The Cave 18

And when they had gone further, he said unto his servant: Bring us our breakfast. Verily we have found fatigue in this our journey.

He said: Didst thou see, when we took refuge on the rock, and I forgot the fish - and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it - it took its way into the waters by a marvel.

He said: This is that which we have been seeking. So they retraced their steps again.

Then found they one of Our slaves, unto whom We had given mercy from Us, and had taught him knowledge from Our presence.

Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach me right conduct of that which thou hast been taught?

He said: Lo! thou canst not bear with me.

How canst thou bear with that whereof thou canst not compass any knowledge?

He said: Allah willing, thou shalt find me patient and I shall not in aught gainsay thee.

He said: Well, if thou go with me, ask me not concerning aught till I myself make mention of it unto thee.

So they twain set out till, when they were in the ship, he made a hole therein. (Moses) said: Hast thou made a hole therein to drown the folk thereof? Thou verily hast done a dreadful thing.

He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me?

(Moses) said: Be not wroth with me that I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my fault.

So they twain journeyed on till, when they met a lad, he slew him. (Moses) said: What! Hast thou slain an innocent soul who hath slain no man? Verily thou hast done a horrid thing.

He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me?

(Moses) said: If I ask thee after this concerning aught, keep not company with me. Thou hast received an excuse from me.

So they twain journeyed on till, when they came unto the folk of a certain township, they asked its folk for food, but they refused to make them guests. And they found therein a wall upon the point of falling into ruin, and he repaired it. (Moses) said: If thou hadst wished, thou couldst have taken payment for it.

He said: This is the parting between thee and me! I will announce unto thee the interpretation of that thou couldst not bear with patience.

As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working on the river, and I wished to mar it, for there was a king behind them who is taking every ship by force.

And as for the lad, his parents were believers and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.

And we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in purity and nearer to mercy.

And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been righteous, and thy Lord intended that they should come to their full strength and should bring forth their treasure as a mercy from their Lord; and I did it not upon my own command. Such is the interpretation of that wherewith thou couldst not bear.

They will ask thee of Dhu'l-Qarneyn. Say: I shall recite unto you a remembrance of him.

Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road.

Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.

He said: As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment!

But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command.

Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.

So (it was). And We knew all concerning him.

Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hither side a folk that scarce could understand a saying.

They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them?

He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.

Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour thereon.

And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).

He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true.

And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and the Trumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering.

On that day we shall present hell to the disbelievers, plain to view,

Those whose eyes were hoodwinked from My reminder, and who could not bear to hear.

Do the disbelievers reckon that they can choose My bondmen as protecting friends beside Me? Lo! We have prepared hell as a welcome for the disbelievers.

Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works?

Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work.

Those are they who disbelieve in the revelations of their Lord and in the meeting with Him. Therefor their works are vain, and on the Day of Resurrection We assign no weight to them.

That is their reward: hell, because they disbelieved, and made a jest of Our revelations and Our messengers.

Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs are the Gardens of Paradise for welcome,

Wherein they will abide, with no desire to be removed from thence.

Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.

Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your God is only One God. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.