Al Kahf

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness,

1 [All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance.

2 (But hath made it) straight, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to bring unto the believers who do good works the news that theirs will be a fair reward,

2 [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward

3 Wherein they will abide for ever;

3 In which they will remain forever

4 And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son,

4 And to warn those who say, "Allah has taken a son."

5 (A thing) whereof they have no knowledge, nor (had) their fathers, Dreadful is the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie.

5 They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except a lie.

6 Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps.

6 Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.

7 Lo! We have placed all that is on the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct.

7 Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.

8 And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound.

8 And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground.

9 Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents ?

9 Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?

10 When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give us mercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight.

10 [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."

11 Then We sealed up their hearing in the Cave for a number of years.

11 So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years.

12 And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried.

12 Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time.

13 We narrate unto thee their story with truth. Lo! they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

13 It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

14 And We made firm their hearts when they stood forth and said: Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We cry unto no God beside Him, for then should we utter an enormity.

14 And We made firm their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.

15 These, our people, have chosen (other) gods beside Him though they bring no clear warrant (vouchsafed) to them. And who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah ?

15 These, our people, have taken besides Him deities. Why do they not bring for [worship of] them a clear authority? And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allah a lie?"

16 And when ye withdraw from them and that which they worship except Allah, then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will spread for you of His mercy and will prepare for you a pillow in your plight.

16 [The youths said to one another], "And when you have withdrawn from them and that which they worship other than Allah, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair facility."

17 And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.

17 And [had you been present], you would see the sun when it rose, inclining away from their cave on the right, and when it set, passing away from them on the left, while they were [laying] within an open space thereof. That was from the signs of Allah. He whom Allah guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He leaves astray - never will you find for him a protecting guide.

18 And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them.

18 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.

19 And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried ? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.

19 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.

20 For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.

20 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."

21 And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.

21 And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allah is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."

22 (Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.

22 They 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 Muhammad], "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."

23 And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,

23 And never say of anything, "Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,"

24 Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.

24 Except [when adding], "If Allah wills." And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct."

25 And (it is said) they tarried in their Cave three hundred years and add nine.

25 And they remained in their cave for three hundred years and exceeded by nine.

26 Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They have no protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.

26 Say, "Allah is most knowing of how long they remained. He has [knowledge of] the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. How Seeing is He and how Hearing! They have not besides Him any protector, and He shares not His legislation with anyone."

27 And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him.

27 And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge.

28 Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.

28 And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.

29 Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting - place!

29 And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.

30 Lo! as for those who believe and do good works - Lo! We suffer not the reward of one whose work is goodly to be lost.

30 Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds.

31 As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting - place!

31 Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.

32 Coin for them a similitude: Two men, unto one of whom We had assigned two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date - palms and had put between them tillage.

32 And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops.

33 Each of the gardens gave its fruit and withheld naught thereof. And We caused a river to gush forth therein.

33 Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fall short thereof in anything. And We caused to gush forth within them a river.

34 And he had fruit. And he said unto his comrade, when he spake with him: I am more than thee in wealth, and stronger in respect of men.

34 And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men."

35 And he went into his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself. He said: I think not that all this will ever perish.

35 And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, "I do not think that this will perish - ever.

36 I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back unto my Lord I surely shall find better than this as a resort.

36 And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return."

37 His comrade, when he (thus) spake with him, exclaimed: Disbelievest thou in Him Who created thee of dust, then of a drop (of seed), and then fashioned thee a man ?

37 His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm - drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?

38 But He is Allah, my Lord, and I ascribe unto my Lord no partner.

38 But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone.

39 If only, when thou enteredst thy garden, thou hadst said: That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah! Though thou seest me as less than thee in wealth and children,

39 And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah '? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children,

40 Yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and will send on it a bolt from heaven, and some morning it will be a smooth hillside,

40 It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a calamity from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground,

41 Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for it.

41 Or its water will become sunken [into the earth], so you would never be able to seek it."

42 And his fruit was beset (with destruction). Then began he to wring his hands for all that he had spent upon it, when (now) it was all ruined on its trellises, and to say: Would that I had ascribed no partner to my Lord!

42 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."

43 And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he save himself.

43 And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself.

44 In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward, and best for consequence.

44 There the authority is [completely] for Allah, the Truth. He is best in reward and best in outcome.

45 And coin for them the similitude of the life of the world as water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it and then becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter. Allah is able to do all things.

45 And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.

46 Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.

46 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.

47 And (bethink you of) the Day when we remove the hills and ye see the earth emerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not one of them behind.

47 And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth prominent, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone.

48 And they are set before thy Lord in ranks (and it is said unto them): Now verily have ye come unto Us as We created you at the first. But ye thought that We had set no tryst for you.

48 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."

49 And the Book is placed, and thou seest the guilty fearful of that which is therein, and they say: What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a small thing nor a great thing but hath counted it! And they find all that they did confronting them, and thy Lord wrongeth no - one.

49 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.

50 And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you ? Calamitous is the exchange for evil - doers.

50 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 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.

51 I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation; nor choose I misleaders for (My) helpers.

51 I did not make them witness to the creation of the heavens and the earth or to the creation of themselves, and I would not have taken the misguiders as assistants.

52 And (be mindful of) the Day when He will say: Call those partners of Mine whom ye pretended. Then they will cry unto them, but they will not hear their prayer, and We shall set a gulf of doom between them.

52 And [warn of] the Day when He will say, "Call 'My partners' whom you claimed," and they will invoke them, but they will not respond to them. And We will put between them [a valley of] destruction.

53 And the guilty behold the Fire and know that they are about to fall therein, and they find no way of escape thence.

53 And the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall therein. And they will not find from it a way elsewhere.

54 And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all manner of similitudes, but man is more than anything contentious.

54 And We have certainly diversified in this Qur'an for the people from every [kind of] example; but man has ever been, most of anything, [prone to] dispute.

55 And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance cometh unto them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord unless (it be that they wish) that the judgment of the men of old should come upon them or (that) they should be confronted with the Doom.

55 And nothing has prevented the people from believing when guidance came to them and from asking forgiveness of their Lord except that there [must] befall them the [accustomed] precedent of the former peoples or that the punishment should come [directly] before them.

56 We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Those who disbelieve contend with falsehood in order to refute the Truth thereby. And they take Our revelations and that wherewith they are threatened as a jest.

56 And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. And those who disbelieve dispute by [using] falsehood to [attempt to] invalidate thereby the truth and have taken My verses, and that of which they are warned, in ridicule.

57 And who doth greater wrong than he who hath been reminded of the revelations of his Lord, yet turneth away from them and forgetteth what his hands send forward (to the Judgment) ? Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so that they understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them to the guidance, in that case they can never be led aright.

57 And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever.

58 Thy Lord is the Forgiver, Full of Mercy. If He took them to task (now) for what they earn, He would hasten on the doom for them; but theirs is an appointed term from which they will find no escape.

58 And your Lord is the Forgiving, full of mercy. If He were to impose blame upon them for what they earned, He would have hastened for them the punishment. Rather, for them is an appointment from which they will never find an escape.

59 And (all) those townships! We destroyed them when they did wrong, and We appointed a fixed time for their destruction.

59 And those cities - We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time.

60 And when Moses said unto his servant: I will not give up until I reach the point where the two rivers meet, though I march on for ages.

60 And [mention] when Moses said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period."

61 And when they reached the point where the two met, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the waters, being free.

61 But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.

62 And when they had gone further, he said unto his servant: Bring us our breakfast. Verily we have found fatigue in this our journey.

62 So when they had passed beyond it, [Moses] said to his boy, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue."

63 He said: Didst thou see, when we took refuge on the rock, and I forgot the fish - and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it - it took its way into the waters by a marvel.

63 He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly".

64 He said: This is that which we have been seeking. So they retraced their steps again.

64 [Moses] said, "That is what we were seeking." So they returned, following their footprints.

65 Then found they one of Our slaves, unto whom We had given mercy from Us, and had taught him knowledge from Our presence.

65 And they found a servant from among Our servants to whom we had given mercy from us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.

66 Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach me right conduct of that which thou hast been taught ?

66 Moses said to him, "May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?"

67 He said: Lo! thou canst not bear with me.

67 He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.

68 How canst thou bear with that whereof thou canst not compass any knowledge ?

68 And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"

69 He said: Allah willing, thou shalt find me patient and I shall not in aught gainsay thee.

69 [Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order."

70 He said: Well, if thou go with me, ask me not concerning aught till I myself make mention of it unto thee.

70 He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention."

71 So they twain set out till, when they were in the ship, he made a hole therein. (Moses) said: Hast thou made a hole therein to drown the folk thereof ? Thou verily hast done a dreadful thing.

71 So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, al - Khidh r tore it open. [Moses] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing."

72 He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me ?

72 [Al - Khidh r] said, "Did I not say that with me you would never be able to have patience?"

73 (Moses) said: Be not wroth with me that I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my fault.

73 [Moses] said, "Do not blame me for what I forgot and do not cover me in my matter with difficulty."

74 So they twain journeyed on till, when they met a lad, he slew him. (Moses) said: What! Hast thou slain an innocent soul who hath slain no man ? Verily thou hast done a horrid thing.

74 So they set out, until when they met a boy, al - Khidh r killed him. [Moses] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing."

75 He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me ?

75 [Al - Khidh r] said, "Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?"

76 (Moses) said: If I ask thee after this concerning aught, keep not company with me. Thou hast received an excuse from me.

76 [Moses] said, "If I should ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion. You have obtained from me an excuse."

77 So they twain journeyed on till, when they came unto the folk of a certain township, they asked its folk for food, but they refused to make them guests. And they found therein a wall upon the point of falling into ruin, and he repaired it. (Moses) said: If thou hadst wished, thou couldst have taken payment for it.

77 So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so al - Khidh r restored it. [Moses] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment."

78 He said: This is the parting between thee and me! I will announce unto thee the interpretation of that thou couldst not bear with patience.

78 [Al - Khidh r] said, "This is parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.

79 As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working on the river, and I wished to mar it, for there was a king behind them who is taking every ship by force.

79 As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force.

80 And as for the lad, his parents were believers and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.

80 And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.

81 And we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer to mercy.

81 So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy.

82 And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been righteous, and thy Lord intended that they should come to their full strength and should bring forth their treasure as a mercy from their Lord; and I did it not upon my own command. Such is the interpretation of that wherewith thou couldst not bear.

82 And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."

83 They will ask thee of Dhu'l - Qarneyn. Say: I shall recite unto you a remembrance of him.

83 And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about Dhul - Qarnayn. Say, "I will recite to you about him a report."

84 Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road.

84 Indeed We established him upon the earth, and We gave him to everything a way.

85 And he followed a road

85 So he followed a way

86 Till, when he reached the setting - place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l - Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.

86 Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul - Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."

87 He said: As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment!

87 He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment.

88 But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command.

88 But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of Paradise, and we will speak to him from our command with ease."

89 Then he followed a road

89 Then he followed a way

90 Till, when he reached the rising - place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.

90 Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made against it any shield.

91 So (it was). And We knew all concerning him.

91 Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.

92 Then he followed a road

92 Then he followed a way

93 Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hither side a folk that scarce could understand a saying.

93 Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech.

94 They said: O Dhu'l - Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them ?

94 They said, "O Dhul - Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?"

95 He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.

95 He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam.

96 Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour thereon.

96 Bring me sheets of iron" - until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, "Blow [with bellows]," until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper."

97 And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).

97 So Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.

98 He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true.

98 [Dhul - Qarnayn] said, "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Lord true."

99 And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and the Trumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering.

99 And We will leave them that day surging over each other, and [then] the Horn will be blown, and We will assemble them in [one] assembly.

100 On that day we shall present hell to the disbelievers, plain to view,

100 And We will present Hell that Day to the Disbelievers, on display -

101 Those whose eyes were hoodwinked from My reminder, and who could not bear to hear.

101 Those whose eyes had been within a cover [removed] from My remembrance, and they were not able to hear.

102 Do the disbelievers reckon that they can choose My bondmen as protecting friends beside Me ? Lo! We have prepared hell as a welcome for the disbelievers.

102 Then do those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants instead of Me as allies? Indeed, We have prepared Hell for the disbelievers as a lodging.

103 Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works ?

103 Say, [O Muhammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds?

104 Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work.

104 [They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work."

105 Those are they who disbelieve in the revelations of their Lord and in the meeting with Him. Therefor their works are vain, and on the Day of Resurrection We assign no weight to them.

105 Those are the ones who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and in [their] meeting Him, so their deeds have become worthless; and We will not assign to them on the Day of Resurrection any importance.

106 That is their reward: hell, because they disbelieved, and made a jest of Our revelations and Our messengers.

106 That is their recompense - Hell - for what they denied and [because] they took My signs and My messengers in ridicule.

107 Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs are the Gardens of Paradise for welcome,

107 Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - they will have the Gardens of Paradise as a lodging,

108 Wherein they will abide, with no desire to be removed from thence.

108 Wherein they abide eternally. They will not desire from it any transfer.

109 Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.

109 Say, "If the sea were ink for [writing] the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement."

110 Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your God is only One God. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.

110 Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."