Surah Al Kahf Tafseer

Their awakening and sending One of Themselves to buy Food

Allah says:

وَكَذَلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَايِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ

Likewise, We woke them that they might question one another. A speaker among them said:

Allah says:`just as We caused them to sleep, We resurrected them with their bodies, hair and skin intact, and nothing lacking in their form and appearance.' This was after three hundred and nine years. This is why they asked each other,

كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ

How long have you stayed (here),

meaning, `how long have you slept!'

قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ

They said:"We have stayed a day or part of a day."

because they entered the cave at the beginning of the day, and they woke up at the end of the day, which is why they then said,

أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ

قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ

"...or a part of a day." They said:"Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed..."

meaning, `Allah knows best about your situation.'

It seems that they were not sure about how long they had slept, and Allah knows best.

Then they turned their attention to more pressing matters, like their need for food and drink, so they said:

فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ

So send one of you with this silver coin of yours,

They had brought with them some Dirhams (silver coins) from their homes, to buy whatever they might need, and they had given some in charity and kept some, so they said:

فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ

So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town,

meaning to their city, which they had left. The definite article indicates that they were referring to a known city.

فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَى طَعَامًا

and let him find out which is the Azka food.

Azka means "purest", as Allah says elsewhere,

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَى مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَداً

And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure (Zaka) from sins. (24:21)

and

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّى

Indeed whosoever purifies himself (Tazakka) shall achieve success. (87:14)

From the same root also comes the word Zakah, which makes one's wealth good and purifies it.

فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ

and bring some of that to you.

وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ

And let him be careful,

meaning when he goes out buying food and coming back.

They were telling him to conceal himself as much as he could,

وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا