إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِى مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًا 20
Translations
Indeed, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or return you to their religion. And never would you succeed, then - ever."
Transliteration
Innahum in yaz-haroo AAalaykum yarjumookum aw yuAAeedookum fee millatihim walan tuflihoo iza abada
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of the speech of the young men of the Cave warning each other about the danger of being discovered by the disbelievers of their town. They caution that if their pursuers find them, they will either stone them to death or force them to return to idolatry, and in either case, they would never succeed or find happiness. Ibn Kathir notes this reflects the severity of the threat faced by those who abandon false religion for monotheism, emphasizing both physical persecution and spiritual corruption as grave dangers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Ashab al-Kahf (the Companions of the Cave), a central story in Surah Al-Kahf. It provides the internal dialogue of the young believers as they flee persecution and seek refuge in the cave, illustrating the courage required to maintain faith against societal pressure. The broader context of Surah Al-Kahf emphasizes divine protection of the faithful during trials.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 3159 narrates that the Prophet Muhammad mentioned the story of the Companions of the Cave as one of the greatest signs of Allah's power. Additionally, hadiths on persecution for faith (such as those in Surah Al-Buruj 85:10) relate thematically to the trials described here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that maintaining faith during persecution is preferable to physical survival coupled with spiritual compromise, and that believers should trust in Allah's protection when they prioritize their religion over worldly safety.
Related Ayahs
وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.
لَّـٰكِنَّا۠ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا
But as for me, He is Allāh, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone.
نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًى
It is We who relate to you, [O Muḥammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۢ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَدَلًا
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from [i.e., disobeyed] the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.