Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) in English

1. إنا مكنا له في الأرض وآتيناه من كل شيء سببا

   84

   Indeed We had granted him power in the land and given him the means to all things.

   ʾinnā makkannā lahū fī l-ʾarḍi wa-ʾātaynāhu min kulli shayʾin sababan

2. فأتبع سببا

   85

   So he directed a means.

   fa-ʾatbaʿa sababan

3. حتى إذا بلغ مغرب الشمس وجدها تغرب في عين حمئة ووجد عندها قوما قلنا يا ذا القرنين إما أن تعذب وإما أن تتخذ فيهم حسنا

   86

   When he reached the place where the sun sets, he found it setting over a warm sea, and by it he found a people. We said, ‘O Dhul Qarnayn! You will either punish them, or treat them with kindness.’

   ḥattā ʾidhā balagha maghriba sh-shamsi wajadahā taghrubu fī ʿaynin ḥamiʾatin wa-wajada ʿindahā qawman qulnā yā-dhā l-qarnayni ʾimmā ʾan tuʿadhdhiba wa-ʾimmā ʾan tattakhidha fīhim ḥusnan

4. قال أما من ظلم فسوف نعذبه ثم يرد إلى ربه فيعذبه عذابا نكرا

   87

   He said, ‘As for him who is a wrongdoer, we will punish him. Then he shall be returned to his Lord and He will punish him with a dire punishment.

   qāla ʾammā man ẓalama fa-sawfa nuʿadhdhibuhū thumma yuraddu ʾilā rabbihī fa-yuʿadhdhibuhū ʿadhāban nukran

5. وأما من آمن وعمل صالحا فله جزاء الحسنى وسنقول له من أمرنا يسرا

   88

   But as for him who has faith and acts righteously, he shall have the best reward, and we will assign him easy tasks under our command.’

   wa-ʾammā man ʾāmana wa-ʿamila ṣāliḥan fa-lahū jazāʾan-i l-ḥusnā wa-sa-naqūlu lahū min ʾamrinā yusran

6. ثم أتبع سببا

   89

   Thereafter he directed another means.

   thumma ʾatbaʿa sababan

7. حتى إذا بلغ مطلع الشمس وجدها تطلع على قوم لم نجعل لهم من دونها سترا

   90

   When he reached the place where the sun rises, he found it rising on a people for whom We had not provided any shield against it.

   ḥattā ʾidhā balagha maṭliʿa sh-shamsi wajadahā taṭluʿu ʿalā qawmin lam najʿal lahum min dūnihā sitran

8. كذلك وقد أحطنا بما لديه خبرا

   91

   So it was, and We were fully aware of whatever [means] he possessed.

   ka-dhālika wa-qad ʾaḥaṭnā bi-mā ladayhi khubran

9. ثم أتبع سببا

   92

   Thereafter he directed another means.

   thumma ʾatbaʿa sababan

10. حتى إذا بلغ بين السدين وجد من دونهما قوما لا يكادون يفقهون قولا

    93

    When he reached [the place] between the two barriers, he found between them a people who could hardly understand a word [of his language].

    ḥattā ʾidhā balagha bayna s-saddayni wajada min dūnihimā qawman lā yakādūna yafqahūna qawlan

11. قالوا يا ذا القرنين إن يأجوج ومأجوج مفسدون في الأرض فهل نجعل لك خرجا على أن تجعل بيننا وبينهم سدا

    94

    They said, ‘O Dhul Qarnayn! Indeed Gog and Magog are causing disaster in this land. Shall we pay you a tribute on condition that you build a barrier between them and us?’

    qālū yā-dhā l-qarnayni ʾinna yaʾjūja wa-maʾjūja mufsidūna fī l-ʾarḍi fa-hal najʿalu laka kharjan ʿalā ʾan tajʿala baynanā wa-baynahum saddan

12. قال ما مكني فيه ربي خير فأعينوني بقوة أجعل بينكم وبينهم ردما

    95

    He said, ‘What my Lord has furnished me is better. Yet help me with some strength, and I will make a bulwark between you and them.

    qāla mā makkannī fīhi rabbī khayrun fa-ʾaʿīnūnī bi-quwwatin ʾajʿal baynakum wa-baynahum radman

13. آتوني زبر الحديد حتى إذا ساوى بين الصدفين قال انفخوا حتى إذا جعله نارا قال آتوني أفرغ عليه قطرا

    96

    Bring me pieces of iron!’ When he had levelled up between the flanks, he said, ‘Blow!’ When he had turned it into fire, he said, ‘Bring me molten copper to pour over it.’

    ʾātūnī zubara l-ḥadīdi ḥattā ʾidhā sāwā bayna ṣ-ṣadafayni qāla nfukhū ḥattā ʾidhā jaʿalahū nāran qāla ʾātūnī ʾufrigh ʿalayhi qiṭran

14. فما اسطاعوا أن يظهروه وما استطاعوا له نقبا

    97

    So they could neither scale it, nor could they make a hole in it.

    fa-mā sṭāʿū ʾan yaẓharūhu wa-mā staṭāʿū lahū naqban