Surah Al-Kahf 18:104
سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ · Meccan · Verse 104 of 110
ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا
Translation
whose efforts in this world are misguided, even when they think they are doing good work?
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'Those whose effort in worldly life is lost, while they think they are doing well in their work.' al-Saadi and Ibn Kathir note the most frightening spiritual condition in the Qur'an, 'yahsabuna annahum yuhsinuna sun'a': they are confident they are doing good, sincerely busy and self-assured, while their whole effort is, in reality, wasted. Ask yourself: this is far more terrifying than the person who knows they are failing. It is the sincere, confident, hard-working person heading in entirely the wrong direction, effort poured into deeds detached from faith and sincerity, or built on falsehood, yet feeling righteous the whole time. It shatters my complacency: sincerity of feeling is no guarantee of soundness of path. The antidote is exactly what the Surah has taught, humility, seeking knowledge, checking my direction against revelation, never assuming. Am I certain my confident 'doing good' is aligned with the truth, or could I be busily, sincerely, building toward this loss?
Grounded in classical tafsir: al-Saadi, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Ashur.
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Kahf 18:104 is discussed in 12 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 18:104 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.