وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا 18
Translations
And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror.
Transliteration
Wa tahsabuhum ayqazan wa hum ruqud. Wa nuqallibuhum dhata al-yameen wa dhata al-shimal. Wa kalbuhum basitun dhiraaʿayhi bil-wasid. Law ittalaʿta ʿalayhim lawallayta minhum firara wa lamalliʾta minhum ruʿba.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the miraculous state of the Companions of the Cave (Ashab al-Kahf), who appeared awake with their eyes open despite being in deep sleep, divinely preserved by Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Allah turned their bodies side to side to prevent decomposition and maintain their flesh, while their dog stretched its paws at the cave entrance as a guardian. The verse conveys that had an observer witnessed their state directly, they would have fled in terror at the supernatural sight, yet the sleepers were protected by divine will.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Kahf's narrative of the Young Men of the Cave (verses 9-26), a Meccan surah revealed during early Islam to strengthen believers' faith in resurrection and divine protection. The story addresses polytheists' doubts about resurrection and God's power, illustrating how Allah miraculously preserves life across centuries.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned the Companions of the Cave as one of the greatest marvels: 'The greatest marvels are three: the Companions of the Cave, the man with the inscription on his forehead (Dhul-Qarnayn), and Moses' (Tirmidhi reports related accounts). Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet recommended reciting Surah Al-Kahf for protection and blessing.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's protection transcends natural laws—believers persecuted for their faith can trust in divine care that may operate beyond human comprehension. For modern readers, it reinforces reliance on Allah (tawakkul) during trials, reminding us that apparent helplessness before worldly power does not diminish God's absolute authority and ability to deliver His servants through means we cannot foresee.
Related Ayahs
كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا
Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you.
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا
And [mention] when Moses said to his boy [i.e., servant], "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period."