Surah Al-Kahf 18:10
سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ · Meccan · Verse 10 of 110
إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا
Translation
When the young men sought refuge in the cave and said, ‘Our Lord, grant us Your mercy, and find us a good way out of our ordeal,’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'When the youths took refuge in the cave and said: Our Lord, grant us mercy from Yourself, and prepare for us right guidance in our affair.' al-Saadi and Ibn Kathir note their prayer: fleeing persecution, they ask not first for rescue or comfort but for mercy and 'rashad', right direction through their confusion. Ask yourself: when I am cornered and afraid, my prayers rush straight to 'get me out of this'. These young believers, in real danger, prayed instead for mercy and for their affair to be set right, trusting God with the how. It is a template for prayer under pressure: not dictating the escape route, but asking for His mercy and His guidance and leaving the method to Him. When I'm desperate, do I pray for my preferred solution, or for His mercy and right guidance?
Grounded in classical tafsir: al-Saadi, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Ashur.
Wording
As the believing youth sought refuge from persecution, they did not despair. Instead, their first act upon entering the cave was to turn to Allah with a profound supplication, captured in the beautiful wording of this verse.
The Young Believers' Plea
The verse begins, "When the youth sought refuge in the cave, they said" (إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟). The word used for "youth," *al-fityah*, is a plural that denotes a small, specific group of young men. Imam Ibn Ashur highlights that this isn't just a descriptive term. By explicitly calling them "the youth" instead of simply "they," the Quran subtly emphasizes the qualities associated with *futūwah*: maturity of thought, steadfastness, courage, and a readiness to defend truth. Their young age makes their commitment and trust in Allah even more remarkable. The immediate action indicated by the Arabic particle *fa-* in *fa-qālū* (so they said) shows that their turning to Allah was instantaneous, an immediate reflex of hearts imbued with faith, trust, and complete reliance in their time of fear and uncertainty.
A Mercy from His Very Presence
Their prayer begins with an intimate address: "Our Lord" (رَبَّنَآ). They then ask, "grant us from Your very presence mercy" (ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ). The phrase *min ladunka*, meaning "from Your very presence" or "from Yourself," is especially profound. As scholars like Ibn Ashur, al-Zamakhshari, and al-Razi explain, this isn't a request for just any mercy. It is a plea for a special, abundant mercy that originates directly from Allah's unique and boundless favor and care, a mercy befitting His divine essence. It's a mercy that would encompass everything they needed, from protection and steadfastness to provision and security from their enemies, both in this life and the Hereafter. It highlights their awareness that only Allah could provide such a comprehensive and direct solution to their predicament.
Rectitude for Their Journey
Following their request for mercy, they pray, "and prepare for us from our affair rectitude" (وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا). The word *hayyi'* means "prepare" or "arrange," indicating a request for Allah to orchestrate their circumstances. The "affair" (*amrinā*) here refers to their entire situation: their faith, their flight from persecution, and their solitude in the cave. They seek guidance and success in *all* aspects of their challenging journey.
The word *rashadā* (rectitude or guidance) is used here with open vowels (fatḥatayn), a specific choice that Ibn Ashur notes aligns with the rhythmic beauty of Surah Al-Kahf. It signifies goodness, the finding of truth, benefit, and righteousness in their actions and outcomes. They are not prescribing *how* Allah should help them, but rather entrusting their entire situation to Him, asking for their path to be one of righteousness and ultimate success. This humble yet powerful supplication encapsulates their deep reliance on Allah for both protection and guidance in their flight for faith.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Kahf 18:10 is discussed in 11 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Kahf 18:10 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.