سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 17
۞ وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And you might have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the midst of the Cave. That is (one) of the Ayât (proofs, evidence, signs) of Allâh. He whom Allâh guides, he is the rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no Walî (guiding friend) to lead him (to the right Path).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَتَرَى
watarā
And you (might) have seen
ٱلشَّمْسَ
l-shamsa
the sun
إِذَا
idhā
when
طَلَعَت
ṭalaʿat
it rose
تَّزَٰوَرُ
tazāwaru
inclining away
عَن
ʿan
from
كَهْفِهِمْ
kahfihim
their cave
ذَاتَ
dhāta
to
ٱلْيَمِينِ
l-yamīni
the right
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
and when
غَرَبَت
gharabat
it set
تَّقْرِضُهُمْ
taqriḍuhum
passing away from them
ذَاتَ
dhāta
to
ٱلشِّمَالِ
l-shimāli
the left
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
فِى
fī
(lay) in
فَجْوَةٍۢ
fajwatin
the open space
مِّنْهُ ۚ
min'hu
thereof
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
مِنْ
min
(was) from
ءَايَـٰتِ
āyāti
(the) Signs
ٱللَّهِ ۗ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
مَن
man
Whoever
يَهْدِ
yahdi
Allah guides
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah guides
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
and he
ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ
l-muh'tadi
(is) the guided one
وَمَن
waman
and whoever
يُضْلِلْ
yuḍ'lil
He lets go astray
فَلَن
falan
then never
تَجِدَ
tajida
you will find
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
وَلِيًّۭا
waliyyan
a protector
مُّرْشِدًۭا
mur'shidan
a guide
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
17. You would have seen the sun, when it rose, inclining away from their cave to the right, and when it set, passing away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space of the cave [15]. This is one of the signs of Allah [16]. Whomever Allah guides, he is rightly guided; but whomever He lets go astray, you will never find for him a protecting guide.
[15]
The Location of the Cave and the Circulation of Air:
The mouth of this cave was towards the north, and on the other side there were some small holes, but they were so narrow that a person could not pass through them. In this way, there was also circulation of air in the cave, and from time to time sunlight and sunshine would also reach inside. However, since its entrance was towards the north, they were completely protected from the intensity and heat of the sun. The amount of fresh air or oxygen needed for breathing was also being provided to them, and as much sunlight as was necessary for health would also reach inside through the small holes.
[16] That is, Allah Almighty guiding these monotheists to such a cave and then making them sleep for centuries—these matters are related to the perfect power of Allah Almighty. In this way, Allah kept them steadfast on the path of guidance. No doubt, whoever resolves to remain firm on the path of guidance, Allah creates a way for him by which his difficulty is made easy.
[15]
The Location of the Cave and the Circulation of Air:
The mouth of this cave was towards the north, and on the other side there were some small holes, but they were so narrow that a person could not pass through them. In this way, there was also circulation of air in the cave, and from time to time sunlight and sunshine would also reach inside. However, since its entrance was towards the north, they were completely protected from the intensity and heat of the sun. The amount of fresh air or oxygen needed for breathing was also being provided to them, and as much sunlight as was necessary for health would also reach inside through the small holes.
[16] That is, Allah Almighty guiding these monotheists to such a cave and then making them sleep for centuries—these matters are related to the perfect power of Allah Almighty. In this way, Allah kept them steadfast on the path of guidance. No doubt, whoever resolves to remain firm on the path of guidance, Allah creates a way for him by which his difficulty is made easy.
