سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 43
وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ﴿43﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And he had no group of men to help him against Allâh, nor could he defend (or save) himself.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَمْ
walam
And not
تَكُن
takun
was
لَّهُۥ
lahu
for him
فِئَةٌۭ
fi-atun
a group
يَنصُرُونَهُۥ
yanṣurūnahu
(to) help him
مِن
min
other than
دُونِ
dūni
other than
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كَانَ
kāna
was
مُنتَصِرًا
muntaṣiran
(he) supported
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 43){وَ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَّهٗ فِئَةٌ …: ’’ مُنْتَصِرًا ‘‘ } is also "the one who takes revenge" and "the one who saves himself," that is, when the punishment came, he had no group to help him besides Allah, nor was he himself able to save himself. One meaning of {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘ } is the one that has passed in the translation. Zamakhshari and many commentators have given this meaning, that is, "at that time, besides Allah," there was no one to save him, but he had already angered Him.
The second meaning of {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} is that then "against Allah," he had no group that could come to his aid... Many commentators have also given this meaning. Whenever any disbeliever faces this situation, at that time, being disappointed and helpless from all sides, he turns to Allah, but by then the time has passed and his faith does not benefit him, just as Pharaoh believed at the time of drowning. For details, see Yunus (90 to 92). When the opponents of the Prophets (peace be upon them) saw Allah's punishment, they said, "We have believed in Allah alone." (See Mu’min: 84) And regarding Qarun, Allah Almighty has used exactly the same words as He used for the person in the story under commentary, He said: «فَخَسَفْنَا بِهٖ وَ بِدَارِهِ الْاَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهٗ مِنْ فِئَةٍ يَّنْصُرُوْنَهٗ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ وَ مَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنْتَصِرِيْنَ » [ القصص : ۸۱ ] "So We caused him and his house to sink into the earth, and he had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he among those who could save themselves." But the faith of none of them benefited them.
The second meaning of {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} is that then "against Allah," he had no group that could come to his aid... Many commentators have also given this meaning. Whenever any disbeliever faces this situation, at that time, being disappointed and helpless from all sides, he turns to Allah, but by then the time has passed and his faith does not benefit him, just as Pharaoh believed at the time of drowning. For details, see Yunus (90 to 92). When the opponents of the Prophets (peace be upon them) saw Allah's punishment, they said, "We have believed in Allah alone." (See Mu’min: 84) And regarding Qarun, Allah Almighty has used exactly the same words as He used for the person in the story under commentary, He said: «فَخَسَفْنَا بِهٖ وَ بِدَارِهِ الْاَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهٗ مِنْ فِئَةٍ يَّنْصُرُوْنَهٗ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ وَ مَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنْتَصِرِيْنَ » [ القصص : ۸۱ ] "So We caused him and his house to sink into the earth, and he had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he among those who could save themselves." But the faith of none of them benefited them.
