سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 26
قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا۟ ۖ لَهُۥ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ أَبْصِرْ بِهِۦ وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِى حُكْمِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا ﴿26﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say: "Allâh knows best how long they stayed. With Him is (the knowledge of) the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. How clearly He sees, and hears (everything)! They have no Walî (Helper, Disposer of affairs, Protector) other than Him, and He makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلِ
quli
Say
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
knows best
بِمَا
bimā
about what (period)
لَبِثُوا۟ ۖ
labithū
they remained
لَهُۥ
lahu
For Him
غَيْبُ
ghaybu
(is the) unseen
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
أَبْصِرْ
abṣir
How clearly He sees
بِهِۦ
bihi
[of it]
وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ
wa-asmiʿ
And how clearly He hears
مَا
mā
Not
لَهُم
lahum
for them
مِّن
min
besides Him
دُونِهِۦ
dūnihi
besides Him
مِن
min
any
وَلِىٍّۢ
waliyyin
protector
وَلَا
walā
and not
يُشْرِكُ
yush'riku
He shares
فِى
fī
[in]
حُكْمِهِۦٓ
ḥuk'mihi
His Commands
أَحَدًۭا
aḥadan
(with) anyone
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 26) ➊ {قُلِ اللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوْا …:} That is, if the People of the Book disagree with you regarding this period, then say to them that Allah’s knowledge is greater than yours, therefore the period He has mentioned is the authentic one, your statement is not to be considered.
➋ { لَهٗ غَيْبُ السَّمٰوٰتِ …:} This is proof of Allah being {’’ اَعْلَمُ ‘‘}, that the unseen of the heavens and the earth is only with Him. As for knowledge through seeing and hearing, how well He sees and how well He hears, this can be wondered at but cannot be expressed in words. So then, is His statement correct or theirs, who are devoid of these attributes? Their condition is that they have no helper besides Him, and His status is that He does not include anyone in His decision.
➋ { لَهٗ غَيْبُ السَّمٰوٰتِ …:} This is proof of Allah being {’’ اَعْلَمُ ‘‘}, that the unseen of the heavens and the earth is only with Him. As for knowledge through seeing and hearing, how well He sees and how well He hears, this can be wondered at but cannot be expressed in words. So then, is His statement correct or theirs, who are devoid of these attributes? Their condition is that they have no helper besides Him, and His status is that He does not include anyone in His decision.
