Al-Kashshaf on Al-Kahf 18:21

Surah Al-Kahf 18:21

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ﱁ ﱂ ﱃ ﱄ ﱅ ﱆ ﱇ ﱈ ﱉ ﱊ ﱋ ﱌ ﱍ ﱎ ﱏ ﱐ ﱑ ﱒ ﱓ ﱔ ﱕ ﱖ ﱗ ﱘ ﱙ ﱚ ﱛ ﱜ ﱝ ﱞ ﱟ ﱠ ﱡ ﱢ ﱣ

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."

{And thus We made them known} Just as We caused them to sleep and then awakened them—due to the wisdom therein—We revealed them to the people, so that those to whom We revealed their state might know that {the promise of Allah is true}, which is the Resurrection. For their state in their sleep and their subsequent awakening is like the state of one who dies and is then resurrected.

{When they were disputing among themselves} This is connected to "We made them known." That is: We revealed them to the people at a time when they were disputing among themselves regarding the matter of their religion and differing over the reality of the Resurrection. Some said: "Only souls are resurrected, not bodies." Others said: "Bodies are resurrected along with the souls." This was so that the dispute might be resolved, and it might be made clear that bodies are resurrected alive and sentient, containing their souls just as they were before death.

{So they said} When Allah caused the Companions of the Cave to die: {Build over them a structure}—that is, over the entrance of their cave—so that people would not have access to them, out of a desire to protect their remains and preserve them, just as the remains of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were preserved within an enclosure.

{Those who prevailed in their matter} These were the Muslims and their king, who were more entitled to them and to building over them, said: {We will surely build a place of worship over them} at the entrance of the cave, where the Muslims may pray and seek blessings from their location.

Alternative Interpretations It is said that "when they were disputing among themselves" means: people were discussing the affair of the Companions of the Cave, speaking of their story and the sign Allah manifested in them. Or, they were disputing how to manage their affairs when they died: how to conceal their location and how to block the path to them. So they said: "Build a structure over the door of their cave."

The Narrative Context It is reported that the people of the Gospel had fallen into great sins, and their kings were tyrannical, worshipping idols and forcing others to do the same. Among those who were harsh in this was Decius (Daqyanus). A group of youths from the nobility of his people refused to associate partners with Allah and were threatened with death, but they insisted on remaining firm in their faith. They fled to the cave, and a dog followed them. They tried to drive it away, but Allah gave it speech, and it said: "What do you want from me? I love those who love Allah; sleep, and I will guard you."

Another account says they passed by a shepherd with a dog, and he followed them in their religion. They entered the cave and worshipped Allah there, then Allah cast a slumber over their ears. Before Allah awakened them, the king of their city was a righteous, believing man. His subjects had differed regarding the Resurrection, some acknowledging it and others denying it. The king entered his house, locked the door, wore sackcloth, sat on ashes, and asked his Lord to clarify the truth to them. Allah then cast into the heart of one of their shepherds the idea to tear down what blocked the cave entrance so he could use it as an enclosure for his sheep.

When they sent one of their number to buy food, he produced coins from the time of Decius. They accused him of finding treasure and took him to the king, to whom he recounted the story. The king and the people of the city went out, saw them, and praised Allah for the sign indicating the Resurrection. The youths then said to the king: "We entrust you to Allah and seek refuge in Him from the evil of jinn and mankind," then they returned to their resting places, and Allah took their souls. The king cast his garments over them, ordered a golden coffin for each, but seeing them in a dream disapproving of the gold, he made them of teak wood and built a place of worship at the cave entrance.

{Their Lord is most knowing of them} This is either from the speech of the disputants—as if they were discussing their affairs, speculating about their lineages, their states, and the duration of their stay, and when they could not reach the truth, they said: "Their Lord is most knowing of them"—or it is from the speech of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, refuting the claims of those who were speculating about their story among the disputants, or those among the People of the Book who disputed about them during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

Tafsir of Al-Kahf 18:21

Al-Kashshaf

{Those who prevailed in their matter} These were the Muslims and their king, who were more entitled to them and to building over them, said: **{We will surely build a place of worship over them}** at the entrance of the cave, where the Muslims may pray and seek blessings from their location.

{Those who prevailed in their matter} These were the Muslims and their king, who were more entitled to them and to building over them, said: {We will surely build a place of worship over them} at the entrance of the cave, where the Muslims may pray and seek blessings from their location.