سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 42
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا ﴿42﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So his fruits were encircled (with ruin). And he remained clapping his hands (with sorrow) over what he had spent upon it, while it was all destroyed on its trellises, and he could only say: "Would that I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!" [Tafsir Ibn Kathîr]
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأُحِيطَ
wa-uḥīṭa
And were surrounded
بِثَمَرِهِۦ
bithamarihi
his fruits
فَأَصْبَحَ
fa-aṣbaḥa
so he began
يُقَلِّبُ
yuqallibu
twisting
كَفَّيْهِ
kaffayhi
his hands
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
مَآ
mā
what
أَنفَقَ
anfaqa
he (had) spent
فِيهَا
fīhā
on it
وَهِىَ
wahiya
while it (had)
خَاوِيَةٌ
khāwiyatun
collapsed
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
عُرُوشِهَا
ʿurūshihā
its trellises
وَيَقُولُ
wayaqūlu
and he said
يَـٰلَيْتَنِى
yālaytanī
Oh! I wish
لَمْ
lam
I had not associated
أُشْرِكْ
ush'rik
I had not associated
بِرَبِّىٓ
birabbī
with my Lord
أَحَدًۭا
aḥadan
anyone
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.
(So it happened that) his garden was surrounded by disaster, and he began wringing his hands over what he had spent on it, as it had collapsed upon its trellises [40]. Now he said: "Alas! If only I had not associated anyone with my Lord."
[40]
The Punishment of Arrogance:
Thus, the words uttered by the monotheist were so pleasing to Allah Almighty that what he said was immediately accepted, and the polytheist received the punishment for his arrogance and pride. The very trees whose fruits and produce he was rejoicing over, uttering words of disbelief, were struck by the wrath of Allah, which brought them down to the ground. Not only was the current ready crop lost, but everything he had spent on the garden was also wasted and destroyed. At that moment, wringing his hands in regret, he said, "If only I had truly considered my Lord as my Lord and the Owner of benefit and harm." While he stood there and watched with his own eyes, calamity descended upon his garden, and he could do nothing to save it. When everything was destroyed, only then did he realize that, in reality, authority over everything belongs solely to Allah. This is the example presented to the Quraysh of Makkah to make them understand, and the warning for them in this example is that if they possess wealth, honor, and leadership today, they should not look down upon others. At any time, due to their pride and arrogance, these blessings can be taken away from them, as is further clarified by the example mentioned in the next verse.
[40]
The Punishment of Arrogance:
Thus, the words uttered by the monotheist were so pleasing to Allah Almighty that what he said was immediately accepted, and the polytheist received the punishment for his arrogance and pride. The very trees whose fruits and produce he was rejoicing over, uttering words of disbelief, were struck by the wrath of Allah, which brought them down to the ground. Not only was the current ready crop lost, but everything he had spent on the garden was also wasted and destroyed. At that moment, wringing his hands in regret, he said, "If only I had truly considered my Lord as my Lord and the Owner of benefit and harm." While he stood there and watched with his own eyes, calamity descended upon his garden, and he could do nothing to save it. When everything was destroyed, only then did he realize that, in reality, authority over everything belongs solely to Allah. This is the example presented to the Quraysh of Makkah to make them understand, and the warning for them in this example is that if they possess wealth, honor, and leadership today, they should not look down upon others. At any time, due to their pride and arrogance, these blessings can be taken away from them, as is further clarified by the example mentioned in the next verse.
