Translation and Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf: Ayah 21
Similarly, We caused them to be found so that they would know that Allah’s promise is true, and that the Hour undoubtedly will occur. Then they were in dispute about their matter. They said, ‘Build a structure over them. Their Lord knows best about them.’ Those who had authority then said, ‘We shall surely build a mosque over their place.’
[Surah al-Kahf: 21]
Tafsir
The surah goes on depicting another event related to the story of the young men of the cave after they were found by the people of the town. It strikingly reveals Allah’s Omnipotence, and Wisdom.
Similarly, We caused them to be found so that they would know that Allah’s promise is true, and that the Hour undoubtedly will occur. Then they were in dispute about their matter. They said, ‘Build a structure over them. Their Lord knows best about them.’ Those who had authority then said, ‘We shall surely build a mosque over their place.’ [21]
The ayah sets forth the rationale for making the people of the town know about the young men of the cave.
Just as We, Allah, made the young men sleep for a long time, and caused them to be raised, We made the people of the town know about them so that they would know that resurrection would certainly take place on the Day of Judgment.
Whoever saw the young men of the cave, and knew of their affairs would be certain that the One, who was able to make them sleep for so long time, and then raise them again, is able to bring the dead back to life. Moreover, Allah will resurrect people on the Day of Judgment, call them to account for what they did in the worldly life and recompense them according to their deeds.
The scholars mention how the people of the town knew about the young men of the cave. The person whom the young men of the cave sent to the town to buy them food went to the market. When he bought the food, he gave the seller the silver coins. When the seller saw the coins, he was astonished because the coins went back to a very early time. Then he made other merchants see him. They asked him about where he found the coins. He told them about his story and his fellows who fled from the town because they feared that the disbelievers would persecute them. The people took that person to their king and told him about his story. Then the king went with that person to the cave to see his fellows. When he saw them, he welcomed them. Then Allah caused the young men of the cave to die.
Then the ayah narrates what happened after the young men died.
(Then they were in dispute about their matter. They said, ‘Build a structure over them. Their Lord knows best about them.’ Those who had authority then said, ‘We shall surely build a mosque over their place.’)
The people who found the young men of the cave disputed over them. Some of them said that they should build a structure over their place, so the people would not reach out to them.
(Their Lord knows best about them.)
Some scholars believe that the disputing people said this statement. They said, ‘Leave their matter to Allah. He knows best about their affairs.’ Other scholars maintain that Allah said this statement that is to say, leave this dispute. Allah, knows best about their affairs.
(Those who had authority then said, ‘We shall surely build a mosque over their place.’)
The people who had authority and power then said, ‘We shall build a mosque over their graves so that we shall worship Allah there.’
It is prohibited to build mosques over graves and worship Allah there in Islam. Messenger Muhammad said, ‘Allah has cursed the Jews and Christians. They have made their prophets’ graves places for prayer.’
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