Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Kahf Verse 95

Mufti Taqi Usmani

He said, “What my Lord has (already) given in my control is better enough (for me than the tax you are offering to me), so help me (only) with some (man) power, and I shall make a rampart between you and them.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

He responded, “What my Lord has provided for me is far better. But assist me with resources, and I will build a barrier between you and them.

Ruwwad Translation Center

He said, “What my Lord has given me is better. But help me with manpower, I will construct a barricade between you and them.

A. J. Arberry

He said, 'That wherein my Lord has established me is better; so aid me forcefully, and I will set up a rampart between you and between them.

Abdul Haleem

He answered, ‘The power my Lord has given me is better than any tribute, but if you lend me your strength, I will put up a fortification between you and them:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

He said: better is that where in my Lord hath established me; so help me with might, and I shall place between you and them a rampart.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He said; "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute); Help me therefore with strength (and labour); I will erect a strong barrier between you and them;

Abul Ala Maududi

He answered: "Whatever my Lord has granted me is good enough. But help me with your labour and I will erect a rampart between you and them.

Ahmed Ali

He said: "The ability my Lord has given me is better. So help me with your manual labour; I will build a wall between you and them.

Ahmed Raza Khan

He said, “That which my Lord has given me control over is better, therefore help me with strength – I shall set up a barrier between you and them.”

Ali Quli Qarai

He said, ‘What my Lord has furnished me is better. Yet help me with some strength, and I will make a bulwark between you and them.

Ali Ünal

He said: "What my Lord has established me in (the power that He has granted me on this earth) is better (than what you offer). So help me with strength (manpower) and I will set a strong rampart between you and them.

Amatul Rahman Omar

He said, `The power which my Lord has endowed me with about this is better (than this your tribute), you (only) help me with (your resources and human endeavour of physical) strength. I will raise a rampart between you and them.´

English Literal

He said: "What my Lord highly positioned/strengthened/empowered me in it (is) best , so help/support me with power/strength , I make/create/put between you and between them a blockage/barrier ."

Faridul Haque

He said, "That which my Lord has given me control over is better, therefore help me with strength - I shall set up a barrier between you and them."

Hamid S. Aziz

They said, "O Zul´qarneyn! Verily, Yagug and Magug (Gog and Magog) are doing great evil in the land. Shall we then pay you tribute, that you set between us and them a barrier?"

Hilali & Khan

He said: "That (wealth, authority and power) in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute). So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

They said: O Dhu-l-qarnain, Gog and Magog do mischief in the land. May we then pay thee tribute on condition that thou raise a barrier between us and them?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

He said: That in which my Lord has established me is better, therefore you only help me with workers, I will make a fortified barrier between you and them;

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.

Muhammad Sarwar

He replied, "The power that my Lord has granted me is better (than your tax). Help me with your man-power and I shall construct a barrier between you and Gog and Magog.

Qaribullah & Darwish

He replied: 'That which my Lord has given me is better, therefore help me with all your power, and I will build a barrier between you and between them.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

He said: "That in which my Lord had established me is better. So help me with strength, I will erect between you and them a barrier."

Wahiduddin Khan

He said, "What My Lord has given me is better [than any tribute]. Help me with a force of labourers and I will erect a barrier between you and them:

Talal Itani

He said, “What my Lord has empowered me with is better. But assist me with strength, and I will build between you and them a dam.”

Tafsir jalalayn

He said, `That, wealth and so on, wherewith my Lord has empowered me (makkann, a variant reading has makkanan) is better, than the tribute that you offer me, and so I have no need for it. I shall build for you the barrier without [demanding] a fee; so help me with strength, in that which I [will] demand from you, and I will build between you and them a rampart, a fortified barricade.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ

He said;"That in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute).

meaning, the power and authority that Allah has given me is better for me than what you have collected.

This is like when Suleiman (Solomon), peace be upon him, said;

أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ فَمَأ ءَاتَـنِى اللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّأ ءَاتَـكُمْ


Will you help me in wealth What Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you! (27;36)

Similarly, Dhul-Qarnayn said;

`What I have is better than what you want to give me, but help me with strength, i.e., with your labor and construction equipment,

فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ

So help me with strength,

أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا