So it was, that We caused them to be discovered, that they would know that the promise of God is true, and that of the Hour there is no doubt. As they were disputing their case among themselves, they said, "Build over them a building." Their Lord knows best about them. Those who prevailed over their case said, "We will set up over them a place of worship."
Does the Qur'an mention building tombs or shrines?
In short
- The text says: as the people disputed about the sleepers of the cave, some said to build a building over them, and those who prevailed said they would set up a place of worship over them, a mosque in Palmer and a chapel in Sale (18:21); and the places of worship are for God, so call on no one else besides Him (72:18).
- The text does not say: whether building over a grave is right or wrong; 18:21 reports what people said, and the text gives no ruling on it.
- The rest comes from: two reports outside the Qur'an, set out in full below: prophets' graves (Bukhari 1330) and levelling graves (Muslim 969a).
Hadith references link to sunnah.com. Any grading shown there is that site's, not AALAMIN's.
Where the renderings split
18:21, Itani: "We will set up over them a place of worship"
18:21, Pickthall: "We verily shall build a place of worship over them"
18:21, Palmer: "make a mosque over them"
18:21, Rodwell: "A place of worship will we surely raise over them"
18:21, Sale: "we will surely build a chapel over them"
Key findingsEditorial
One finding for each passage this study carries, in the order the study reads them. Each is the reason that passage was signed into the study, in full and unedited - including, where the renderings disagree, the disagreement.
In plain wordsEditorial written by the editors, not a translation
The text tells of one building over the dead, as the words of people in a story. At 18:21 some say "Build over them a building", in Itani's words, and "Those who prevailed over their case" say "We will set up over them a place of worship." Palmer has "make a mosque over them", and Sale "we will surely build a chapel over them".
The verse reports what was said, and says, in Pickthall's words, "their Lord knoweth best concerning them". It does not say whether the building was right.
At 72:18 Itani has "The places of worship are for God. So do not call, besides God, upon anyone else."
Outside the Qur'an, a report that the Prophet in his last illness said God cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their prophets as places of prayer is in Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 23: Funerals (Al-Janaa'iz) (Bukhari 1330); a report that he sent Ali not to leave a high grave without levelling it is in Sahih Muslim, Book 11: The Book of Prayer - Funerals (Muslim 969a).
Scope of this study
This platform shows the verse, its easy-read line, its translations, a plain-words reading, and each verse among its neighbours. It does not supply occasion of revelation, interpretation (tafsir) or history, and it never invents them.
What this rests on
Opens with 18:21, widening across 2 passages in all.
Easy-read
Easy-read is a simplified pronunciation, not authoritative — a rule-by-rule romanisation, not a reading. Each verse ends in its pause form, as it is said when you stop there. Pauses inside a verse and other tajwid rules are not shown. It is derived from the Tanzil Simple edition, while the Arabic above is the Uthmani edition; both are cleared, but they are not the same edition and their orthography differs.
The versesSource fact 2 passages, each with every cleared translation
2 passages, chosen for this question and signed as part of it. Each carries the reason it is here, and each renders in full: the Arabic, then every cleared translation of that verse under its translator's name.
Each verse opens on the translation that comes first in the site's fixed order, which runs from the newest translation to the oldest. The order is not a preference. Open Compare translations on any verse to read the others.
18:21
Why this passage is in the study finding 01
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَٰنًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)wakadhaalika a'tharnaa 'alayhim liya'lamoo anna wa'da llaahi haqqun wa'anna s-saa'ata laa rayba feehaa idh yatanaaza'oona baynahum amrahum faqaaloo bnoo 'alayhim bunyaanan rabbuhum a'lamu bihim qaala lladheena ghalaboo 'alaa amrihim lanattakhidhanna 'alayhim masjidaa
DIN 31635wakaḏālika ʾaʿṯarnā ʿalayhim liyaʿlamū ʾanna waʿda llāhi ḥaqqun waʾanna s-sāʿata lā rayba fīhā ʾiḏ yatanāzaʿūna baynahum ʾamrahum faqālū bnū ʿalayhim bunyānan rabbuhum ʾaʿlamu bihim qāla llaḏīna ġalabū ʿalā ʾamrihim lanattaḫiḏanna ʿalayhim masǧidan
EditionTanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) ·Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Compare translations (4)
And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them
Thus did we make their people acquainted with their story, that they might know that God's promise is true; and that the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When they disputed amongst themselves concerning their affair, and said, 'Build a building over them, their Lord knows best about them;' and those who prevailed in their affair said, 'We will surely make a mosque over them
And thus made we their adventure known to their fellow citizens, that they might learn that the promise of God is true, and that as to "the Hour" there is no doubt of its coming. When they disputed among themselves concerning what had befallen them, some said, "Build a building over them; their Lord knoweth best about them." Those who prevailed in the matter said, "A place of worship will we surely raise over them
And so We made their people acquainted with what had happened to them; that they might know that the promise of God is true, and that there is no doubt of the last hour; when they disputed among themselves concerning their matter. And they said, erect a building over them: Their Lord best knoweth their condition. Those who prevailed in their affair answered, we will surely build a chapel over them
Sources
EditionTanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) ·Uthmani, Version 1.1·Tanzil Project ·Creative Commons Attribution 3.0·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Receipts Tanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) · Uthmani, Version 1.1
- Edition
- Uthmani, Version 1.1
- Custodian
- Tanzil Project
- Layer
- canonical text
- Licence
- Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
- Licence URL
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
- Commercial use
- yes
- Modification
- contradictory
- Licence text
- read verbatim
- Review state
- cleared
- Retrieved
- 24 August 2026
- Digest
- 203f0f1bf3158b1e5be4ab9f8f6870e5…
- Located at
- https://tanzil.net/pub/download/index.php?quranType=uthmani&outType=xml
- Convention
- Hafs/Kufan verse numbering, 6236 ayahs. The bismillah is delivered as a separate `bismillah` attribute on ayah 1 and is NOT fused into the ayah text. 112 surahs carry one: every surah except al-Fatiha, where the bismillah is ayah 1:1 itself, and at-Tawba, which has none. Sourced from the XML output; the plain-text output of the same release DOES fuse it, which is defect D1.
CLEARED. Licence read verbatim from the block embedded in this very file. Ingested exactly as shipped: no normalisation, no stripping of marks, no Unicode recomposition.
Other languages (18)
Dhe kështu, Ne bëmë që ata të zbuloheshin, në mënyrë që (njerëzit) ta dinë se premtimi i Allahut është i vërtetë dhe se nuk ka dyshim për Kiametin. Teksa grindeshin me njëri-tjetrin për çështjen e tyre, thanë: "Ndërtoni një ndërtesë mbi ta. Zoti i tyre di më së miri për ta." Por, ata që kishin më shumë pushtet, lidhur me çështjen e tyre thanë: "Ne do të ndërtojmë mbi ta një faltore."
আর এমনিভাবে আমি তাদের ব্যাপারে (শহরবাসী লোকদেরকে) জানিয়ে দিলাম, যাতে তারা জানতে পারে যে, নিশ্চয় আল্লাহর ওয়াদা সত্য এবং কিয়ামতের ব্যাপারে কোনো সন্দেহ নেই। যখন তারা নিজেদের মধ্যে তাদের বিষয়টি (গুহাবাসীদের ব্যাপারে করণীয় বিষয়) নিয়ে বিতর্ক করছিল, তখন তাদের একদল বললো: ‘তাদের ওপর তোমরা একটি ভবন (স্মৃতি সৌধ) নির্মাণ করো।’ তাদের রবই তাদের ব্যাপারে অধিক জ্ঞাত। (গুহাবাসীদের ব্যাপারে) নিজেদের কর্তব্য বিষয়ে যাদের মত প্রাধান্য লাভ করেছিল, তারা বললো: ‘আমরা অবশ্যই তাদের ওপর একটি মসজিদ নির্মাণ করবো।’
I Mi smo, isto tako, učinili da oni za njih saznaju, da bi se uvjerili da je istinito Allahovo obećanje i da u čas oživljenja nema nikakve sumnje, kad su se između sebe o njima raspravljali, i rekli: “Sagradite na ulazu u nju ogradu, Gospodar njihov najbolje zna ko su oni.” A onda oni do čijih se riječi najviše držalo rekoše: “Napravit ćemo na ulazu u nju bogomolju!” [1]
I Mi smo, isto tako, učinili da oni za njih saznaju, da bi se uvjerili da je istinito Allahovo obećanje i da u čas oživljenja nema nikakve sumnje, kad su se između sebe o njima raspravljali, i rekli: “Sagradite na ulazu u nju ogradu, Gospodar njihov najbolje zna ko su oni.” A onda oni do čijih se riječi najviše držalo rekoše: “Napravit ćemo na ulazu u nju bogomolju!”[1]
Ko nii min n njaltiniri fii maɓɓe, fii yo ɓe nganndu pellet, Fodoore Alla nde ko nde Goonga, Pellet, Darnga sikke alaa e maggal. Tuma nde ɓe pooɗondiratnoo hakkunde maɓɓe fiyaake maɓɓe ɗen, ɓe mbi'i'i: "Mahee e hoore maɓɓe maadi, ko Joomi maɓɓe woni gannduɗo fii maɓɓe." Ɓe foolɓe e fiyaake mu'un mbi'i i: "Min njogitoto e dow maɓɓe Juulirde."
ამგვარად ვაცნობეთ [იმ ჭაბუკებზე] მათ [იმ ხალხისთვის, ვინც მათ დროში ცხოვრობდა], რათა გაეგოთ, რომ ალლაჰის აღთქმა [აღდგომის დღეზე] ჭეშმარიტია, და რომ საათში [სამსჯავროს დღის დადგომა] ეჭვი არ არის. და ისინი კამათობდნენ ერთმანეთში მათი მდგომარეობის შესახებ. და თქვეს: «ააგეთ მათ თავსზემოთ [ამ გამოქვაბულის] შენობა [ტაძარი] [რათა მან დაფაროს ისინი] [და თავი დაანებეთ ამ ჭაბუკებს, რადგან] მათი ღმერთი მათ ყველაზე უკეთ იცნობს». თქვეს იმათ, რომელთაც უპირატესობა მოიპოვეს მათ საქმეში: «უსათუოდ ავაგებთ მათ თავსზემოთ სალოცავს».
Und auf diese Weise ließen Wir (die Menschen) sie doch entdecken, damit sie wissen, dass das Versprechen Allahs wahr ist und dass es an der Stunde keinen Zweifel gibt. Als sie (also die Menschen der Stadt) untereinander über ihre Angelegenheit stritten, sagten sie daraufhin: „Errichtet über ihnen einen Bau. Ihr Herr weiß am besten über sie Bescheid.“ Diejenigen, die in ihrer Angelegenheit überlegen waren, sagten: „Wir werden uns über ihnen fürwahr eine Gebetsstätte einrichten.“
(Όπως τους κάναμε τα παραπάνω θαύματα), ομοίως, κάναμε τους άλλους (τους κατοίκους της πόλης και τον βασιλιά τους) να μάθουν γι' αυτούς (και την ιστορία τους, όταν είδαν τα παλιά νομίσματα μ' αυτόν που πήγε να αγοράσει φαγητό). Για να μάθουν (οι κάτοικοι της πόλης όταν είδαν αυτό το Σημάδι) ότι η υπόσχεση του Αλλάχ (για την ανάσταση) είναι αληθινή, και ότι δεν υπάρχει καμία αμφιβολία για την Ώρα (της Ημέρας της Κρίσεως). [Όμως όταν έφτασαν, οι κάτοικοι, έξω από το σπήλαιο, και ζήτησε εκείνος που πήγε να αγοράσει φαγητό να μπεί πρώτος για να μην τρομάξουν οι άλλοι, πέθανε αυτός και οι σύντροφοί του στο σπήλαιο], τότε διαφώνησαν (οι άνθρωποι) μεταξύ τους για το θέμα εκείνων (των νέων), και έτσι (κάποιοι) είπαν: «Χτίστε έναν τοίχο στην είσοδο του σπηλαίου τους (για να τους προστατεύει). Ο Κύριός τους γνωρίζει καλύτερα την κατάστασή τους (και την ενάρετη θέση τους).» Όμως εκείνοι που επικράτησαν στο θέμα τους, είπαν: «Πράγματι, θα χτίσουμε στον τόπο τους ένα τζαμί (τόπο λατρείας για να τους θυμόμαστε και ως τιμή γι' αυτούς).»
और इसी प्रकार, हमने (लोगों को) उनसे अवगत करा दिया, ताकि वे जान लें कि अल्लाह का वादा सत्य है, और क़ियामत (के आने) में कोई संदेह[6] नहीं। (याद करो) जब वे[7] (उनके विषय में) आपस में विवाद करने लगे। कुछ लोगों ने कहा : उनपर कोई भवन निर्माण करा दो, उनका पालनहार उनके बारे में अधिक जानता है। जो लोग उनके मामले में प्रभावी रहे, उन्होंने कहा : हम तो उन (की गुफा के स्थान) पर अवश्य एक मस्जिद बनाएँगे।
E così li facemmo scoprire, perché si rendessero conto che la promessa di Allāh era vera e che in verità l’Ora è indiscutibile. E quando loro erano impegnati a dibattere i loro affari, il popolo disse: «Costruite su di loro un edificio! Il loro Dio li conosce meglio di noi.» Quelli che ebbero la meglio (nella discussione) dissero: «Costruiamo sopra di loro un Masjid!»
21. Ir taip Mes padarėme jų istoriją žinomą (žmonėms), kad jie galėtų žinoti, jog Allaho Pažadas yra tiesa, ir kad negali būti jokios abejonės dėl Valandos. (Atmink) kai jie (miesto žmonės) ginčijosi tarp savęs apie jų istoriją, jie tarė: „Pastatykite pastatą virš jų, jų Viešpats žino geriausiai apie juos.“ (Tada) tie, kurie pasiekė savo tikslą tarė (greičiausiai netikintieji): „Mes tikrai pastatysime garbinimo vietą virš jų.“
Akka kanatti isaan irratti mul’ifne. akka isaan beellamni Rabbii dhugaa ta’uu beekaniifi Qiyaamaa shakkiin (dhufiinsa) ishee keessa hinjiruu (akka beekaniif), yeroo isaan gidduu isaaniitti waa’ee isaanii (warra holqaa) keessatti wal dhaban, Ni jedhan: ijaarsa isaan irratti ijaaraa Gooftaa isaaniitu isaan beekaa,.” Warri dhimma isaanii irratti injifatan immoo nijedhan “Nuti dhugumatti, masjida isaan irratti godhanna”. (bakka sanitti masgiida jaaranna).
Так Мы дали [людям] обнаружить их, чтобы они узнали, что обещание Аллаха — истина и что в Часе нет сомнения, — когда они спорили между собой о своём деле. И они сказали: «Возведите над ними строение. Их Господь лучше знает о них». Те же, которые одержали верх в их деле, сказали: «Мы непременно устроим над ними место поклонения».
И Ми смо, исто тако, учинили да они за њих сазнају, да би се уверили да је истинито Аллахово обећање и да у час оживљења нема никакве сумње, кад су се између себе о њима расправљали, и рекли: “Саградите на улазу у њу ограду, Господар њихов најбоље зна ко су они.” А онда они до чијих се речи највише држало рекоше: “Направићемо на улазу у њу богомољу!”
Na namna hivo ndivyo tulivyowajulisha kwa watu ili wapate kujua ya kwamba ahadi ya Mwenyezi Mungu ni ya kweli, na kwamba Saa haina shaka. Walipokuwa wakigombania jambo lao wao kwa wao, wakasema: Jengeni jengo juu yao. Mola wao Mlezi anawajua vyema. Wakasema wale walioshinda katika shauri yao: Bila ya shaka tutajenga msikiti juu yao.
Så lät vi dem upptäckas för att [stadens invånare] skulle inse att Guds löfte är sant och att det inte råder tvivel om den yttersta stundens [ankomst]. De tvistade sinsemellan om vad de skulle göra med deras [gravplats]. Somliga sa: ”Res en mur framför dem. Deras Herre känner dem bäst.” De som fick sin vilja igenom sa: ”Vi bygger en helgedom vid dem!”
Böylece (insanları) onlardan haberdar ettik ki, Allah'ın vâdinin hak olduğunu, kıyametin şüphe götürmez olduğunu bilsinler. Hani onlar kendi meselelerini aralarında tartışıyorlardı. Bunun üzerine: “Üzerlerine bir bina yapın” demişlerdi. Rableri onları daha iyi bilendir. Fakat onların işine galip gelenler ise, “Mutlaka onların üstüne bir Mescid edineceğiz” dediler.
ہم نے اس طرح لوگوں کو ان کے حال سے آگاه کر[1] دیا کہ وه جان لیں کہ اللہ کا وعده بالکل سچا ہے اور قیامت میں کوئی شک وشبہ نہیں[2]۔ جب کہ وه اپنے امر میں آپس میں اختلاف کر رہے[3] تھے کہنے لگے کہ ان کے غار پر ایک عمارت بنا لو[4]۔ ان کا رب ہی ان کے حال کا زیاده عالم[5] ہے۔ جن لوگوں نے ان کے بارے میں غلبہ پایا وه کہنے لگے کہ ہم تو ان کے آس پاس مسجد بنالیں گے.[6]
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وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)wakadhaalika ba'athnaahum liyatasaa'aloo baynahum qaala qaa'ilun minhum kam labithtum qaaloo labithnaa yawman aw ba'da yawmin qaaloo rabbukum a'lamu bimaa labithtum fab'athoo ahadakum biwariqikum haadhihi ilaa l-madeenati falyanzur ayyuhaa azkaa ta'aaman falya'tikum birizqin minhu walyatalattaf walaa yush'iranna bikum ahadaa
DIN 31635wakaḏālika baʿaṯnāhum liyatasāʾalū baynahum qāla qāʾilun minhum kam labiṯtum qālū labiṯnā yawman ʾaw baʿḍa yawmin qālū rabbukum ʾaʿlamu bimā labiṯtum fabʿaṯū ʾaḥadakum biwariqikum hāḏihi ʾilā l-madīnati falyanẓur ʾayyuhā ʾazkā ṭaʿāman falyaʾtikum birizqin minhu walyatalaṭṭaf walā yušʿiranna bikum ʾaḥadan
Even so, We awakened them, so that they may ask one another. A speaker among them said, "How long have you stayed?" They said, "We have stayed a day, or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed." "Send one of you to the city, with this money of yours, and let him see which food is most suitable, and let him bring you some provision thereof. And let him be gentle, and let no one become aware of you."
And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you
Thus did we raise them up that they might question each other. Spake a speaker amongst them, 'How long have ye tarried?' They said, 'We have tarried a day or part of a day.' They said, 'Your Lord knows best your tarrying; so send one of you with this coin of yours to the city, and let him look which of them has purest food, and let him bring you provision thereof; and let him be subtle and not let any one perceive you
So we awaked them that they might question one another. Said one of them, "How long have ye tarried here?" They said, "We have tarried a day or part of day." They said, "Your Lord knoweth best how long ye have tarried: Send now one of you with this your coin into the city, and let him mark who therein hath purest food, and from him let him bring you a supply: and let him be courteous, and not discover you to any one
And so We awaked them from their sleep, that they might ask questions of one another. One of them spake and said, how long have ye tarried here? They answered, we have tarried a day, or part of a day. The others said, your Lord, best knoweth the time ye have tarried: And now send one of you with this your money into the city, and let him see which of its inhabitants hath the best and cheapest food, and let him bring you provision from him; and let him behave circumspectly, and not discover you to any one
إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِى مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)innahum in yazharoo 'alaykum yarjumookum aw yu'eedookum fee millatihim walan tuflihoo idhan abadaa
DIN 31635ʾinnahum ʾin yaẓharū ʿalaykum yarǧumūkum ʾaw yuʿīdūkum fī millatihim walan tufliḥū ʾiḏan ʾabadan
The translators word this verse differently
"If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you back into their religion; then you will never be saved."
For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper
Verily, they - should they perceive you - would stone you, or would force you back again unto their faith, and ye would never prosper then
For they, if they find you out, will stone you or turn you back to their faith, and in that case it will fare ill with you for ever
Verily, if they come up against you, they will stone you, or force you to return to their religion; and then shall ye not prosper for ever
18:21 — the verse above
سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَٰثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءً ظَٰهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)sayaqooloona thalaathatun raabi'uhum kalbuhum wayaqooloona khamsatun saadisuhum kalbuhum rajman bil-ghaybi wayaqooloona sab'atun wathaaminuhum kalbuhum qul rabbee a'lamu bi'iddatihim maa ya'lamuhum illaa qaleelun falaa tumaari feehim illaa miraa'an zaahiran walaa tastafti feehim minhum ahadaa
DIN 31635sayaqūlūna ṯalāṯatun rābiʿuhum kalbuhum wayaqūlūna ḫamsatun sādisuhum kalbuhum raǧman bil-ġaybi wayaqūlūna sabʿatun waṯāminuhum kalbuhum qul rabbī ʾaʿlamu biʿiddatihim mā yaʿlamuhum ʾillā qalīlun falā tumāri fīhim ʾillā mirāʾan ẓāhiran walā tastafti fīhim minhum ʾaḥadan
They will say, "Three, and their fourth being their dog." And they will say, "Five, and their sixth being their dog," guessing at the unknown. And they will say, "Seven, and their eighth being their dog." Say, "My Lord knows best their number." None knows them except a few. So do not argue concerning them except with an obvious argument, and do not consult any of them about them.
(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them
They will say, 'Three, and the fourth of them was their dog:' and they will say, 'Five, and the sixth of them was their dog:' guessing at the unseen: and they will say, 'Seven, and the eighth of them was their dog.' Say, 'My Lord knows best the number of them; none knows them but few.' Dispute not therefore concerning them save with a plain disputation, and ask not any one of them concerning them
Some say, "They were three; their dog the fourth:" others say, "Five; their dog the sixth," guessing at the secret: others say, "Seven; and their dog the eighth." SAY: My Lord best knoweth the number: none, save a few, shall know them
Some say, the sleepers were three; and their dog was the fourth: And others say, they were five; and their dog was the sixth; guessing at a secret matter: And others say, they were seven; and their dog was the eighth. Say, my Lord best knoweth their number: None shall know them, except a few. Wherefore dispute not concerning them, unless with a clear disputation, according to what hath been revealed unto thee: And ask not any of the Christians concerning them
وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)walaa taqoolanna lishay'in innee faa'ilun dhaalika ghadaa
DIN 31635walā taqūlanna lišayʾin ʾinnī fāʿilun ḏālika ġadan
The translators word this verse differently
And never say about anything, "I will do that tomorrow."
And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow
And never say of anything, 'Verily, I am going to do that to-morrow
Therefore be clear in they discussions about them, and ask not any Christian concerning them
Say not of any matter, I will surely do this to morrow
72:18
Why this passage is in the study finding 02
وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)wa'anna l-masaajida lillaahi falaa tad'oo ma'a llaahi ahadaa
DIN 31635waʾanna l-masāǧida lillāhi falā tadʿū maʿa llāhi ʾaḥadan
The translators word this verse differently
The places of worship are for God. So do not call, besides God, upon anyone else.
Compare translations (4)
And the places of worship are only for Allah, so pray not unto anyone along with Allah
And (say) that the mosques are God's, and that ye should not call on any one with God
It is unto God that the temples are set apart: call not then on any other therein with God
Verily the places of worship are set apart unto God: Wherefore invoke not any other therein together with God
Sources
EditionTanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) ·Uthmani, Version 1.1·Tanzil Project ·Creative Commons Attribution 3.0·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Receipts Tanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) · Uthmani, Version 1.1
- Edition
- Uthmani, Version 1.1
- Custodian
- Tanzil Project
- Layer
- canonical text
- Licence
- Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
- Licence URL
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
- Commercial use
- yes
- Modification
- contradictory
- Licence text
- read verbatim
- Review state
- cleared
- Retrieved
- 24 August 2026
- Digest
- 203f0f1bf3158b1e5be4ab9f8f6870e5…
- Located at
- https://tanzil.net/pub/download/index.php?quranType=uthmani&outType=xml
- Convention
- Hafs/Kufan verse numbering, 6236 ayahs. The bismillah is delivered as a separate `bismillah` attribute on ayah 1 and is NOT fused into the ayah text. 112 surahs carry one: every surah except al-Fatiha, where the bismillah is ayah 1:1 itself, and at-Tawba, which has none. Sourced from the XML output; the plain-text output of the same release DOES fuse it, which is defect D1.
CLEARED. Licence read verbatim from the block embedded in this very file. Ingested exactly as shipped: no normalisation, no stripping of marks, no Unicode recomposition.
Other languages (18)
Me të vërtetë, xhamitë janë vetëm për Allahun, prandaj mos iu falni askujt krahas Allahut!
আর নিশ্চয় মসজিদগুলো আল্লাহর জন্যই (নির্দিষ্ট)। কাজেই (সেখানে) তোমরা আল্লাহর সাথে অন্য কাউকে ডেকো না।
Mesdžidi jesu Allaha radi, i ne molite, pored Allaha, nikoga!
Mesdžidi jesu Allaha radi, i ne molite, pored Allaha, nikoga!
E won'de juulirɗe ɗeen ko Allah leeranii. Wata on kafidu e Allah hay e gooto.
და რომ მეჩეთები ალლაჰისაა, ამიტომ ნუ მოუხმობთ ალლაჰთან ერთად ნურავის.
Und die Gebetsstätten gehören ja Allah; so ruft neben Allah niemanden an.
Τα Τζαμιά είναι για τον Αλλάχ (και μόνο): έτσι, να μην επικαλείστε (μέσα της) κανέναν μαζί με τον Αλλάχ (όπως έκαναν οι Εβραίοι και οι Χριστιανοί που επικαλούνται τον Ιησού, την Μαρία και τους αγίους κλπ. μέσα στα τεμένη και τις εκκλησίες τους).
और यह कि मस्जिदें[2] केवल अल्लाह के लिए हैं। अतः अल्लाह के साथ किसी को भी मत पुकारो।
E in verità i masajid sono di Allāh: Non invocate nessuno all’infuori di Allāh.
18. Ir (Jis apreiškė), kad masadžid (mečetės) yra skirtos Allahui, taigi nesišaukite ir negarbinkite nieko kito šalia Allaho.
Masjiidonni kan Rabbiiti; Rabbii wajjiin homaa hin waammatinaa.
И что мечети принадлежат Аллаху, так не призывайте же наряду с Аллахом никого.
Џамије су ради Аллаха, и не молите се, поред Аллаха, никоме!
Na hakika misikiti ni ya Mwenyezi Mungu, basi msimuabudu yeyote pamoja na Mwenyezi Mungu.
Moskéerna tillhör Gud, tillbe därför inte någon vid Guds sida.
Mescitler Allah’ındır. O halde Allah ile birlikte başkasına dua/ibadet etmeyin.
اور یہ کہ مسجدیں صرف اللہ ہی کے لئے خاص ہیں پس اللہ تعالیٰ کے ساتھ کسی اور کو نہ پکارو.[1]
Show context
The verses around this oneSource fact
shown so it's never read alone
وَأَلَّوِ ٱسْتَقَٰمُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَٰهُم مَّآءً غَدَقًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)wa'an lawi staqaamoo 'alaa t-tareeqati la'asqaynaahum maa'an ghadaqaa
DIN 31635waʾan lawi staqāmū ʿalā ṭ-ṭarīqati laʾasqaynāhum māʾan ġadaqan
The translators word this verse differently
Had they kept true to the Path, We would have given them plenty water to drink.
If they (the idolaters) tread the right path, We shall give them to drink of water in abundance
And if they will go right upon the way, we will irrigate them with copious water
Moreover, if they (the Meccans) keep straight on in that way, we will surely give them to drink of abundant waters
If they tread in the way of truth, We will surely water them with abundant rain
لِّنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ وَمَن يُعْرِضْ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِۦ يَسْلُكْهُ عَذَابًا صَعَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)linaftinahum feehi waman yu'rid 'an dhikri rabbihi yaslukhu 'adhaaban sa'adaa
DIN 31635linaftinahum fīhi waman yuʿriḍ ʿan ḏikri rabbihi yaslukhu ʿaḏāban ṣaʿadan
To test them with it. Whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will direct him to torment ever mounting.
That We may test them thereby, and whoso turneth away from the remembrance of his Lord; He will thrust him into ever-growing torment
to try them thereby; and whoso turns from the remembrance of his Lord He will drive him to severe torment
That we may prove them thereby: but whoso withdraweth from the remembrance of his Lord, him will He send into a severe torment
that We may prove them thereby: But whoso turneth aside from the admonition of his Lord, him will he send into a severe torment
72:18 — the verse above
وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)wa'annahu lammaa qaama 'abdu llaahi yad'oohu kaadoo yakoonoona 'alayhi libadaa
DIN 31635waʾannahu lammā qāma ʿabdu llāhi yadʿūhu kādū yakūnūna ʿalayhi libadan
The translators word this verse differently
And when the servant of God got up calling on Him, they almost fell on him in a mass.
And when the slave of Allah stood up in prayer to Him, they crowded on him, almost stifling
and that when God's servant stood up to pray they called out to him and well-nigh crowded upon him
When the servant of God stood up to call upon Him, the djinn almost jostled him by their crowds
When the servant of God stood up to invoke Him, it wanted little but that the genii had pressed on him in crouds, to hear him rehearse the Koran
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُوا۟ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا
Easy-read line: a pronunciation guide, not authoritative
Easy-read (simplified)qul innamaa ad'oo rabbee walaa ushriku bihi ahadaa
DIN 31635qul ʾinnamā ʾadʿū rabbī walā ʾušriku bihi ʾaḥadan
Say, "I pray only to my Lord, and I never associate anyone with Him."
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): I pray unto Allah only, and ascribe unto Him no partner
Say, 'I only call upon my Lord, and I join no one with Him
SAY: I call only upon my Lord, and I join no other being with Him
Say, verily I call upon my Lord only, and I associate no other god with Him
What this study rests on, and what it refusessigned with it2 of the 2 paragraphs signed with this study
The selection above and this account of it are part of what was signed. Where the renderings disagree it says so; where the question runs past what has cleared the rights audit it says that too.
The question asks whether the Qur'an mentions building tombs or shrines. The probe 'tomb' and 'shrine' returns 14 rows at eleven verses; none speaks of building one, and they are recorded as not carried. 18:21 is reached by its own words, building over them.
Vows at shrines are read in the study Do offerings or vows (mannat) at a shrine or to a pir (a spiritual guide) bring blessings? This study names two reports outside the Qur'an and does not grade them.
Studies that read the same verses
Sources & method
Translations Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an ·1880 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Translations George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an ·1734 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Translations John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired
John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an ·1861 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Translations Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran·Public domain — copyright term expired
Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran ·1930 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026
Translations Talal Itani, ClearQuran·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Talal Itani, ClearQuran ·ClearQuran, "God" edition, EPUB·Talal Itani / ClearQuran.com ·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International·retrieved 7 Sep 2026
Translation by Talal Itani, ClearQuran.com https://clearquran.com
Editorial status
- Editorial status
- Editorially prepared · not independently reviewed — signed by the AALAMIN Editor; no external scholarly review
- Theme
- Nature
- Review status
- Published
- 25 October 2026
A dashed outline marks a tag the editors handle with extra care. It describes how this study is filed and shown, not what the verses say.
AALAMIN Editor
Qur'anic text from the Tanzil Project. Copyright (C) 2007-2026 Tanzil Project License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Source: tanzil.net · Updates: tanzil.net/updates/ https://tanzil.net/updates/