←Prev   Ayah al-Kahf (The Cave) 18:18   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
And thou wouldst have thought that they were awake, whereas they lay asleep. And We caused them to turn over repeatedly, now to the right, now to the left; and their dog [lay] on the threshold, its forepaws outstretched. Hadst thou come upon them [unprepared], thou wouldst surely have turned away from them in flight, and wouldst surely have been filled with awe of them
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And you would have thought they were awake, though they were asleep. We turned them over, to the right and left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. Had you looked at them, you would have certainly fled away from them, filled with horror.
Safi Kaskas   
And you would have thought that they were awake, whereas they were really asleep. And We turned them to the right side and to the left side, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned and run away and been very afraid of them.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَتَحۡسَبُهُمۡ أَیۡقَاظࣰا وَهُمۡ رُقُودࣱۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمۡ ذَاتَ ٱلۡیَمِینِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِۖ وَكَلۡبُهُم بَـٰسِطࣱ ذِرَاعَیۡهِ بِٱلۡوَصِیدِۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعۡتَ عَلَیۡهِمۡ لَوَلَّیۡتَ مِنۡهُمۡ فِرَارࣰا وَلَمُلِئۡتَ مِنۡهُمۡ رُعۡبࣰا ۝١٨
Transliteration (2021)   
wataḥsabuhum ayqāẓan wahum ruqūdun wanuqallibuhum dhāta l-yamīni wadhāta l-shimāli wakalbuhum bāsiṭun dhirāʿayhi bil-waṣīdi lawi iṭṭalaʿta ʿalayhim lawallayta min'hum firāran walamuli'ta min'hum ruʿ'ba
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And you (would) think them awake while they (were) asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his two forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you (would) have surely turned back from them (in) flight and surely you would have been filled by them (with) terror.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
And thou wouldst have thought that they were awake, whereas they lay asleep. And We caused them to turn over repeatedly, now to the right, now to the left; and their dog [lay] on the threshold, its forepaws outstretched. Hadst thou come upon them [unprepared], thou wouldst surely have turned away from them in flight, and wouldst surely have been filled with awe of them
M. M. Pickthall   
And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And you would have thought they were awake, though they were asleep. We turned them over, to the right and left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. Had you looked at them, you would have certainly fled away from them, filled with horror.
Safi Kaskas   
And you would have thought that they were awake, whereas they were really asleep. And We turned them to the right side and to the left side, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned and run away and been very afraid of them.
Wahiduddin Khan   
You would have thought they were awake, though they lay asleep. We turned them over, to the right and the left, while their dog lay at the cave 's entrance with legs outstretched. Had you looked down and seen them, you would have surely turned your back and fled in terror
Shakir   
And you might think them awake while they were asleep and We turned them about to the right and to the left, while their dog (lay) outstretching its paws at the entrance; if you looked at them you would certainly turn back from them in flight, and you would certainly be filled with awe because of them
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Thou wouldst assume them to be awake while they are ones who are sleeping. We turn them around and around towards the right and towards the left and their dog, one who stretches out its paws at the threshold. And if thou wert to peruse them, thou wouldst have turned from them, running away, and wouldst, certainly, be filled with alarm of them.
T.B.Irving   
You would reckon they were awake, while they [really] lay there asleep. We turned them over on the right and on the left, while their dog lay stretched out with his forepaws over the threshold. If you had chanced upon them, you would have turned and fled from them; you would have been filled with awe of them!
Abdul Hye   
And you would have thought them awake, though they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left sides, while their dog stretched out its 2 forelegs at the entrance (of the cave). Had you looked at them, you would have certainly turned back from them in flight and (their sight) certainly would have filled with awe of them.
The Study Quran   
Thou wouldst have thought them awake, though they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, with their dog stretching forth his paws at the threshold. Hadst thou come upon them, thou wouldst have turned away in flight and been filled with terror on their account
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
You would think them awake, while they were asleep. We turned them over, to the right and to the left, with their dog stretching its forelegs at the entrance. If you had observed them, you would’ve turned away from them in fear, and terror-filled.
Talal Itani (2012)   
You would think them awake, although they were asleep. And We turned them over to the right, and to the left, with their dog stretching its paws across the threshold. Had you looked at them, you would have turned away from them in flight, and been filled with fear of them
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And you will consider them awake although they are asleep. And We turn them to the right lateral position and to the left lateral position, and their dog is one who stretches forth his two fore-legs at the entrance-platform (of the Cave as if a watchful guard). Had you looked at them, you would have certainly turned back from them in flight (out of extreme effect), and you would certainly have been filled because of them, with terror in awe
M. Farook Malik   
If you could see them, you might have thought them awake, though they were asleep. We turned them about to their right and left sides, while their dog lay stretched out with his forepaws at the entrance. Had you looked at them you would have certainly turned your back and their sight would have made you flee in terror
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And you would have reckoned that they were awake (as) they were lying down, and We turned them about towards the right and towards the left, and their dog stretching out his two fore-legs (Literally: his two arms) on the threshold. If you had viewed them, indeed you would have turned away from them in flight and indeed been filled with horror of them
Muhammad Sarwar   
One would think them (the youths) awake while, in fact, they were sleeping. We turned their bodies from right to left and their dog stretched its front legs on the ground. Had one looked them over, he would have run away from them in terror
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
And you would think they were awake while they were asleep. We turned them on their sides, right and left. And their dog had its forelegs stretched out to the doorstep. If you had a look at them, you would have fled away from them and would have been filled with awe of them
Shabbir Ahmed   
You would have deemed that they were awake, even when they slept. (They remained alert round the clock). We caused them to frequently change their positions right and left. They had a faithful dog to guard the entrance, with its four paws outstretched, ready to hunt for them. The whole environment was awe-inspiring. Had you come upon them suddenly, you would have turned away from them in flight in awe
Dr. Munir Munshey   
You would think they were awake, although they were asleep. We rolled them on their sides _ right and left. With outstretched limbs, their dog lay close to the entrance (of the cave). Had you just caught a glimpse of them, you would be struck with terror and you would turn around and flee
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And you would have thought they were awake, while they were (actually) sleeping, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: And their dog spreading out his two front legs at the entrance: If you had (just accidentally) found them, you would have truly turned back from them to run away (in flight), and (you) would truly have been filled with fear of them
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And you would think they are awake while they are asleep. And We turn them on the right-side and on the left-side, and their dog has his legs outstretched in their midst. If you looked upon them you would have run away from them and you would have been filled with terror from them
Abdel Haleem   
You would have thought they were awake, though they lay asleep. We turned them over, to the right and the left, with their dog stretching out its forelegs at the entrance. If you had seen them, you would have turned and run away, filled with fear of them
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And thou wouldst have deemed them awakes whereas they were asleep and We turned them over on the right side and on the left side, while their dog stretched forth his two forelegs on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them, thou wouldst have surely turned away from them in fright, and wouldst have surely been filled with awe of them
Ahmed Ali   
You may have thought that they were awake, yet they were asleep. We made them turn right and left, while their dog lay with his forelegs stretched across the threshold. If you had looked at them you would have surely turned away and fled with horror at the sight
Aisha Bewley   
You would have supposed them to be awake whereas in fact they were asleep. We turned them to the right and to the left, and, at the entrance, their dog stretched out its paws. If you had looked down and seen them, you would have turned from them and run and have been filled with terror at the sight of them.
Ali Ünal   
You would have thought them awake though they were asleep. We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog lay outstretching its two forelegs on the threshold. Had you come upon them unprepared, you would certainly have turned away from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them
Ali Quli Qara'i   
You will suppose them to be awake, although they are asleep. We turn them to the right and to the left, and their dog [lies] stretching its forelegs at the threshold. If you come upon them, you will surely turn to flee from them, and you will surely be filled with a terror of them
Hamid S. Aziz   
You  would have deemed them waking though they were asleep, as We turned them towards the right and towards the left; and their dog spreading out his fore-paws on the threshold. Had you come suddenly upon them you would surely have turned and fled away f
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And you would think of them as awake while they were sleeping, and We turned them to the right and to the left, and their dog stretched out its forelegs toward the entrance. Had you found out about them you would have turned away from them escaping and you would have been filled with fear of them.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
You would have thought them awake, as they slept, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides. Their dog stretching out his two forelegs at the entrance. If you had come up on them, you would have certainly turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with fear of them
Musharraf Hussain   
You thought they were awake, but they were asleep. We kept turning them from right to left. At the entrance of the cave lay their dog with its forelegs stretched out. Were you to stumble across them, you would be filled with fear, turn your back on them, and flee
Maududi   
On seeing them you would fancy them to be awake though they were asleep; and We caused them to turn their sides to their right and to their left, and their dog sat stretching out its forelegs on the threshold of the Cave. Had you looked upon them you would have certainly fled away from them, their sight filling you with terror
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And you would think they are awake while they are asleep. And We turn them on the right-side and on the left-side, and their dog has his arms outstretched at the threshold. If you looked upon them you would have run away from them and you would have been filled with terror from them!
Mohammad Shafi   
And you might think them awake, but they were asleep. And We made them turn to the right side and to the left, and their dog squatted on its outstretched forelegs at the entrance. Had you come upon them you would certainly have run away from them, and you would certainly have been overwhelmed with fear of them

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And you might deem them awake and they sleep and We turn them about to the right and to the left and their dog has stretched his forelegs at the thresh hold of the Cave. O listener! if you had a look peeping at them, then you would have run away turning your back and would have surely filled with terror of them.
Rashad Khalifa   
You would think that they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. We turned them to the right side and the left side, while their dog stretched his arms in their midst. Had you looked at them, you would have fled from them, stricken with terror.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
You might have thought them awake, though they were sleeping. We turned them about to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched its paws at the entrance. Had you seen them you would surely have become filled with terror and turned your back on them in flight
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And thou mightest think them awake while they were asleep, and We turned them about to the right and to the left, with their dog outstretching its paws at the entrance. If thou didst look at them, thou wouldst turn back from them in flight, and thou wouldst be filled with awe because of them
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And you think/suppose them (to be) awake/alert, and they are asleep/lying down, and We turn them/turn them around that of the right (side), and that of the left (side), and their dog (is) spreading/extending its two arms (paws) at the cave/doorstep/mountain , if you saw/looked on/over them you would have turned away from them escaping/fleeing/running away, and you would have been filled (by) terror/fright from them
Bijan Moeinian   
If you had seen them, it would have appeared to you as if they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. I was making them to turn to their right sides and to their left sides. As to their dog, he was stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance of the cave. If you (or anybody else) had seen them, you would have been frightened and run away
Faridul Haque   
And you may think they are awake, whereas they are asleep; and We turn them over to the right and the left - and their dog is on the threshold of the cave, with its paws outstretched; O listener, were you to look at them closely, you would turn back running away from them, and be filled with their dread
Sher Ali   
Thou mightest deem them awake, whilst they are asleep; and WE shall cause them to turn over to the right and to the left; their dog stretching out its forelegs on the threshold. If thou hadst had a look at them, thou wouldst surely be filled with awe of them
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And, (O listener,) if you (look) at them, you will deem them awake, whereas they are asleep. And We keep changing their sides to the right and to the left (after regular intervals), and their dog is sitting on (their) threshold sprawling both its forelegs. Had you glanced at them (secretly), you would have run away, turning your back on them, and your heart would have been filled with their terror
Amatul Rahman Omar   
You might think them wary while they are dormant and asleep. We shall make them turn over (now) to the right and (then) to the left while their dog is (present with them) stretching its paws forward on the threshold in the courtyard. If you had become aware of their (true) state you would have turned back from them in fright and you would have surely been filled with great awe of them
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And you would have thought them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them on their right and on their left sides, and their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance (of the Cave or in the space near to the entrance of the Cave (as a guard at the gate)). Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Thou wouldst have thought them awake, as they lay sleeping, while We turned them now to the right, now to the left,' and their dog 'stretching its paws on the threshold. Hadst thou observed them surely thou wouldst have .turned thy back on them in flight, and been filled with terror of them
George Sale   
And thou wouldst have judged them to have been awake, while they were sleeping; and We caused them to turn themselves to the right hand, and to the left. And their dog stretched forth his fore-legs in the mouth of the cave: If thou hadst come suddenly upon them, verily thou wouldest have turned thy back and fled from them, and thou wouldest have been filled with fear at the sight of them
Edward Henry Palmer   
Thou mightst have reckoned them waking though they were sleeping, as we turned them towards the right and towards the left; and their dog spreading out his fore-paws on the threshold. Hadst thou come suddenly upon them thou wouldst surely have turned and fled away from them, and wouldst surely have been filled by them with dread
John Medows Rodwell   
And thou wouldst have deemed them awake, though they were sleeping: and we turned them to the right and to the left. And in the entry lay their dog with paws outstretched. Hadst thou come suddenly upon them, thou wouldst surely have turned thy back on them in flight, and have been filled with fear at them
N J Dawood (2014)   
And you might have thought them awake, though they were sleeping. We turned them about to right and left, while their dog lay at the cave‘s entrance with legs outstretched. Had you looked upon them, you would have surely turned your back and fled in terror

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And you will consider them awake while they lay asleep and We turn them to the right and to the left while their guardian [dog] stood with both hands stretched at the threshold. If you were to take a look at them [in this state] you would have turned away from them in flight and you would have been filled with terror from them.
Munir Mezyed   
You would think that they were awake, but (actually) they were asleep. We turned them about to the right and to the left while their dog was stretching forth its paws at the doorway. If you had looked at them, you would surely have turned back from them in flight, and you would surely have been filled with awe of them.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And you consider them awake whilst they are asleep, and We turn them to the right and the left, and their dog stretches out its paws at the entrance. If you were to stumble across them, you would have run away and been filled with fear of them.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
You would have thought them aware, although they were in a deep sleep, and We turned them right and left on their sides. Their dog lay at the opening of the cave, with his forelegs stretched out. If you had happened upon them, you would have turned around and ran, out of fear.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And yousg think them awake, although they are asleep. And We turn them over to the right and to the left, with their dog stretching its paws across the threshold. Had you looked at them, you would surely have turned away from them in flight and been filled with fear of them.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
You would think they were awake, while they [really] lay there asleep. We turned them over on the right and on the left, while their dog lay stretched out with his forepaws over the threshold. If you had chanced upon them, you would have turned and fled from them; you would have been filled with awe of them!
Samy Mahdy   
And you assume them awake, while they are asleep. And We flip them over to exactly the right, and to exactly the left, and their dog stretched its arms by the threshold. If you look at them, you will turn away from them in flight, and be filled with terror from them.
Sayyid Qutb   
You would have thought that they were awake, when they were certainly asleep. And We turned them over repeatedly, now to the right, now to the left; and their dog lay at the cave's entrance, with its forepaws outstretched. Had you come upon them, you would have certainly turned away from them in flight, and would surely have been filled with terror of them.
Ahmed Hulusi   
You would have thought they were awake though they lay asleep (as though dead)... We turned them to the right and to the left... And their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance (of the cave)! Had you seen them in that state, you would have turned away from them in flight; you would have been apprehensive and frightened!
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And you might think them awake while they were asleep, and We turned them unto the right and unto the left (sides), and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If you looked at them you would certainly turn back from them in flight and you would certainly be filled with terror of them
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
You would have thought they were awake -probably their eyes were open- though they were fast asleep. And We turned them over from one side to the other right and left while on the threshold lay their dog with his forelegs outstretched. If you had seen them you would have run away from them making your escape, filled with horror
Mir Aneesuddin   
And you might have thought them to be awake though they were asleep, and We turned them to their right and their left, and their dog lay at the entrance with its paws stretched out. Had you looked at them you would have surely turned away from them in flight, and you would have been filled with terror because of them.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certain ly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And you (would) think them awake while they (were) asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his two forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you (would) have surely turned from them (in) flight and surely you would have been by them (with) terror
OLD Transliteration   
Watahsabuhum ayqathan wahum ruqoodun wanuqallibuhum thata alyameeni wathata alshshimali wakalbuhum basitun thiraAAayhi bialwaseedi lawi ittalaAAta AAalayhim lawallayta minhum firaran walamuli/ta minhum ruAAban