Transliteration:( Innahum iny yazharoo 'alaikum yarjumookum aw yu'eedookum fee millatihim wa lan tuflihooo izan abadaa )
"Indeed, if they were to gain dominance over you, they would stone you or force you back into their faith, and if that were to happen, you would never succeed [44]."
This verse highlights several important rulings and spiritual insights. Firstly, it shows that if a person is unable to openly express their faith due to hostile circumstances, then it is permissible for them to conceal it temporarily. However, continuing to live among disbelievers while concealing faith is not allowed. At the first opportunity, one must migrate from such an environment to protect their religion. Hence, the story of the Companions of the Cave cannot be cited to justify a life of pretentious concealment among non-believers.
Secondly, the verse indicates that apostasy—turning back to disbelief—is a disaster worse than death itself, comparable to falling into fire. It must be avoided at all costs, for it leads to a complete and eternal failure in the Hereafter.
Thirdly, a sincere and pious believer must place complete trust in Allah Almighty, and remain constantly cautious of spiritual decline. The Companions of the Cave feared that prolonged exposure to disbelief might cause their hearts to incline towards it. They understood that if they were forced back into such a life, they might never be able to return to Islam, thereby endangering their eternal salvation.
Their fear was not a weakness in faith but rather a sign of deep consciousness of the soul’s vulnerability and their unwavering dedication to protecting their Imaan. Therefore, when they said, “you would never succeed,” they were acknowledging that true success lies in maintaining faith, and not in compromising it under worldly pressure.
The tafsir of Surah Kahf verse 20 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Kahf ayat 19 which provides the complete commentary from verse 19 through 21.
(18:20) For if they should come upon us, they will stone us to death or force us to revert to their faith whereafter we shall never prosper.”
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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