سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 81
فَأَرَدْنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُ زَكَوٰةً وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمًا ﴿81﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and nearer to mercy.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَأَرَدْنَآ
fa-aradnā
So we intended
أَن
an
that
يُبْدِلَهُمَا
yub'dilahumā
would change for them
رَبُّهُمَا
rabbuhumā
their Lord
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
a better
مِّنْهُ
min'hu
than him
زَكَوٰةًۭ
zakatan
(in) purity
وَأَقْرَبَ
wa-aqraba
and nearer
رُحْمًۭا
ruḥ'man
(in) affection
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.
81. So we wished that their Lord would give them, in exchange, a better child [69]—one who would be purer in character and more affectionate towards his relatives.
[69] Thus, as a replacement for the slain boy, Allah granted them a child who was greatly obedient to Allah and to his parents. The parents loved him, and he loved his parents very much. In this matter as well, I did not do anything wrong; rather, I saved the righteous parents from going astray. Then, Allah had already decreed to grant them this replacement as their destiny.
[69] Thus, as a replacement for the slain boy, Allah granted them a child who was greatly obedient to Allah and to his parents. The parents loved him, and he loved his parents very much. In this matter as well, I did not do anything wrong; rather, I saved the righteous parents from going astray. Then, Allah had already decreed to grant them this replacement as their destiny.
