سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 97
فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا ﴿97﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So they [Ya’jûj and Ma’jûj (Gog and Magog)] could not scale it or dig through it.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَمَا
famā
So not
ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟
is'ṭāʿū
they were able
أَن
an
to
يَظْهَرُوهُ
yaẓharūhu
scale it
وَمَا
wamā
and not
ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟
is'taṭāʿū
they were able
لَهُۥ
lahu
in it
نَقْبًۭا
naqban
(to do) any penetration
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 97){ فَمَا اسْطَاعُوْۤا اَنْ يَّظْهَرُوْهُ …: ’’ اسْطَاعُوْۤا ‘‘} was originally {’’ اسْتَطَاعُوْۤا ‘‘}, the letter "tā" was omitted for ease. For climbing, the lighter word {’’ اسْطَاعُوْۤا ‘‘} was used, and for making a breach, the heavier word {’’ اسْتَطَاعُوْۤا ‘‘} was used, because climbing such a wall is easier than making a breach in it.
