Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Kahf Verse 44

Mufti Taqi Usmani

That is where the power of protection rests with Allah, the True God. He is the best in rewarding and best in requiting.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

At this time, support comes ˹only˺ from Allah—the True ˹Lord˺. He is best in reward and best in outcome.

Ruwwad Translation Center

In that situation, the authority only rests with Allah, the True God. He is best in reward and best in outcome.

A. J. Arberry

Thereover protection belongs only to God the True; He is best rewarding, best in the issue.

Abdul Haleem

In that situation, the only protection is that of God, the True God: He gives the best rewards and the best outcome.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Herein is all protection from Allah the True: He is excellent in respect of reward and excellent in respect of the final end!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There, the (only) protection comes from Allah, the True One. He is the Best to reward, and the Best to give success.

Abul Ala Maududi

(Then he knew) that all power of protection rests with Allah, the True One. He is the best to reward, the best to determine the end of things.

Ahmed Ali

The jurisdiction in this province belongs to God. His is the best reward, and His the best requital.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Here brought to light is that the authority is only for Allah, the True; the reward He bestows is the best, and believing in Him has the best outcome.

Ali Quli Qarai

There, all authority belongs to Allah, the Real. He is best in rewarding, and best in requiting.

Ali Ünal

For thus it is: all power to protect belongs to God, the True. He is the best for reward, and the best for the outcome.

Amatul Rahman Omar

At such a time (it is thus established that) protection belongs only to Allâh (and help comes from Him alone), the true (God), He is the Best in respect of rewarding and the Best in respect of bringing about good results.

English Literal

At that place and time the ownership/might (is) to God, the truth , He is (the) best (in) reward/replacement/compensation and best (in) an end.

Faridul Haque

Here brought to light is that the authority is only for Allah, the True; the reward He bestows is the best, and believing in Him has the best outcome.

Hamid S. Aziz

And he had no troop of men to help him against Allah, nor could he save himself.

Hilali & Khan

There (on the Day of Resurrection), Al-Walayah (the protection, power, authority and kingdom) will be for Allah (Alone), the True God. He (Allah) is the Best for reward and the Best for the final end. (La ilaha ill-Allah none has the right to be worshipped but Allah).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And he had no host to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Here is protection only Allah's, the True One; He is best in (the giving of) reward and best in requiting.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward, and best for consequence.

Muhammad Sarwar

In such helplessness, the human being realizes that it is God who is the true Guardian and His rewards and recompense are the best.

Qaribullah & Darwish

that Day. Supremacy belongs only to Allah, the True. He is the best to reward and the best ending.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

There (on the Day of Resurrection), Al-Walayah will be for Allah (Alone), the True God. He (Allah) is the best for reward and the best for the final end.

Wahiduddin Khan

The only support is from God, the True God. He is the best in rewarding and the best in respect of the final outcome.

Talal Itani

That is because authority belongs to God, the True. He is Best in rewarding, and Best in requiting.

Tafsir jalalayn

There, that is, [on] the Day of Resurrection, [all] protection (walya; if read wilya, then [it means] `sovereignty') belongs to God, the True (if read as al-haqqu then it is as an adjective qualifying walya [or wilya], or [if] read as al-haqqi, then it is an attribute of [God's] Majesty). He is better at rewarding, than the rewarding of any [person] other than Him, if such [a person] were [in a position to] reward; and best in consequence (read `uquban or `uqban), [He is best] in terms of the consequence for believers (both [thawban, `rewarding', and `uqban, `consequence'] are in the accusative for [the purpose of] specification).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

هُنَالِكَ الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّهِ الْحَقِّ

to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself. There, Al-Walayah will be for Allah, the True God.

Here there are differences in recitation. Some of the reciters pause at the word there,
وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا

هُنَالِكَ
(nor could he defend himself there), i.e., at that time, when Allah sends the punishment upon him, there will be no one to save him. Then they start the next phrase with Al-Walayah;

(Al-Walayah will be for Allah, the True God).

Some of them pause at the phrase
وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا
(nor could he defend himself) and start the next phrase;
هُنَالِكَ

الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّهِ الْحَقِّ
(There, Al-Walayah will be for Allah, the True God).

There is a further difference in the recitation of the word Al-Walayah. Some read it as Al-Walayah, which gives the meaning that all allegiance will be to Allah,

i.e., on that Day everyone, believer or disbeliever, will return to Allah, for allegiance and submission to Him when the punishment comes to pass.

This is like the Ayah;

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَـفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ

So when they saw Our punishment, they said;"We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as partners." (40;84)

and Allah says concerning the Fir`awn;

وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِى ءَامَنَتْ بِهِ بَنواْ إِسْرَءِيلَ وَأَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

ءَالَنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

Till when drowning overtook him, he said;"I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims." Now! While you refused to believe before and you were one of the mischief-makers. (10;90-91)

Some others read it as Al-Wilayah,

meaning that on that Day the rule will belong to Allah, the True God.
Some read Haqqu (True) referring to Al-Wilayah, as in the Ayah;

الْمُلْكُ يَوْمَيِذٍ الْحَقُّ لِلرَّحْمَـنِ وَكَانَ يَوْماً عَلَى الْكَـفِرِينَ عَسِيراً

The sovereignty on that Day will be the true (sovereignty), belonging to the Most Gracious (Allah), and it will be a hard Day for the disbelievers. (25;26)
Others it read Haqqi referring to Allah, may He be glorified, as in the Ayah;

ثُمَّ رُدُّواْ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَوْلَـهُمُ الْحَقِّ

Then they are returned to Allah, their True Protector. (6;62)
So Allah says;

هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا

He (Allah) is the best to reward and the best for the final end

for deeds that were done for the sake of Allah, their reward is good and their consequences are all good