Al-Kahf 18:97 فما اسطاعوا ان يظهروه وما استطاعوا له نقبا ٩٧

18:97

فَمَا

ٱسۡطَٰعُوٓاْ

أَن

يَظۡهَرُوهُ

وَمَا

ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ

لَهُۥ

نَقۡبٗا

٩٧

And so the enemies could neither scale nor tunnel through it.

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Ibn Kathir (Abridged)

The Barrier restrains Them, but It will be breached when the Hour draws nigh

Allah tells us that Ya'juj and Ma'juj could not climb over the barrier or penetrate its lower portion. Varying forms of the verb are used here in the Arabic text to reflect the difficulty of the action referred to.

فَمَا اسْط

…

The Barrier restrains Them, but It will be breached when the Hour draws nigh

Allah tells us that Ya'juj and Ma'juj could not climb over the barrier or

…

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Read in Context

Chapter 18, Page 303, Juz 16

83. They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Ⱬul-Qarnain. Say, “I will relate to you something of his narrative.” 84. Surely We established him in the land, and gave him the means to all things. 85. So he travelled a course, 86. until he reached the setting ˹point˺ of the sun, which appeared to him to be setting in a spring of murky water, where he found some people. We said, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Either punish them or treat them kindly.” 87. He responded, “Whoever does wrong will be punished by us, then will be returned to their Lord, Who will punish them with a horrible torment. 88. As for those who believe and do good, they will have the finest reward, and we will assign them easy commands.” 89. Then he travelled a ˹different˺ course 90. until he reached the rising ˹point˺ of the sun. He found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no shelter from it. 91. So it was. And We truly had full knowledge of him. 92. Then he travelled a ˹third˺ course 93. until he reached ˹a pass˺ between two mountains. He found in front of them a people who could hardly understand ˹his˺ language. 94. They pleaded, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Surely Gog and Magog are spreading corruption throughout the land. Should we pay you tribute, provided that you build a wall between us and them?” 95. 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. 96. Bring me blocks of iron!” Then, when he had filled up ˹the gap˺ between the two mountains, he ordered, “Blow!” When the iron became red hot, he said, “Bring me molten copper to pour over it.” 97. And so the enemies could neither scale nor tunnel through it. 98. He declared, “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will level it to the ground. And my Lord’s promise is ever true.” 99. On that Day, We will let them surge ˹like waves˺ over one another. Later, the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather all ˹people˺ together. 100. On that Day We will display Hell clearly for the disbelievers, 101. those who turned a blind eye to My Reminder and could not stand listening ˹to it˺.

- Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran