আল কাহফ

1 Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no 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 (He hath made it) Straight (and Clear) in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him, and that He may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly 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 shall remain for ever:

3 In which they will remain forever

4 Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son":

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

5 No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood!

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 Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message.

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 That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are 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 Verily what is on earth we shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage).

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

9 Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Sign?

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

10 Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!"

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 draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not):

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

12 Then We roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years 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 relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced 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 We gave strength to their hearts: Behold, they stood up and said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did, we should indeed have uttered 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 taken for worship gods other than Him: why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing) for what they do? Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against 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 "When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah, betake yourselves to the Cave: Your Lord will shower His mercies on you and disposes of your affair towards comfort and ease."

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 Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray, - for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way.

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 Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore - legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror 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 Such (being their state), we raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them, "How long have ye stayed (here)?" They said, "We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day." (At length) they (all) said, "Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here.... Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may) satisfy your hunger therewith: And let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform any one about 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 if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity."

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 Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said, "Construct a building over them": Their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said, "Let us surely 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) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, - doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.

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 Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow" -

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

24 Without adding, "So please Allah!" and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road."

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 So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more)

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

26 Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees, how finely He hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever.

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 (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than 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 And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; no obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.

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, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrong - doers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!

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 As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed.

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 For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade: They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on!

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 Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grape - vines and surrounded them with date palms; in between the two We placed corn - fields.

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 those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river to flow.

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 (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument: "more wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following 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 He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said, "I deem not that 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 "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall surely find (there) something better in exchange."

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 companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust, then out of a sperm - drop, then fashioned thee into 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 (I think) for my part that He is Allah, My Lord, and none shall I associate with my Lord.

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

39 "Why didst thou not, as thou wentest into thy garden, say: 'Allah's will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons,

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 "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden, and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by way of reckoning) from heaven, making it (but) slippery sand! -

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 the water of the garden will run off underground so that thou wilt never be able to find it."

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

42 So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say, "Woe is me! Would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!"

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 Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself.

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

44 There, the (only) protection comes from Allah, the True One. He is the Best to reward, and the Best to give success.

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

45 Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: It is like the rain which we send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over 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 sons are allurements of the life of this world: But the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes.

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 One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them.

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 will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks, (with the announcement), "Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!":

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 (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say, "Ah! woe to us! what a Book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great, but takes account thereof!" They will find all that they did, placed before them: And not one will thy Lord treat with injustice.

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 Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong - 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 called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: nor is it for helpers such as Me to take as lead (men) astray!

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 One Day He will say, "Call on those whom ye thought to be My partners," and they will call on them, but they will not listen to them; and We shall make for them a place of common perdition.

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 Sinful shall see the fire and apprehend that they have to fall therein: no means will they find to turn away therefrom.

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 We have explained in detail in this Qur'an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude: but man is, in most things, 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 what is there to keep back men from believing, now that Guidance has come to them, nor from praying for forgiveness from their Lord, but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be repeated with them, or the Wrath be brought to them face to face?

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 only send the messengers to give Glad Tidings and to give warnings: But the unbelievers dispute with vain argument, in order therewith to weaken the truth, and they treat My Signs as a jest, as also the fact that they are warned!

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 more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord, but turns away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this, and over their ears, deafness, if thou callest them to guidance, even then will they never accept guidance.

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 But your Lord is Most forgiving, full of Mercy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge.

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 Such were the populations we destroyed when they committed iniquities; but we fixed an appointed time for their destruction.

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

60 Behold, Moses said to his attendant, "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel."

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 But when they reached the Junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel.

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

62 When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: "Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this (stage of) 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 replied: "Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvellous way!"

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 Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after:" So they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come).

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

65 So they found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own 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 to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth 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 (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me!"

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

68 "And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?"

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

69 Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught."

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

70 The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it."

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 both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!"

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 answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience 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: "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case."

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

74 Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!"

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 answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience 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 ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side."

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 Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense 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 answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold 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 boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat 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 "As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man).

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

81 "So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection.

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

82 "As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: So thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure - a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience."

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 ask thee concerning Zul - qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story."

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

84 Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends.

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

85 One (such) way he followed,

85 So he followed a way

86 Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul - qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with 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: "Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard - of (before).

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 whoever believes, and works righteousness, - he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by our 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 followed he (another) way,

89 Then he followed a way

90 Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun.

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 (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before him.

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

92 Then followed he (another) way,

92 Then he followed a way

93 Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word.

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 Zul - qarnain! the Gog and Magog (People) do great mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect 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: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them:

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 "Bring me blocks of iron." At length, when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain - sides, He said, "Blow (with your bellows)" Then, when he had made it (red) as fire, he said: "Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead."

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 Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through 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 comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and 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 On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another: the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together.

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 And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out, -

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

101 (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from remembrance of Me, and who had been unable even 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 Unbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their) entertainment.

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 tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds? -

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

104 "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?"

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

105 They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give them any weight.

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 rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest.

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

107 As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise,

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

108 Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish for from them.

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

109 Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid."

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 but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.

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."