Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Kahf Verse 12

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Thereafter We raised them up, so that We know which of the two groups had better calculated the period in which they remained (sleeping).

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

then We raised them so We may show which of the two groups would make a better estimation of the length of their stay.[[ The People of the Cave themselves disagreed on how long they had slept in the cave. See {18:19}.]] 

Ruwwad Translation Center

Then We awakened them so that We may see which of the two parties would be more precise in calculating the length of their stay.

A. J. Arberry

Afterwards. We raised them up again, that We might know which of the two parties would better calculate the while they had tarried.

Abdul Haleem

Then We woke them so that We could make clear which of the two parties was better able to work out how long they had been there.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Thereafter We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties was best at reckoning the time that they had tarried.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then We roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried!

Abul Ala Maududi

and then roused them so that We might see which of the two parties could best tell the length of their stay.

Ahmed Ali

Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed.

Ahmed Raza Khan

We then awakened them to see which of the two groups more accurately tells the period they had stayed.

Ali Quli Qarai

Then We aroused them that We might know which of the two groups better reckoned the period they had stayed.

Ali Ünal

Then We raised them up, (and dividing into two groups, they discussed how long they had remained in that state). We willed to make known which of the two groups were (more consciousness of time with the events in it, and therefore) better in computing for what period they had remained (in this state).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Then We raised them up (for making certain efforts) that We might distinguish as to which of the two groups had made better use of the time they had stayed there according to its rightful requirement.

English Literal

Then We sent/resurrected/revived them to know which (of) the two groups/parties (is) more counting/controlling to what time they remained/waited .

Faridul Haque

We then awakened them to see which of the two groups more accurately tells the period they had stayed.

Hamid S. Aziz

Then We raised them up again, that We might know which of the two parties could best calculate the time of their tarrying.

Hilali & Khan

Then We raised them up (from their sleep), that We might test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period that they had tarried.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So We prevented them from hearing in the Cave for a number of years,

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Then We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties was best able to compute the time for which they remained.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried.

Muhammad Sarwar

Then We roused them to find out which of the party had the correct account of the duration of their sleep in the cave.

Qaribullah & Darwish

and thereafter We revived them to find out which of the two parties could best calculate the length of their stay.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Then We raised them up, that We might test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period they tarried.

Wahiduddin Khan

Then We woke them up again so that We might see which of the two groups would better calculate the time they had stayed there.

Talal Itani

Then We awakened them to know which of the two groups could better calculate the length of their stay.

Tafsir jalalayn

Then We aroused them, We awakened them, that We might know, a knowledge of direct vision, which of the two parties, the two groups in disagreement over the length of their stay [in the cave], was better in calculating (ahs is [of the pattern] of af`al, meaning `more precise']) what they had tarried (li-m labith is semantically connected to the following) in [terms of the] length of time (amadan, [in the accusative] denotes purpose).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ

Then We raised them up,

from that slumber,

and one of them went out with his Dirhams (silver coins) to buy them some food, as it will be discussed in more detail below.

Allah says;

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ

Then We raised them up, that We might test which of the two parties,

meaning, the two parties who disputed about them,

أَحْصَى لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا



was best at calculating the time period that they tarried.

It was said that this refers to how long they stayed in the cave