Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Kahf Verse 71

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, they both moved ahead, until when they boarded a boat, he sliced it (by removing one of its planks). He (Mūsā) said, “Did you slice it to drown its people? In fact, you have done a terrible act.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

So they set out, but after they had boarded a ship, the man made a hole in it. Moses protested, “Have you done this to drown its people? You have certainly done a terrible thing!”

Ruwwad Translation Center

So they both set out, until when they boarded a ship, he made a hole in it. Moses said, “Did you make a hole in it to drown its people? You have done something terrible!”

A. J. Arberry

So they departed; until, when they embarked upon the ship, he made a hole in it. He said, 'What, hast thou made a hole in it so as to drown its passengers? Thou hast indeed done a grievous thing.'

Abdul Haleem

They travelled on. Later, when they got into a boat, and the man made a hole in it, Moses said, ‘How could you make a hole in it? Do you want to drown its passengers? What a strange thing to do!’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Then the twain journeyed until when they embarked in a boat, he scuttled it. Musa said: hast thou scuttled it that thou mayest drown the people thereof? Assuredly thou hast committed a thing grievous.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So they both proceeded; until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses; "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!"

Abul Ala Maududi

Then the two went forth until, when they embarked on the boat, he made a hole in it, whereupon Moses exclaimed: "Have you made a hole in it so as to drown the people in the boat? You have certainly done an awful thing."

Ahmed Ali

So they set out till they (came to the quay) and went on board a ship in which he made a hole, (and Moses said:) "You have made a hole in the boat to drown its passengers? You have done a strange thing!"

Ahmed Raza Khan

So they both set out; until when they had boarded the boat, the chosen bondman ruptured the boat; said Moosa, “Did you make a hole in the boat in order to drown its passengers? You have indeed done an evil thing.”

Ali Quli Qarai

So they went on and when they boarded the boat, he made a hole in it. He said, ‘Did you make a hole in it to drown its people? You have certainly done a monstrous thing!’

Ali Ünal

So they set forth until, when they embarked on the boat, he (al-Khadr) made a hole in it. He (Moses) said: "Have you made a hole in it in order to drown its people (who would be using it)? You have certainly done an awful thing!"

Amatul Rahman Omar

So both of them set out until when they embarked in a boat he scuttled it. (Thereupon Moses) said, `Have you scuttled it that you may drown (its) occupants? It is indeed a strangely grievous thing you have done.´

English Literal

So they (B) left/set out until when they (B) rode/boarded in the ship/boat, he made a hole/opening (in) it, he (Moses) said: "Did you make a hole/opening (in) it to drown/sink its people ? You had come (with) a strange/denied thing."

Faridul Haque

So they both set out; until when they had boarded the boat, the chosen bondman ruptured the boat; said Moosa, "Did you make a hole in the boat in order to drown its passengers? You have indeed done an evil thing."

Hamid S. Aziz

He said, "Well then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything until I myself begin to mention it."

Hilali & Khan

So they both proceeded, till, when they embarked the ship, he (Khidr) scuttled it. Musa (Moses) said: "Have you scuttled it in order to drown its people? Verily, you have committed a thing "Imra" (a Munkar - evil, bad, dreadful thing)."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

He said: If thou wouldst follow me, question me not about aught until I myself speak to thee about it.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

So they went (their way) until when they embarked in the boat he made a hole in it. (Musa) said: Have you made a hole in it to drown its inmates? Certainly you have done a grievous thing.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

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.

Muhammad Sarwar

They started their journey and some time latter they embarked in a boat in which he made a hole. Moses asked him, "Did you make the hole to drown the people on board? This is certainly very strange".

Qaribullah & Darwish

So they departed. When they boarded a ship, he bored a hole in it. 'What, have you made a hole in it' he said, 'is it to drown its passengers? You have done a dreadful thing'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

So they both proceeded, till, when they boarded the boat, he (Khidr) damaged it. Musa said: "Have you damaged it wherein its people will drown Verily, you have committed a thing Imr."

Wahiduddin Khan

So they set out, but, when they got into a boat, the man made a hole in it. Moses exclaimed, "Have you made a hole in the boat to drown the people in it? You have indeed done a dreadful thing!"

Talal Itani

So they set out. Until, when they had boarded the boat, he holed it. He said, “Did you hole it, to drown its passengers? You have done something awful.”

Tafsir jalalayn

So they set off, making their way on foot along the coast of the sea, until, when they embarked on the ship, which was carrying them, he, al-Khidr, made a hole in it, by destroying a plank or two on the starboard side with an axe after they had sailed into deep waters. Said he, Moses, to him, `Did you make a hole in it to drown its people? (li-tughriqa ahlah, `for you to drown its people'; a variant reading has li-yaghraqa ahluh, `so that its people might drown'). You have certainly done a dreadful thing', that is, a grave and reprehensible thing -- it is reported that the water did not [actually] penetrate it.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Damaging the Boat

Allah tells;

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا

So they both proceeded, till, when they boarded the boat, he (Khidr) damaged it.

Musa said;"Have you damaged it wherein its people will drown!

Allah tells us that Musa and his companion Al-Khidr set out having come to an agreement and reached an understanding. Al-Khidr had made the condition that Musa should not ask him about anything he found distasteful until he himself initiated the discussion and offered an explanation. So they went on board the ship, as described in the Hadith quoted above -- the crew recognized Al-Khidr and let them ride on board free of charge, as an honor to Al-Khidr.

When the boat took them out to sea and they were far from the shore, Al-Khidr got up and damaged the boat, pulling out one of its planks and then patching it up again.

Musa, peace be upon him, could not restrain himself from denouncing him, so he said;
أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا
(Have you damaged it wherein its people will drown).

The grammatical structure of the sentence in Arabic implies that this was the consequence, not the purpose, of his action.

لَقَدْ جِيْتَ شَيْيًا إِمْرًا



Verily, you have committed a thing Imr.

About `Imr', Mujahid said;

"An evil thing."

Qatadah said,

"An astounding thing."

At this point, reminding him of the previously agreed condition,

قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا