18:21
وَكَذَٰلِكَ
wakadhalika
And similarly
أَعۡثَرۡنَا
a'tharna
We made known
عَلَيۡهِمۡ
alayhim
about them
لِيَعۡلَمُوٓاْ
liya'lamu
that they might know
أَنَّ
anna
that
وَعۡدَ
wa'da
(the) Promise
ٱللَّهِ
al-lahi
(of) Allah
حَقّٞ
haqqun
(is) true
وَأَنَّ
wa-anna
and that
ٱلسَّاعَةَ
al-sa'ata
(about) the Hour
لَا
la
(there is) no
رَيۡبَ
rayba
doubt
فِيهَآ
fiha
in it
إِذۡ
idh
When
يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ
yatanaza'una
they disputed
بَيۡنَهُمۡ
baynahum
among themselves
أَمۡرَهُمۡۖ
amrahum
about their affair
فَقَالُواْ
faqalu
and they said
ٱبۡنُواْ
ib'nu
Construct
عَلَيۡهِم
alayhim
over them
بُنۡيَٰنٗاۖ
bun'yanan
a structure
رَّبُّهُمۡ
rabbuhum
Their Lord
أَعۡلَمُ
a'lamu
knows best
بِهِمۡۚ
bihim
about them
قَالَ
qala
Said
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhina
those who
غَلَبُواْ
ghalabu
prevailed
عَلَىٰٓ
ala
in
أَمۡرِهِمۡ
amrihim
their matter
لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ
lanattakhidhanna
Surely we will take
عَلَيۡهِم
alayhim
over them
مَّسۡجِدٗا
masjidan
a place of worship
٢١

In this way We brought them to people’s attention so that they might know that God’s promise [of resurrection] is true and that there is no doubt about the Last Hour, [though] people argue among themselves. [Some] said, ‘Construct a building over them: their Lord knows best about them.’ Those who prevailed said, ‘We shall build a place of worship over them.’

Translation 1260

18:22
سَيَقُولُونَ
sayaquluna
They say
ثَلَٰثَةٞ
thalathatun
(they were) three
رَّابِعُهُمۡ
rabi'uhum
the forth of them
كَلۡبُهُمۡ
kalbuhum
their dog
وَيَقُولُونَ
wayaquluna
and they say
خَمۡسَةٞ
khamsatun
(they were) five
سَادِسُهُمۡ
sadisuhum
the sixth of them
كَلۡبُهُمۡ
kalbuhum
their dog
رَجۡمَۢا
rajman
guessing
بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ
bil-ghaybi
about the unseen
وَيَقُولُونَ
wayaquluna
and they say
سَبۡعَةٞ
sab'atun
(they were) seven
وَثَامِنُهُمۡ
wathaminuhum
and the eight of them
كَلۡبُهُمۡۚ
kalbuhum
their dog
قُل
qul
Say
رَّبِّيٓ
rabbi
My Lord
أَعۡلَمُ
a'lamu
knows best
بِعِدَّتِهِم
bi'iddatihim
their number
مَّا
ma
None
يَعۡلَمُهُمۡ
ya'lamuhum
knows them
إِلَّا
illa
except
قَلِيلٞۗ
qalilun
a few
فَلَا
fala
So (do) not
تُمَارِ
tumari
argue
فِيهِمۡ
fihim
about them
إِلَّا
illa
except
مِرَآءٗ
miraan
(with) an argument
ظَٰهِرٗا
zahiran
obvious
وَلَا
wala
and (do) not
تَسۡتَفۡتِ
tastafti
inquire
فِيهِم
fihim
about them
مِّنۡهُمۡ
min'hum
among them
أَحَدٗا
ahadan
(from) anyone
٢٢

[Some] say, ‘The sleepers were three, and their dog made four,’ others say, ‘They were five, and the dog made six’- guessing in the dark- and some say, ‘They were seven, and their dog made eight.’ Say [Prophet], ‘My Lord knows best how many they were.’ Only a few have real knowledge about them, so do not argue, but stick to what is clear, and do not ask any of these people about them

Translation 1260

18:23
وَلَا
wala
And (do) not
تَقُولَنَّ
taqulanna
say
لِشَاْيۡءٍ
lishay'in
of anything
إِنِّي
inni
Indeed I
فَاعِلٞ
fa'ilun
will do
ذَٰلِكَ
dhalika
that
غَدًا
ghadan
tomorrow
٢٣

do not say of anything, ‘I will do that tomorrow,’

Translation 1260

18:24
إِلَّآ
illa
Except
أَن
an
If
يَشَآءَ
yashaa
Allah wills
ٱللَّهُۚ
al-lahu
Allah wills
وَٱذۡكُر
wa-udh'kur
And remember
رَّبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
إِذَا
idha
when
نَسِيتَ
nasita
you forget
وَقُلۡ
waqul
and say
عَسَىٰٓ
asa
Perhaps
أَن
an
[that]
يَهۡدِيَنِ
yahdiyani
will guide me
رَبِّي
rabbi
my Lord
لِأَقۡرَبَ
li-aqraba
to a nearer (way)
مِنۡ
min
than
هَٰذَا
hadha
this
رَشَدٗا
rashadan
right way
٢٤

without adding, ‘God willing,’ and, whenever you forget, remember your Lord and say, ‘May my Lord guide me closer to what is right.’

Translation 1260

18:25
وَلَبِثُواْ
walabithu
And they remained
فِي
fi
in
كَهۡفِهِمۡ
kahfihim
their cave
ثَلَٰثَ
thalatha
(for) three
مِاْئَةٖ
mi-atin
hundred
سِنِينَ
sinina
years
وَٱزۡدَادُواْ
wa-iz'dadu
and add
تِسۡعٗا
tis'an
nine
٢٥

[Some say], ‘The sleepers stayed in their cave for three hundred years,’ some added nine more

Translation 1260

18:26
قُلِ
quli
Say
ٱللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
أَعۡلَمُ
a'lamu
knows best
بِمَا
bima
about what (period)
لَبِثُواْۖ
labithu
they remained
لَهُۥ
lahu
For Him
غَيۡبُ
ghaybu
(is the) unseen
ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ
al-samawati
(of) the heavens
وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ
wal-ardi
and the earth
أَبۡصِرۡ
absir
How clearly He sees
بِهِۦ
bihi
[of it]
وَأَسۡمِعۡۚ
wa-asmi'
And how clearly He hears
مَا
ma
Not
لَهُم
lahum
for them
مِّن
min
besides Him
دُونِهِۦ
dunihi
besides Him
مِن
min
any
وَلِيّٖ
waliyyin
protector
وَلَا
wala
and not
يُشۡرِكُ
yush'riku
He shares
فِي
fi
[in]
حُكۡمِهِۦٓ
huk'mihi
His Commands
أَحَدٗا
ahadan
(with) anyone
٢٦

Say [Prophet], ‘God knows best how long they stayed.’ His is the knowledge of all that is hidden in the heavens and earth- How well He sees! How well He hears!- and they have no one to protect them other than Him; He does not allow anyone to share His rule

Translation 1260

18:27
وَٱتۡلُ
wa-ut'lu
And recite
مَآ
ma
what
أُوحِيَ
uhiya
has been revealed
إِلَيۡكَ
ilayka
to you
مِن
min
of
كِتَابِ
kitabi
the Book
رَبِّكَۖ
rabbika
(of) your Lord
لَا
la
None
مُبَدِّلَ
mubaddila
can change
لِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ
likalimatihi
His Words
وَلَن
walan
and never
تَجِدَ
tajida
you will find
مِن
min
besides Him
دُونِهِۦ
dunihi
besides Him
مُلۡتَحَدٗا
mul'tahadan
a refuge
٢٧

[Prophet], follow what has been revealed to you of your Lord’s Scripture: there is no changing His words, nor can you find any refuge except with Him

Translation 1260