Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Kahf Verse 20

Mufti Taqi Usmani

If they (the habitants of the city) will know about you, they will force you to revert to their faith, and in that case, you will never find success.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

For, indeed, if they find out about you, they will stone you ˹to death˺, or force you back into their faith, and then you will never succeed.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

For if they find out about you, they will stone you or force you back to their religion, and then you will never succeed.”

A. J. Arberry

If they should get knowledge of you they will stone you, or restore you to their creed, then you will not prosper ever.

Abdul Haleem

if they found you out, they would stone you or force you to return to their religion, where you would never come to any good.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Verily they, if they come to know of you, would stone you or make you revert to their faith, and lo! then ye will never fare well.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"For if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity."

Abul Ala Maududi

For if they should come upon us, they will stone us to death or force us to revert to their faith whereafter we shall never prosper."

Ahmed Ali

If they come to know of you they will stone you to death, or force you to go back to their creed; then you will never succeed."

Ahmed Raza Khan

“Indeed if they come to know about you, they will stone you or turn you back to their religion – and if so, you will never prosper.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed should they prevail over you, they will [either] stone you [to death], or force you back into their creed, and then you will never be saved. ’

Ali Ünal

"Indeed, if they should find you out, they will stone you to death or turn you back to their way of belief and life by force, then you will never attain prosperity ever hereafter."

Amatul Rahman Omar

`(For) if they come to know of you they will condemn you or make you revert to their faith (by force) and in that case (that you revert to their faith), you will never attain your goal and prosper ever.´

English Literal

That they truly if they see and know of/overcome on you, they stone you, or they return you in (to) their religion/faith, and you will never/not win/succeed then ever (E).

Faridul Haque

"Indeed if they come to know about you, they will stone you or turn you back to their religion - and if so, you will never prosper."

Hamid S. Aziz

Thus did We raise them up that they might question each other. A speaker from amongst them said, "How long have you tarried?" They said, "We have tarried perhaps a day or part of a day." Others said, "Allah knows best how long you have been here. Now send one of you with this money of your s to the city, and let him look for the best food, and let him bring it to you that you may satisfy your hunger. And let him behave with subtlety (unobtrusively or with care and courtesy) and let no one perceive you (or let no one know about you).

Hilali & Khan

"For if they come to know of you, they will stone you (to death or abuse and harm you) or turn you back to their religion, and in that case you will never be successful."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And thus did We rouse them that they might question each other. A speaker from among them said: How long have you tarried? They said: We have tarried for a day or a part of a day. (Others) said: Your Lord knows best how long you have tarried. Now send one of you with this silver (coin) of yours to the city, then let him see what food is purest, and bring you provision from it, and let him behave with gentleness, and not make your case known to anyone.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

For surely if they prevail against you they would stone you to death or force you back to their religion, and then you will never succeed.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.

Muhammad Sarwar

they would certainly stone us to death or force us to follow their religion. Then we shall never be able to have everlasting happiness."

Qaribullah & Darwish

For, if they appear in front of you, they will stone you to death or restore you to their religion. Then you will never prosper'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

"For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or turn you back to their religion; and in that case you will never be successful."

Wahiduddin Khan

for if they find you out, they will stone you to death, or force you back into their faith. In that case you would never prosper."

Talal Itani

“If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you back into their religion; then you will never be saved.”

Tafsir jalalayn

For indeed if they should come to know of you, they will [either] stone you, kill you by stoning, or make you return to their creed, and then, if you do return to their creed, you will never prosper'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ

and let no man know of you. For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you,

means, `if they find out where you are,'
.
يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ

they will stone you or turn you back to their religion;

They were referring to the followers of Decianus, who they were afraid might find out where they were, and punish them with all kinds of torture until they made them go back to their former religion, or until they died, for if they agreed to go back to their (old) religion, they would never attain success in this world or the Hereafter.

So they said;

وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا




and in that case you will never be successful.