Surah Al-Kahf Ayat 19 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 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.
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.
Likewise, We roused them in a miraculous way that they might question one another. One of them asked: “How long did you remain (in this state)?” The others said: “We remained so for a day or part of a day.” Then they said: “Your Lord knows better how long we remained in this state. Now send one of you to the city with this coin of yours and let him see who has the best food, and let him buy some provisions from there. Let him be cautious and not inform anyone of our whereabouts.
Likewise, We awakened them (from their long deep sleep) that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: “How long have you stayed (here)?” They said: “We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord (Alone) knows best how long you have stayed (here). So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town, and let him find out which is the good lawful food, and bring some of that to you. And let him be careful and let no man know of you.
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.
And thus We made them rise again that they might ask one another (Literally: among themselves). A speaker from among them said, “How long have you lingered?” They said, “We have lingered a day, or part (Literally: some “part” of a day) of a day.” (Others) said, “Your Lord knows best how long you have lingered. So send one of you forth with this money to the city, then let him look for whichever of them has the purest (Literally: most cleansed) food, so let him come up to you with a provision thereof, and let him be courteous, and definitely let no man be aware of your (presence).
In time We woke them, and they began to question one another. One of them asked, ‘How long have you been here?’ and [some] answered, ‘A day or part of a day,’ but then [others] said, ‘Your Lord knows best how long you have been here. One of you go to the city with your silver coins, find out where the best food is there, and bring some back. But be careful not to let anyone know about you:
اسی طرح ہم نے انہیں جگا کر اٹھا دیا کہ آپس میں پوچھ گچھ کرلیں۔ ایک کہنے والے نے کہا کہ کیوں بھئی تم کتنی دیر ٹھہرے رہے؟ انہوں نے جواب دیا کہ ایک دن یا ایک دن سے بھی کم۔ کہنے لگے کہ تمہارے ٹھہرے رہنے کا بخوبی علم اللہ تعالیٰ ہی کو ہے۔ اب تو تم اپنے میں سے کسی کو اپنی یہ چاندی دے کر شہر بھیجو وه خوب دیکھ بھال لے کہ شہر کا کون سا کھانا پاکیزه تر ہے، پھر اسی میں سے تمہارے کھانے کے لئے لے آئے، اور وه بہت احتیاط اور نرمی برتے اور کسی کو تمہاری خبر نہ ہونے دے
Quran 18 Verse 19 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Kahf ayat 19, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(18:19) Likewise, We roused them[16] in a miraculous way that they might question one another. One of them asked: “How long did you remain (in this state)?” The others said: “We remained so for a day or part of a day.” Then they said: “Your Lord knows better how long we remained in this state. Now send one of you to the city with this coin of yours and let him see who has the best food, and let him buy some provisions from there. Let him be cautious and not inform anyone of our whereabouts.
16. They were awakened from their sleep in the same miraculous way that was employed in sending them to sleep and keeping them hidden from the outer world.
Ibn-Kathir
19. Likewise, We woke them that they might question one another. A speaker among them said: “How long have you stayed (here)” They said: “We have stayed a day or part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed (here). So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town, and let him find out which is the Azka food, and bring some of that to you. And let him be careful and let no man know of you.” 20. “For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or turn you back to their religion; and in that case you will never be successful.”
(How long have you stayed (here)) meaning, `how long have you slept’
(They said: “We have stayed a day or part of a day.”) because they entered the cave at the beginning of the day, and they woke up at the end of the day, which is why they then said,
(“…or a part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed…”) meaning, `Allah knows best about your situation.’ It seems that they were not sure about how long they had slept, and Allah knows best. Then they turned their attention to more pressing matters, like their need for food and drink, so they said:
(So send one of you with this silver coin of yours) They had brought with them some Dirhams (silver coins) from their homes, to buy whatever they might need, and they had given some in charity and kept some, so they said:
(So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town,) meaning to their city, which they had left. The definite article indicates that they were referring to a known city.
(and let him find out which is the Azka food.) Azka means “purest”, as Allah says elsewhere,
(And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure ﴿Zaka﴾ from sins) ﴿24:21﴾ and
(Indeed whosoever purifies himself ﴿Tazakka﴾ shall achieve success.) ﴿87:14﴾ From the same root also comes the word Zakah, which makes one’s wealth good and purifies it.
(And let him be careful) meaning when he goes out buying food and coming back. They were telling him to conceal himself as much as he could,
(and let no man know of you. For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you) means, `if they find out where you are,’
(they will stone you or turn you back to their religion;) They were referring to the followers of Decianus, who they were afraid might find out where they were, and punish them with all kinds of torture until they made them go back to their former religion, or until they died, for if they agreed to go back to their (old) religion, they would never attain success in this world or the Hereafter. So they said:
(and in that case you will never be successful.)
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