Quran 18:22 — Surah Al-Kahf Ayah 22 | Arabic, Translation & Tafsir

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ ...

18:22

Al-Kahf

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌۭ ذَٰلِك...

سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَٰثَةٌۭ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌۭ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌۭ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌۭ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءًۭ ظَٰهِرًۭا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًۭا

Sa yaqooloona salaasatur raabi'uhum kalbuhum wa yaqooloona khamsatun saadisuhum kalbuhum rajmam bilghaib; wa yaqooloona sab'atunw wa saaminuhum kalbuhum; qur Rabbeee a'lamu bi'iddatihim maa ya'lamuhum illaa qaleel; falaa tumaari feehim illaa miraaa'an zaahiranw wa laa tastafti feehim minhum ahadaa

They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."

Related Tafsir

Ibn Kathir

Their Number

Allah tells us that people disputed over the number of the people of the Cave. The Ayah mentions three views, proving that there was no fourth suggestion. Allah indicates that the first two opinions are invalid, by saying,

رَجْماً بِالْغَيْبِ

(guessing at the unseen), meaning that they spoke without knowledge, like a person who aims at an unknown target -- he is hardly likely to hit it, and if he does, it was not on purpose. Then Allah mentions the third opinion, and does not comment on it, or He affirms it by saying,

وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ

(and the dog being the eighth.) indicating that this is correct and this is what happened.

قُل رَّبِّى أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم

(Say: "My Lord knows best their number...") indicating that the best thing to do in matters like this is to refer knowledge to Allah, because there is no need to indulge in discussing such matters without knowledge. If we are given knowledge of a matter, then we may talk about it, otherwise we should refrain.

مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ

(none knows them but a few.) of mankind. Qatadah said that Ibn `Abbas said: "I am one of the few mentioned in this Ayah; they were seven. " Ibn Jurayj also narrated that `Ata' Al-Khurasani narrated from him, "I am one of those referred to in this Ayah," and he would say: "Their number was seven." Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said:

مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ

(none knows them but a few.) "I am one of the few, and they were seven." The chains of these reports narrated from Ibn `Abbas, which say that they were seven, are Sahih, and this is in accordance with what we have stated above.

فَلاَ تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلاَّ مِرَآءً ظَـهِرًا

(So debate not except with the clear proof.) meaning, gently and politely, for there is not a great deal to be gained from knowing about that.

وَلاَ تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِمْ مِّنْهُمْ أَحَداً

(And consult not any of them (about the people of the Cave).) meaning, `They do not have any knowledge about it except what they make up, guessing at the unseen; they have no evidence from an infallible source. But Allah has sent you, O Muhammad, with the truth in which there is no doubt or confusion, which is to be given priority over all previous books and sayings.'

View Full Tafsir: Their NumberAyahs 22–22

“Count for me all those who have uttered (the word of) Islam.” We said: “O Messenger of Allah, do you fear for us when we number between six and seven hundred?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “You do not know, perhaps you will be tested.”

Sunan Abu Dawud #4854A similar tradition has been transmitted by Ibn `Umar through a different chain of narrators. This version has:

Abu Salih said: I asked Ibn `Umar: If they are four? He replied: Then it does not harm you.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3411Jabir said:

“Some people from the Jews said to some people among the Companions of the Prophet: ‘Does your Prophet know how many keepers are there in Jahannam?’ They said: ‘We do not know until we ask our Prophet and said: ‘O Muhammad! Your Companions were defeated today.’ He said: ‘In what were they defeated?’ He said: ‘Some Jews asked them if their Prophet knew how many keepers are there in Jahannam.’ He said: ‘So what did they say?’ He said: ‘They said: “We do not know until we ask our Prophet.” He said: ‘Are a people defeated who are asked about something that they do not know, merely because they said, “We do not know until we ask our Prophet?” Rather, there (people) did ask their Prophet, they said: “Show us Allah plainly.” I should ask the enemies of Allah about the Darmak.’ So when they came to him they said: ‘O Abul-Qasim! How many keepers are there in Jahannum?’ He said: ‘This and that many.’ One time ten, and one time nine. They said: ‘Yes.’ He said to them: ‘What is the dirt of Paradise?’” He said: “They were silent for a while, then they said: ‘Is it bread O Abul-Qasim?’ So the Prophet said: ‘The bread is made of Ad-Darmak.’”

Sunan Abu Dawud #3619The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by sa’id b. ‘Urubah through the chain as narrated by Ibn Minhal. This version has :

About an animal and they had no proof. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ordered to cast lots about the oath.

Sunan Abu Dawud #4244Narrated Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman:

I swear by Allah, I do not know whether my companions have forgotten or have pretended to forgot. I swear by Allah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not omit a leader of a wrong belief (fitnah)--up to the end of the world--whose followers reach the number of three hundred and upwards but he mentioned to us his name, his father's name and the name of his tribe.