Transliteration:( Qulil laahu a'lamu bimaa labisoo lahoo ghaibus samaawaati wal ardi absir bihee wa asmi'; maa lahum min doonihee minw waliyyinw wa laa yushriku fee hukmihee ahadaa )
"Say, ‘Allah knows best how long they stayed.’ To Him belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth. How well He sees and how well He hears! They have no protector besides Him, and He associates no one in His command."
When the People of Najraan heard the verse about the Companions of the Cave staying for three hundred years and nine more, they questioned the additional nine years. In response, this verse was revealed to explain the difference between the solar and lunar calendars. The solar year is approximately ten days longer than the lunar year. Thus, over the course of a hundred years, this difference accumulates to about three extra years, and over three hundred years, it adds up to nine years. This precise explanation was beyond their knowledge, hence the reminder that Allah knows best how long they stayed.
This part of the verse emphasizes the incomparable power of Allah’s seeing and hearing, such that one is left amazed. The expression “How excellent He sees and how excellent He hears” is not a question, but rather an exclamation of awe and amazement, reflecting the limitless perception of Allah Almighty.
There is no real helper or guardian for the people of the heavens and the earth except Allah. This means that anyone else thought to be a helper is a mere illusion. The verse clarifies that attributing protective power to others besides Allah is baseless. However, this statement does not contradict verses like “Only Allah is your Friend and His Messenger” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:55), because such friendship and help are by Allah’s will and command.
The final phrase asserts that Allah does not share His command with anyone, meaning that His authority is absolute and indivisible. Even if worldly rulers exist, they hold only apparent and temporary power, and all ultimate authority lies with Allah. This verse, therefore, does not conflict with other verses like “Then appoint an arbiter from the side of the family” (Surah An-Nisa 4:35), because that is an instruction within a worldly framework, under divine guidance.
The tafsir of Surah Kahf verse 26 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Kahf ayat 25 which provides the complete commentary from verse 25 through 26.
(18:26) Say: “Allah knows best how long they remained in it, for only He knows all that is hidden in the heavens and the earth. How well He sees; how well He hears! The creatures have no other guardian than Him; He allows none to share His authority.”
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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