إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا 10
Translations
[Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance."
Transliteration
Idh awa al-fityatu ila al-kahfi faqaloo rabbana atina min ladunka rahmatan wa hayyi lana min amrina rashada
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when the young believers (the People of the Cave) sought refuge in the cave and made a sincere supplication to Allah, asking Him for mercy and guidance in their affairs. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their du'a reflects complete reliance upon Allah (tawakkul) and demonstrates the importance of combining practical effort (seeking shelter) with spiritual submission through supplication. The phrase 'from Your presence' (min ladunka) emphasizes that true mercy and guidance come exclusively from Allah's divine grace, not from human efforts alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Ashab al-Kahf (People of the Cave), a story mentioned only in Surah Al-Kahf within the Quran. The broader context addresses a test of faith wherein young believers fled persecution and found solace in a cave, placing their trust entirely in Allah. While no specific asbab al-nuzul (revelation occasion) is documented for this particular ayah, the entire surah was revealed in Mecca to strengthen the believers against doubts and trials they faced.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned the People of the Cave in various contexts emphasizing sincerity and faith. A related hadith in Sahih Muslim discusses how sincere supplication (du'a) is a powerful weapon, which connects to the youths' earnest prayer in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that when facing trials and uncertainty, we should combine practical wisdom (seeking appropriate refuge or solutions) with heartfelt reliance on Allah through sincere supplication. True guidance and mercy come only from Allah, and acknowledging our complete dependence on His grace—rather than our own abilities—is essential to finding the straight path in life's challenges.
Related Ayahs
هُنَالِكَ ٱلْوَلَـٰيَةُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا
There the authority is [completely] for Allāh, the Truth. He is best in reward and best in outcome.
وَعُرِضُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۭ ۚ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا
And they will be presented before your Lord in rows, [and He will say], "You have certainly come to Us just as We created you the first time. But you claimed that We would never make for you an appointment."
سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءً ظَـٰهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
They [i.e., people] will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."
قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا
He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention [i.e., explanation]."