Al-Kahf
1الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا ۜ
18|1|Praise be to God, who revealed the Book to His servant, and allowed in it no distortion.
2قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا
18|2|Valuable—to warn of severe punishment from Himself; and to deliver good news to the believers who do righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent reward.
3مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا
18|3|In which they will abide forever.
4وَيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا
18|4|And to warn those who say, “God has begotten a son.”
18:4 it seems that by now the Christians had all but rejected the message of Jesus AS. Now a new revelation is due to take humanity up to the next level. Perhaps books are only protected until they have completed their stated goal
5مَّا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِآبَائِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا
18|5|They have no knowledge of this, nor did their forefathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths. They say nothing but a lie.
6فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا
18|6|Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief, chasing after them, if they do not believe in this information.
7إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
18|7|We made what is upon the earth an ornament for it, to test them as to which of them is best in conduct.
8وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا
18|8|And We will turn what is on it into barren waste.
9أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا
18|9|Did you know that the People of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wondrous signs?
10إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
18|10|When the youths took shelter in the cave, they said, “Our Lord, give us mercy from Yourself, and bless our affair with guidance.”
11فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰ آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا
18|11|Then We sealed their ears in the cave for a number of years.
12ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا
18|12|Then We awakened them to know which of the two groups could better calculate the length of their stay.
13نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى
18|13|We relate to you their story in truth. They were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
14وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا
18|14|And We strengthened their hearts, when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth; we will not call on any god besides Him, for then we would have spoken an outrage.”
15هَٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا
18|15|“These people, our people, have taken to themselves gods other than Him. Why do they not bring a clear proof concerning them? Who, then, does greater wrong than he who invents lies and attributes them to God?”
16وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا
18|16|“Now that you have withdrawn from them, and from what they worship besides God, take shelter in the cave. And your Lord will unfold His mercy for you, and will set your affair towards ease.”
17۞ وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا
18|17|You would have seen the sun, when it rose, veering away from their cave towards the right, and when it sets, moving away from them to the left, as they lay in the midst of the cave. That was one of God’s wonders. He whom God guides is truly guided; but he whom He misguides, for him you will find no directing friend.
18وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا
18|18|You would think them awake, although they were asleep. And We turned them over to the right, and to the left, with their dog stretching its paws across the threshold. Had you looked at them, you would have turned away from them in flight, and been filled with fear of them.
19وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءَلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
18|19|Even so, We awakened them, so that they may ask one another. A speaker among them said, “How long have you stayed?” They said, “We have stayed a day, or part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed.” “Send one of you to the city, with this money of yours, and let him see which food is most suitable, and let him bring you some provision thereof. And let him be gentle, and let no one become aware of you.”

H 11638, Ch. 7, h 1 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ibrahim ibn ‘Uqbah from Muyassir from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd ‘Abd al-’Aziz from his father who has said the following: “About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . he must find clean and pure food and must bring thereof for you for your sustenance’ (18:9) abu Ja‘far, or abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Dates are the most pure food.’”

20إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا
18|20|“If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you back into their religion; then you will never be saved.”
21وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
18|21|So it was, that We caused them to be discovered, that they would know that the promise of God is true, and that of the Hour there is no doubt. As they were disputing their case among themselves, they said, “Build over them a building.” Their Lord knows best about them. Those who prevailed over their case said, “We will set up over them a place of worship.”
22سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
18|22|They will say, “Three, and their fourth being their dog.” And they will say, “Five, and their sixth being their dog,” guessing at the unknown. And they will say, “Seven, and their eighth being their dog.” Say, “My Lord knows best their number.” None knows them except a few. So do not argue concerning them except with an obvious argument, and do not consult any of them about them.
23وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا
18
|23|And never say about anything, “I will do that tomorrow.”
24إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
18|24|Without saying, “If God wills.” And remember your Lord if you forget, and say, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to nearer than this in integrity.”

H 14371, Ch. 13, h 1 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Jamilah al-Mufaddal ibn Salih from Muhammad al-Halabiy and Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . speak of your Lord if you forget’ (18:24) abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said that if one takes an oath and forgets to make an exception, he must make an exception (say, ‘if Allah wills’) when he remembers.”

H 14372, Ch. 13, h 2 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from abu Ja‘far al-Ahwal from Salam ibn al-Mustanir who has narrated the following: “This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . We made a covenant with Adam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, before but he forgot and We did not find in him firm determination.’ (20:115) Abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said to Adam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, to enter in the garden (paradises) He said, “O Adam, you must not go near this tree.”’ He (the Imam) said that He showed it to him and Adam said to his Lord, “How will I go near the tree when You have prohibited me and my wife?” He (the Imam) said that Allah said to them not to go near the tree meaning do not eat thereof. Adam and his wife said, “Yes, Lord we will not go near the tree and will not eat”, but they did not make an exception (did not say, ‘if Allah wills’) when saying, “yes” Allah, in that matter left them on their own and to their memories.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to His Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about a fact in the book. “. . . You must never say about anything, ‘I will do it tomorrow without saying, ‘unless Allah wills’ otherwise,” (18:23) and Allah decides that I must not do then I will not be able to do.’ He (the Imam) said that for this reason Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘. . . you must speak of your Lord when you forget’, meaning make the act and the will of Allah an exception in your act.’”

25وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا
18|25|And they stayed in their cave for three hundred years, adding nine.
26قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا ۖ لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا
18|26|Say, “God knows best how long they stayed.” His is the mystery of the heavens and the earth. By Him you see and hear. They have no guardian apart from Him, and He shares His Sovereignty with no one.
27وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا
18|27|And recite what was revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. There is no changing His words, and you will find no refuge except in Him.
28وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا
18|28|And content yourself with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, desiring His Presence. And do not turn your eyes away from them, desiring the glitter of this world. And do not obey him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance—so he follows his own desires—and his priorities are confused.
29وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا يُغَاثُوا بِمَاءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِي الْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
18|29|And say, “The truth is from your Lord. Whoever wills—let him believe. And whoever wills—let him disbelieve”. We have prepared for the unjust a Fire, whose curtains will hem them in. And when they cry for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten brass, which scalds the faces. What a miserable drink, and what a terrible place.

H 2826, CH 159, h 16 Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’d from Muhammad ibn Muslim from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn al-Nu’man who has said that his father narrated to him from Ali ibn alNu’man from ibn Muskan from al-Yaman ibn ‘Ubayd Allah who has said the following: “I saw Yahya ibn ‘Umm Tawil standing at al-Kunasa (an open area in Kufah) calling at the peak of his voice, ‘O group of friends of Allah, I disavow whatever you hear. Whoever abuses Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant, allow the condemnation of Allah be upon him. We renounce the people of the family of Marwan and all that they worship besides Allah.’ He then would lower his voice and say, ‘Do not sit with
those who abuse the friends of Allah. Do not sit with those who doubt our belief and do not accept them as your judge. If any of your brothers (in belief) would need to ask you questions (help), then you have violated your trust with him (for not helping before his appeal).’ He then would read, ‘. . . For the unjust We have prepared a fire which will engulf them with its flames. Whenever they cry for help they will be answered with water as hot as liquefied brass, which will blister their faces. How terrible is such a drink and such a resting place!’” (18:29)

H 1141, Ch. 108, h 64 Ahmad has narrated from ‘Abd al-‘Azim from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamza from abu Ja‘far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “Jibril brought this verse as: ‘. . . but most human beings turn away [from Wilayah, Leadership with Divine Authority of Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant] in disbelief.’ (17:89) “Jibril also brought this verse as: ‘Say, Truth comes from your Lord, [About Wilayah, Leadership with Divine Authority of Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant]. Allow people to believe or disbelieve it as they choose. For the unjust [to the family of Muhammad, recipient of divine supreme covenant] We have prepared a fire. . . .,’ (18:29) the Imam explained.”

H 11307, Ch. 41, h 4 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from al-Qasim ibn al-’Urwah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘On the day when the earth will be replaced with another earth.’ (14:48) He (the Imam) said, ‘It will be replaced with purified bread from which people will eat until their accounting is complete.’ Someone then said to him (the Imam), ‘People on that day will already have other things to worry about instead of eating.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has created the child of Adam hollow. He must have food and drink. Will they be more seriously preoccupied on that day or those in hellfire who plead? And Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “If they plead their pleading will be responded with water like al-Muhl that roasts the faces and it is the worst kind of drink.” (18:29)’”

This verse also highlights the free will nature of faith, one can choose to believe what they like.

30إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا
18|30|As for those who believe and lead a righteous life—We will not waste the reward of those who work righteousness.
31أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
18|31|These will have the Gardens of Eden, beneath which rivers flow. Reclining on comfortable furnishings, they will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and will wear green garments of silk and brocade. What a wonderful reward, and what an excellent resting-place.
32۞ وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا
18|32|And cite for them the parable of two men. To one of them We gave two gardens of vine, and We surrounded them with palms-trees, and We placed between them crops.
33كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِم مِّنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَالَهُمَا نَهَرًا
18|33|Both gardens produced their harvest in full, and suffered no loss. And We made a river flow through them.
34وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا
18|34|And thus he had abundant fruits. He said to his friend, as he conversed with him, “I am wealthier than you, and greater in manpower.”
35وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَٰذِهِ أَبَدًا
18|35|And he entered his garden, wronging himself. He said, “I do not think this will ever perish.”
36وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا
18|36|“And I do not think the Hour is coming. And even if I am returned to my Lord, I will find something better than this in return.”
37قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلًا
18|37|His friend said to him, as he conversed with him, “Are you being ungrateful to Him who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then evolved you into a man?
38لَّٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا
18|38|But as for me, He is God, my Lord, and I never associate with my Lord anyone.
39وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
18|39|When you entered your garden, why did you not say, “As God wills; there is no power except through God”? Although you see me inferior to you in wealth and children.
40فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا
18|40|Perhaps my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and release upon it thunderbolts from the sky, so it becomes barren waste.
41أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَاؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَن تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا
18|41|Or its water will sink into the ground, and you will be unable to draw it.”
42وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا
18|42|And ruin closed in on his crops, and so he began wringing his hands over what he had invested in it, as it lays fallen upon its trellises. And he was saying, “I wish I never associated anyone with my Lord.”
43وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا
18|43|He had no faction to help him besides God, and he was helpless.
44هُنَالِكَ الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّهِ الْحَقِّ ۚ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا
18|44|That is because authority belongs to God, the True. He is Best in rewarding, and Best in requiting.

H 1111, Ch. 108, h 34 Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Urama and Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah from Ali ibn Hassa’n from ‘Abd Allah ibn Kathir from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most High: ‘What do they quarrel about? (78:1) They quarrel about the great news,’ (78:2) the Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said, ‘The great news stands for Leadership with Divine Authority of ‘A’immah (Leaders with Divine Authority).’ I asked him about the meaning of, ‘. . . That is because authority belongs to God, the True. He is Best in rewarding, and Best in requiting.. . . .’ (18:44) The Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said, ‘It refers to the guardianship and Leadership with Divine Authority of Amir alMu’minin Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant).’”

45وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا
18|45|And cite for them the parable of the present life: it is like water that We send down from the sky; the plants of the earth absorb it; but then it becomes debris, scattered by the wind. God has absolute power over everything.

Abu Al-Hassan Musaasws having said: ‘Amir-ul-Momineenasws used to bequeath to hisasws companions saying: ‘Iasws bequeath you to fear Allahazwj for it is happiness for the truthful seeker, and a heavy shackle for the runaway fugitive. وَ اسْتَشْعِرُوا التَّقْوَى شِعَاراً بَاطِناً وَ اذْآُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِآْراً خَالِصاً تَحْيَوْا بِهِ أَفْضَلَ الْحَيَاةِ وَ تَسْلُكُوا بِهِ طَرِيقَ النَّجَاةِ And be aware of the piety realising it within yourselves, and remember Allahazwj with a sincere Remembrance, being revived by it, and journey upon the path of salvation. انْظُرُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا نَظَرَ الزَّاهِدِ الْمُفَارِقِ لَهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُزِيلُ الثَّاوِيَ السَّاآِنَ وَ تَفْجَعُ الْمُتْرَفَ الْآمِنَ لَا يُرْجَى مِنْهَا مَا تَوَلَّى فَأَدْبَرَ وَ لَا يُدْرَى مَا هُوَ آتٍ مِنْهَا فَيُنْتَظَرَ وُصِلَ الْبَلَاءُ مِنْهَا بِالرَّخَاءِ وَ الْبَقَاءُ مِنْهَا إِلَى فَنَاءٍ 23 out of 55 Look at this world with the vision of the ascetics, the ones who have parted from it, for it dislodges its residents and causes distress to the affluent ones who (superficially) feel safe. Do not hope for those that are turned away from it, not knowing what it is that will come from it. So await patiently for the prosperity upon the arrival of the afflictions from it, and the survival from it up to the end. So its happiness is tainted with the grief, and the survival in it is up to the weakness and the fragility. So it is like a garden, the pasture of which is dense causing those who look at it, to wonder at it. Its drinks are sweet, its covering (soil) is good, its roots are excited in the ground, and its branches drip moisture until the grass reaches its due level. The scent gets triggered under the blades and gets separated from it in the morning, just as Allahazwj has Said: “[18:45] then it becomes dry broken into pieces which the winds scatter; and Allah is the holder of power over all things.” Look at this world and the numerous things which cause you to wonder, and the scarcity of the things which benefit you’.

46الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
18|46|Wealth and children are the adornments of the present life. But the things that last, the virtuous deeds, are better with your Lord for reward, and better for hope.
47وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
18|47|On the Day when We set the mountains in motion; and you see the earth emerging; and We gather them together, and leave none of them behind.
48وَعُرِضُوا عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا
18|48|They will be presented before your Lord in a row. “You have come to Us as We created you the first time. Although you claimed We would not set a meeting for you.”
49وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
18|49|And the book will be placed, and you will see the sinners fearful of its contents. And they will say, “Woe to us! What is with this book that leaves nothing, small or big, but it has enumerated it?” They will find everything they had done present. Your Lord does not wrong anyone.
50وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا
18|50|We said to the angels, “Bow down to Adam.” So they bowed down, except for Satan. He was of the jinn, and he defied the command of his Lord. Will you take him and his offspring as lords instead of Me, when they are an enemy to you? Evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers.
51۞ مَّا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا
18|51|I did not call them to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation; and I do not take the misleaders for assistants.
52وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ نَادُوا شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّوْبِقًا
18|52|On the Day when He will say, “Call on My partners whom you have claimed.” They will call on them, but they will not answer them. And We will place between them a barrier.
53وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا
18|53|And the sinners will see the Fire, and will realize that they will tumble into it. They will find no deliverance from it.
54وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا
18|54|We have elaborated in this Quran for the people every kind of example, but the human being is a most argumentative being.
55وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلًا
18|55|What prevented people from accepting faith, when guidance has come to them, and from seeking their Lord’s forgiveness? Unless they are waiting for the precedent of the ancients to befall them, or to have the punishment come upon them face to face.
56وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۚ وَيُجَادِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ ۖ وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَمَا أُنذِرُوا هُزُوًا
18|56|We send the messengers only as deliverers of good news and warners. Those who disbelieve argue with false argument, in order to defeat the truth thereby. They take My Verses, and the warnings, for a joke.
57وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ ۚ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۖ وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا
18|57|Who does greater wrong than he, who, when remi
nded of his Lord’s revelations, turns away from them, and forgets what his hands have put forward? We have placed coverings over their hearts, lest they understand it, and heaviness in their ears. And if you call them to guidance, they will not be guided, ever.
58وَرَبُّكَ الْغَفُورُ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ ۖ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابَ ۚ بَل لَّهُم مَّوْعِدٌ لَّن يَجِدُوا مِن دُونِهِ مَوْئِلًا
18|58|Your Lord is the Forgiver, Possessor of Mercy. Were He to call them to account for what they have earned, He would have hastened the punishment for them. But they have an appointment from which they will find no escape.
59وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا
18|59|And these towns—We destroyed them when they committed injustices, and We set for their destruction an appointed time.
60وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا
18|60|Recall when Moses said to his servant, “I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two rivers, even if it takes me years.”
61فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا
18|61|Then, when they reached the junction between them, they forgot about their fish. It found its way into the river, slipping away.
62فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبًا
18|62|When they went further, he said to his servant, “Bring us our lunch; we were exposed in our travel to much fatigue.”
63قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا
18|63|He said, “Do you remember when we rested by the rock? I forgot about the fish. It was only the devil who made me forget it. And so it found its way to the river, amazingly.”
64قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا
18|64|He said, “This is what we were seeking.” And so they turned back retracing their steps.
65فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَا آتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا
18|65|Then they came upon a servant of Ours, whom We had blessed with mercy from Us, and had taught him knowledge from Our Own.
66قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا
18|66|Moses said to him, “May I follow you, so that you may teach me some of the guidance you were taught?”
67قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا
18|67|He said, “You will not be able to endure with me.
68وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا
18|68|And how will you endure what you have no knowledge of?”
69قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا
18|69|He said, “You will find me, God willing, patient; and I will not disobey you in any order of yours.”
70قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا
18|70|He said, “If you follow me, do not ask me about anything, until I myself make mention of it to you.”
71فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا ۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا
18|71|So they set out. Until, when they had boarded the boat, he holed it. He said, “Did you hole it, to drown its passengers? You have done something awful.”
72قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا
18|72|He said, “Did I not tell you that you will not be able to endure with me?”
73قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا
18|73|He said, “Do not rebuke me for forgetting, and do not make my course difficult for me.”
74فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَامًا فَقَتَلَهُ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُّكْرًا
18|74|Then they set out. Until, when they encountered a boy, he killed him. He said, “Did you kill a pure soul, who killed no one? You have done something terrible.”
75۞ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا
18|75|He said, “Did I not tell you that you will not be able to endure with me?”
76قَالَ إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَيْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَاحِبْنِي ۖ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّي عُذْرًا
18|76|He said, “If I ask you about anything after this, then do not keep company with me. You have received excuses from me.”
77فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ ۖ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَاتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا
18|77|So they set out. Until, when they reached the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. There they found a wall about to collapse, and he repaired it. He said, “If you wanted, you could have obtained a payment for it.”
78قَالَ هَٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا
18|78|He said, “This is the parting between you and me. I will tell you the interpretation of what you were unable to endure.
79أَمَّا السَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَاكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَاءَهُم مَّلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًا
18|79|As for the boat, it belonged to paupers working at sea. I wanted to damage it because there was a king coming after them seizing every boat by force.
80وَأَمَّا الْغُلَامُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَخَشِينَا أَن يُرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا
18|80|As for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared he would overwhelm them with oppression and disbelief.
81فَأَرَدْنَا أَن يُبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُ زَكَاةً وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمًا
18|81|So we wanted their Lord to replace him with someone better in purity, and closer to mercy.
82وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَامَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَالِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَا أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمْرِي ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا
18|82|And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphaned boys in the town. Beneath it was a treasure that belonged to them. Their father was a righteous man. Your Lord wanted them to reach their maturity, and then extract their treasure—as a mercy from your Lord. I did not do it of my own accord. This is the interpretation of what you were unable to endure.”

H 1561, CH 26, h 6 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Safwan al-Jammal who has said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: ‘The tumbling wall belonged to two orphans in the town whose father has been a righteous person. Underneath the wall there was a treasure that belonged to them. . . .’ (18:82) “The Imam said, ‘It is a fact that the treasure did not consist of gold and silver. It consisted of four words: “No one deserves to be worshipped except I (Allah). Whoever has realized with certainty that death is inevitable has enough reason not to laugh for a year. Whoever has realized with certainty that accountability on the Day of Judgment is true has enough reason for his heart not to rest in ease. Whoever has realized with certainty that Allah does everything with strict measurements has enough reason not to fear anyone except Allah.”’”

H 1564, CH 26, h 9 Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Asbat who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, saying, ‘In the treasure mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: “Underneath the wall there was a treasure that belonged to them. . . .,” (18:82) there were the following statements: ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, strange to me is the case of a person who is certain of the coming of death but he feels happy. Strange to me is the case of a person who is certain of the strict measurement of Allah but he feels depressed. Strange to me is the case of a person who is aware of all the up and down in the world with its inhabitants but he still relies on it. It is expected from a man who has understanding of Allah not to accuse Allah in His decision and not to consider Him slow in His Providence.’ I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I want to write it down. The Imam gave me, I swear by Allah, the inkpot so I can write. I reached out to his hands and kissed them and then took the ink pot and wrote down the Hadith.’”

83وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَن ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُو عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا
18|83|And they ask you about Zul-Qarnain. Say, “I will tell you something about him.”

18:83
This ḥadīth is narrated in `Alī b. al-Ḥussayn b. Bābuwayh al-Qummī’s (al-Ṣadūq’s father) book al-Imāmah wa al-Tabṣirah, al-Ṣadūq’s Kamāl (or, Ikmāl) al-Dīn and al-Rawāndī’s Qasas al-Anbiyā’, with the same chain of narrators. This same ḥadīth is also narrated in al-`Ayyāshī’s Tafsīr, with a truncated chain from Abī Baṣīr.
____________________

Sa`ad b. `Abd Allāh narrated from Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. `Īsa from `Alī b. al-Nu`mān from Hārūn b. Khārijah from Abī Baṣīr from Abī Ja`far (عليه السلام) said, “Dhu’l Qarnayn was not a prophet, but he was a righteous slave, he loved Allāh, and Allāh loved him. He was an adviser of Allāh, and Allāh advised him. He commanded his people to taqwa of Allāh, and they hit him on the (side) of his head, and he disappeared from them for a time, then he returned to them and they hit him on his other (side) of his head, and there is among you who is upon his sunnah (tradition)”

H 696, Ch. 53, h 1 Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Humran ibn A‘yan who has said the following: “Once I asked abu Ja‘far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, ‘What is the position of the scholars?’ The Imam said, ‘It is like Dhul Qarnayn (see 18:83 – 99 Holy Quran), the companion of Solomon (see 27:40), and the companion of Moses, peace be upon him.” (see 18:65)

84إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا
18|84|We established him on earth, and gave him all kinds of means.
85فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
18|85|He pursued a certain course.
86حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا ۗ قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا
18|86|Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a murky spring, and found a people in its vicinity. We said, “O Zul-Qarnain, you may either inflict a penalty, or else treat them kindly.”
This does not mean that the sun sets into a murky spring. It refers to the fact that they traveled a long distance, and the sun was setting in over a brown expanse of water. The sun setting in in the west, means they were traveling west. 
87قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا
18|87|He said, “As for him who does wrong, we will penalize him, then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with an unheard-of torment.
88وَأَمَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُ جَزَاءً الْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًا
18|88|“But as for him who believes and acts righteously, he will have the finest reward, and We will speak to him of Our command with ease.”
89ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
18|89|Then he pursued a course.
90حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا
18|90|Until, when he reached the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no shelter from it.
91كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا
18|91|And so it was. We had full knowledge of what he had.
92ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
18|92|Then he pursued a course.
93حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًا
18|93|Until, when he reached the point separating the two barriers, he found beside them a people who could barely understand what is said.
94قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا
18|94|They said, “O Zul-Qarnain, the Gog and Magog are spreading chaos in the land. Can we pay you, to build between us and them a wall?”
95قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا
18|95|He said, “What my Lord has empowered me with is better. But assist me with strength, and I will build between you and them a dam.”
96آتُونِي زُبَرَ الْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ الصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ انفُخُوا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَعَلَهُ نَارًا قَالَ آتُونِي أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا
18|96|“Bring me blocks of iron.” So t
hat, when he had leveled up between the two cliffs, he said, “Blow.” And having turned it into a fire, he said, “Bring me tar to pour over it.”
97فَمَا اسْطَاعُوا أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا لَهُ نَقْبًا
18|97|So they were unable to climb it, and they could not penetrate it.
98قَالَ هَٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقًّا
18|98|He said, “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes true, He will turn it into rubble, and the promise of my Lord is always true.”
99۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعْضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَاهُمْ جَمْعًا
18|99|On that Day, We will leave them surging upon one another. And the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather them together.
100وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا
18|100|On that Day, We will present the disbelievers to Hell, all displayed.
101الَّذِينَ كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِي غِطَاءٍ عَن ذِكْرِي وَكَانُوا لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعًا
18|101|Those whose eyes were screened to My message, and were unable to hear.
102أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَن يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِن دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ ۚ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلًا
18|102|Do those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants for masters instead of Me? We have prepared Hell for the hospitality of the faithless.
103قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا
18|103|Say, “Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in their works?”
104الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا
18|104|“Those whose efforts in this world are misguided, while they assume that they are doing well.”
105أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا
18|105|It is they who rejected the communications of their Lord, and the encounter with Him. So their works are in vain. And on the Day of Resurrection, We will consider them of no weight.
106ذَٰلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا
18|106|That is their requital—Hell—on account of their disbelief, and their taking My revelations and My messengers in mockery.
107إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا
18|107|As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, they will have the Gardens of Paradise for hospitality.
108خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا
18|108|Abiding therein forever, without desiring any change therefrom.
109قُل لَّوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا
18|109|Say, “If the ocean were ink for the words of my Lord, the ocean would run out, before the words of my Lord run out,” even if We were to bring the like of it in addition to it.
110قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
18|110|Say, “I am only a human being like you, being inspired that your god is One God. Whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and never associate anyone with the service of his Lord.”

H 2478, CH 112, h 4 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’ini who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . whoever desires to meet his Lord should strive righteously and should worship no one besides Him,’ (18:11
0) abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, has said, “A man performs a good deed and thereby he does not seek rewards from Allah but rather he wants to purify people desiring them to hear him. He has made his obedience for Allah to be shared with others.” The Imam then said, ‘Any servant (of Allah) who performs a good deed privately and times pass forever still, Allah will manifest its good (result) for him. Any servant (of Allah) who performs an evil deed privately and times pass forever still, Allah will uncover for him an evil (result).’”

[al-`Ayyashi] From Sama`a b. Mihran. He said: I asked Abu `Abdillah عليه السلام about the saying of Allah “let him do a righteous act, and associate none with the worship of his Lord” (18:110)

He said: The righteous act is recognition of the Imams “and associate none with the worship of his Lord” surrender to `Ali, not associating with him in the khilafa whoever is that is not for, and whoever is not worthy of it.

حدثنا جعفر بن أحمد عن عبيد الله بن (عبد الله ط) بن موسى عن الحسن (بن حمزة ط) بن علي بن أبي حمزة عن أبيه والحسين (الحسن ط) بن أبي العلا وعبد الله بن وضاح وشعيب العقرقوفي جميعهم عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قوله: إنما أنا بشر مثلكم قال: يعني في الخلق أنه مثلهم مخلوق { يوحى إلي – إلى قوله – بعبادة ربه أحداً } قال: لا يتخذ مع ولاية آل محمد ولاية غيرهم وولايتهم العمل الصالح فمن أشرك بعبادة ربه فقد أشرك بولايتنا وكفر بها وجحد أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام حقه وولايته

[al-Qummi] Ja`far b. Ahmad from `Ubaydullah b. Musa from al-Hasan b. `Ali b. Abi Hamza from his father and al-Husayn b. Abi al-`Ala and `Abdullah b. Waddah and Shu`ayb al-`Aqarqufi all from Abu Basir from Abu `Abdillah عليه السلام regarding His saying “I am only a man like you” He said: Meaning in creation, that he like them is created “It is revealed to me” to His saying “by the worship of his Lord anyone” He said: One is not to take the walayat of other than them with the walayat of the Family of Muhammad, and their walayat is the righteous deed. So whoever has committed shirk in the worship of His Lord has committed shirk in our walayat, and disbelieved in it, and denied Amir al-Mu’mineen عليه السلام his right (or: truth) and his walayat.

H 4106, Ch. 46, h 1 Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmar from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ who has said the following: “Once I visited Ali al-Rida, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. There was a water jug in front of him and he was about to take Wudu’ for Salat (prayer). I went closer to pour water to help him to take Wudu’. He said, ‘Hold it, O Hassan.’ I then asked, ‘Why do you stop me from pouring water so you take Wudu’ and I can receive rewards for it?’ He replied, ‘You will receive rewards, but I will be burdened.’ I then asked, ‘How can that happen?’ He replied, ‘Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “Those who wish to meet (receive mercy from) their Lord should do good deeds and not allow anyone else to share in (their) worshipping their Lord.” (18:110) I am about to take Wudu’ for Salat (prayer). I do not want anyone to share with me my act of worship.’”