Tafseer of The Cave · Al-Kahf · 18:91
Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the words of Allah the Exalted: كَذَلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا (So it was; and We encompassed with knowledge what was with him).
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, concerning His word وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ لَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهَا سِتْرًا — he said: They never built any structure there, nor was any structure ever raised over them. When the sun rose over them, they would enter underground passages until the sun disappeared, or they would go into the sea. This was because their land had no mountains. Once an army marched against them, and the inhabitants said to them: See to it that the sun does not rise over you while you are still here. But they said: We will not leave until the sun rises — what are these bones? It was answered: These are the corpses of an army over whom the sun rose here and who died. He said: Then they fled away across the land.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: Maʿmar informed us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word تَطْلُعُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ لَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهَا سِتْرًا — he said: It has reached us that they were in a place where no structure remained standing, so that at the rising of the sun they would enter underground passages until the sun withdrew from them, after which they would come out for their sustenance.
Others said: Those were the inhabitants of Zanzibar (al-Zanj).
* Narration of those who said this:
Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: Maʿmar informed us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word تَطْلُعُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ لَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهَا سِتْرًا — he said: It is said that they are the inhabitants of Zanzibar (al-Zanj).
As for His word كَذَلِكَ : its meaning is: Then he once again followed a way (sababā), in such a manner, until he reached the rising-place of the sun. The word "kadhālika" is a connection to "atbaʿa" (he followed), and the true meaning of the sentence is: Then he followed a way until he reached the rising-place of the sun, just as he had followed a way until he reached its setting-place.
His word وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا means: and We encompassed with knowledge what is at the rising-place of the sun; nothing is hidden from us of the creatures that are found there, nor of their circumstances and means, nor of anything else.
In agreement with what we have said concerning the meaning of "khubrā" (knowledge) spoke the interpreters of the Qurʾān (ahl al-taʾwīl).
* Narration of those who said this:
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word خُبْرًا — he said: Knowledge.
Al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid — the same.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His word كَذَلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا — he said: Knowledge.
