Surah Al-Kahf 18:95
سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ · Meccan · Verse 95 of 110
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌۭ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا
Translation
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:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'He said: What my Lord has established me in is better [than your tribute]. So assist me with strength, and I will build a barrier between you and them.' Ibn Ashur and al-Saadi note the refusal of payment, 'ma makkanni fihi rabbi khayr': what God has already granted me is better than your money; keep your tribute, just lend your effort. He serves for God, not for gain. Ask yourself: offered a fee for his help, the powerful man declines it, his sufficiency is in God's provision, not in extracting more from the needy. Contrast the garden-owner who hoarded and boasted. Real service seeks no price; it asks only that people share in the work. Where I have the means to help, do I look for what I can get from it, payment, gratitude, leverage, reputation, or can I serve simply because God has already given me enough? And do I invite others to contribute their strength rather than just paying to be saved?
Grounded in classical tafsir: Ibn Ashur, al-Saadi, al-Biqa'i.
Wording
In this powerful verse, we hear Dhul-Qarnayn responding to a plea for help. The people he encountered, burdened by the destructive raids of Gog and Magog, offered him *kharaj* (tribute or payment) to build a barrier. Dhul-Qarnayn's reply, infused with wisdom and reliance on Allah, is profound in its careful choice of words.
Allah's Abundance
Dhul-Qarnayn begins by saying, “مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ” (What my Lord has established me in is better). He asserts that the wealth, power, and dominion Allah has already bestowed upon him far surpass any monetary offering they could make. As al-Zamakhshari explains, Dhul-Qarnayn is essentially saying he has no need for their financial tribute. This highlights his deep gratitude and contentment with Allah's provision, demonstrating a leader whose motivation is not personal gain but fulfilling a divine purpose. His immense resources, as noted by Ibn Ashur, mean he is self-sufficient through Allah's blessings.
The Call for Strength
Instead of money, Dhul-Qarnayn asks for something different: “فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ” (So assist me with strength). Here, the word *quwwah* (strength) is not about financial power but physical power and labor. Al-Zamakhshari clarifies that this refers to skilled workers and craftsmen who can build, along with the necessary tools. Ibn Ashur further specifies "strength of bodies," indicating Dhul-Qarnayn sought their active participation in construction. He wished for them to contribute their effort and manpower to solve their own problem, rather than simply paying him to do it. This calls for collective effort and personal investment in their protection.
A Mighty Barrier
Finally, Dhul-Qarnayn promises, “أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا” (I will make between you and them a *radm*). The choice of the word *radm* is particularly significant. While a *sadd* (سد) is a general term for a dam or barrier, scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi emphasize that *radm* is a much larger and more robust type of barrier. Al-Zamakhshari describes it as a strong, solid, fortified partition, comparing it to a "patched garment" (ثوب مردم) made of "patch over patch," suggesting a layered and reinforced construction. Ibn Ashur adds that it might imply building multiple walls or filling the space between two walls, making it an incredibly resilient structure. This specific word choice conveys the extraordinary scale and durability Dhul-Qarnayn intended for his construction, reflecting the immense threat posed by Gog and Magog and the thoroughness of his solution, all through Allah's enabling.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Qur'anic Worlds
This verse introduces us to Dhul-Qarnayn's response to a people desperately seeking protection from the destructive Ya'juj and Ma'juj. He had journeyed to a land nestled between two mountains, where he found a nation struggling against these raiders. When they offered him financial tribute (kharaj) to build a barrier, his reply revealed a profound lesson in leadership and sincere devotion.
A Leader's Sincere Heart
Dhul-Qarnayn's words, "قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ" (He said, "What my Lord has empowered me with is better"), immediately clarify his intention. As scholars like Ibn Kathir and Sayyid Qutb explain, this was a statement of profound piety and righteousness. He wasn't motivated by worldly gain or the wealth they offered. He saw the strength and dominion granted to him as a blessing from Allah, far superior to any earthly payment. His purpose wasn't personal enrichment, but to use the resources Allah had provided to bring justice and end corruption on earth, rejecting the offered "kharaj" (tribute or tax).
A Call for Collective Strength
Instead of demanding money, Dhul-Qarnayn made a different request: "فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ" (So assist me with strength). This "quwwah" (strength) was not financial but physical. Al-Baghawi and al-Tabari clarify that he asked for manpower, skilled workers, and tools to construct the barrier. He sought their active participation and collective effort, emphasizing cooperation over mere payment. This choice highlights his character as a leader who engaged his people in a noble cause, making them stakeholders in their own protection rather than just beneficiaries of his power.
Building a Strong Barrier
Dhul-Qarnayn promised to construct a "رَدْمًا" (radman), which al-Tabari describes as a barrier even stronger and more secure than a typical "sadd" (dam or wall). This monumental task was necessary to contain the "mischievous and savage" Ya'juj and Ma'juj, whose destructive raids plagued the region, as noted by Mufti Shafi. The story of Dhul-Qarnayn in the Quranic narrative stands as a powerful example of divinely guided leadership, emphasizing humility, selflessness, and the importance of collaborative effort in facing oppression and establishing peace.
Sources: al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), Ibn Kathir, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Kahf 18:95 is discussed in 14 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 18:95 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.