سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 16
وَإِذِ ٱعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ فَأْوُۥٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(The young men said to one another): "And when you withdraw from them, and that which they worship, except Allâh, then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will open a way for you from His Mercy and will make easy for you your affair (i.e. will give you what you will need of provision, dwelling)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذِ
wa-idhi
And when
ٱعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ
iʿ'tazaltumūhum
you withdraw from them
وَمَا
wamā
and what
يَعْبُدُونَ
yaʿbudūna
they worship
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
فَأْوُۥٓا۟
fawū
then retreat
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلْكَهْفِ
l-kahfi
the cave
يَنشُرْ
yanshur
Will spread
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
رَبُّكُم
rabbukum
your Lord
مِّن
min
of
رَّحْمَتِهِۦ
raḥmatihi
His Mercy
وَيُهَيِّئْ
wayuhayyi
and will facilitate
لَكُم
lakum
for you
مِّنْ
min
[from]
أَمْرِكُم
amrikum
your affair
مِّرْفَقًۭا
mir'faqan
(in) ease
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 16) ➊ The meaning of { وَ اِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوْهُمْ وَ مَا يَعْبُدُوْنَ …:’’ مِرْفَقًا ‘‘’’ اَلْاِرْتِفَاقُ‘‘} is to benefit, that is, any facility or ease. When neither their people nor their king accepted their invitation, they consulted among themselves that since you have separated from these people and their deities, now it is difficult to save your life or faith by staying here, so take refuge in an open cave in a mountain. As for food, drink, and other necessities of life, since you are migrating in the way of your Lord, He Himself will spread the canopy of His mercy and will provide ease for you in every matter. Allah Almighty has also promised this in the Noble Qur’an. See Surah An-Nisa (100). After making this decision through mutual consultation, they sat in an open cave in a mountain, sleep overcame them, and they slept. It is evident that when it is not possible to practice religion while living in society, then mountains are the best place for migration. Thus, our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ يُوْشِكُ أَنْ يَّكُوْنَ خَيْرَ مَالِ الْمُسْلِمِ غَنَمٌ يَتْبَعُ بِهَا شَعَفَ الْجِبَالِ، وَمَوَاقِعَ الْقَطْرِ، يَفِرُّ بِدِيْنِهِ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ ] [ بخاري، الإیمان، باب من الدین الفرار من الفتن : ۱۹، عن أبي سعید الخدری رضی اللہ عنہ ] “Soon the best wealth of a Muslim will be a few goats which he will take to the tops of mountains and places of rainfall, fleeing with his religion from tribulations.” When the disbelievers of Makkah planned to kill our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he hid for three nights in the cave of Thawr with Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and Allah Almighty kept him safe from the disbelievers. See Surah At-Tawbah (40).
➋ Some people have deduced from this the practice of seclusion, that is, separating from people, whereas the Companions of the Cave separated from the disbelievers, not from their own people; rather, they remained together among themselves. There is no room for monasticism in Islam. (Qasimi)
➋ Some people have deduced from this the practice of seclusion, that is, separating from people, whereas the Companions of the Cave separated from the disbelievers, not from their own people; rather, they remained together among themselves. There is no room for monasticism in Islam. (Qasimi)
