سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 98
قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّا ﴿98﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(Dhul-Qarnain) said: "This is a mercy from my Lord, but when the Promise of my Lord comes, He shall level it down to the ground. And the Promise of my Lord is ever true."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
This
رَحْمَةٌۭ
raḥmatun
(is) a mercy
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّى ۖ
rabbī
my Lord
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
But when
جَآءَ
jāa
comes
وَعْدُ
waʿdu
(the) Promise
رَبِّى
rabbī
(of) my Lord
جَعَلَهُۥ
jaʿalahu
He will make it
دَكَّآءَ ۖ
dakkāa
level
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And is
وَعْدُ
waʿdu
(the) Promise
رَبِّى
rabbī
(of) my Lord
حَقًّۭا
ḥaqqan
true
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.
98. Dhul-Qarnayn said: "This is a mercy from my Lord [80], but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will level it to the ground, and the promise of my Lord [81] is always true."
[80] When this wall was constructed, Dhul-Qarnayn expressed gratitude to Allah, Who granted him the ability to build this wall and to deliver the people from constant troubles. However, he also informed the people that although this wall is very strong and stable, it is not everlasting; whatever is created is ultimately destined to perish. It will remain as long as Allah wills, and by "the appointed time," either the destruction of this wall is meant, or it refers to the Day of Judgment, when everything will perish, as the following verse supports this latter meaning.
[81]
The Qualities of Dhul-Qarnayn:
With this verse, Dhul-Qarnayn's address to those people also ends, as does the story of Dhul-Qarnayn. In this, not only was the question of the disbelievers of Makkah answered, but it was also explained that Dhul-Qarnayn, despite being a great conqueror and a king of grandeur and glory, was a believer in monotheism and the Hereafter. Besides justice and fairness, he acted with generosity. He behaved with gentleness and was not narrow-minded like you, who, after attaining minor chieftaincies, become arrogant and look down upon others.
[80] When this wall was constructed, Dhul-Qarnayn expressed gratitude to Allah, Who granted him the ability to build this wall and to deliver the people from constant troubles. However, he also informed the people that although this wall is very strong and stable, it is not everlasting; whatever is created is ultimately destined to perish. It will remain as long as Allah wills, and by "the appointed time," either the destruction of this wall is meant, or it refers to the Day of Judgment, when everything will perish, as the following verse supports this latter meaning.
[81]
The Qualities of Dhul-Qarnayn:
With this verse, Dhul-Qarnayn's address to those people also ends, as does the story of Dhul-Qarnayn. In this, not only was the question of the disbelievers of Makkah answered, but it was also explained that Dhul-Qarnayn, despite being a great conqueror and a king of grandeur and glory, was a believer in monotheism and the Hereafter. Besides justice and fairness, he acted with generosity. He behaved with gentleness and was not narrow-minded like you, who, after attaining minor chieftaincies, become arrogant and look down upon others.
