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
هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمُنَا ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۭ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا
These, our people, have taken besides Him deities. Why do they not bring for [worship of] them a clear evidence? And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allāh a lie?"
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone."
وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرًا
And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds?