13) ➊ { نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَاَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ:} From this it is understood that this incident was well-known, but many superstitions and incorrect things had become mixed into it, so it was said that We narrate to you their story in truth.
➋ { اِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ …:} The summary of the statement of Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) is that Allah Almighty stated that they were a few young men, and young people are more receptive to the truth than the elderly. That is why most of those who responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger were young. The elderly elders of the Quraysh remained on their own religion; very few of them believed. Several imams, such as Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) and others, have deduced from {’’ وَ زِدْنٰهُمْ هُدًى ‘‘} (And We increased them in guidance) that faith increases and decreases. Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned eight verses and many ahadith for this. Even after reading such clear verses and ahadith, several people insist that everyone is equal in original faith, it neither decreases nor increases, our faith and that of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Jibreel (peace be upon him) is all the same. May Allah grant them the ability to say {’’سَمِعْنَا وَ آمَنَّا‘‘ } in response to the statement of His Prophet. (Ameen)
➌ { اٰمَنُوْا بِرَبِّهِمْ :} That is, these were a few young men who belonged to the upper class of their people, as is evident from their request to bring food from the person who had the cleanest food when they sent for food. Their people and king were idol-worshipping polytheists, but these young men abandoned idolatry and came to firm and pure faith in the oneness of their Lord, and they remained steadfast upon it. For the sake of Allah, they left their relatives, wealth, and homeland and migrated, so Allah Almighty granted them even more guidance and faith.
➋ { اِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ …:} The summary of the statement of Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) is that Allah Almighty stated that they were a few young men, and young people are more receptive to the truth than the elderly. That is why most of those who responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger were young. The elderly elders of the Quraysh remained on their own religion; very few of them believed. Several imams, such as Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) and others, have deduced from {’’ وَ زِدْنٰهُمْ هُدًى ‘‘} (And We increased them in guidance) that faith increases and decreases. Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned eight verses and many ahadith for this. Even after reading such clear verses and ahadith, several people insist that everyone is equal in original faith, it neither decreases nor increases, our faith and that of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Jibreel (peace be upon him) is all the same. May Allah grant them the ability to say {’’سَمِعْنَا وَ آمَنَّا‘‘ } in response to the statement of His Prophet. (Ameen)
➌ { اٰمَنُوْا بِرَبِّهِمْ :} That is, these were a few young men who belonged to the upper class of their people, as is evident from their request to bring food from the person who had the cleanest food when they sent for food. Their people and king were idol-worshipping polytheists, but these young men abandoned idolatry and came to firm and pure faith in the oneness of their Lord, and they remained steadfast upon it. For the sake of Allah, they left their relatives, wealth, and homeland and migrated, so Allah Almighty granted them even more guidance and faith.
