(18:22) They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog – guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], “My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone.”
Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali and Muhammad Muhsin Khan,
(18:22) (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, guessing at the unseen; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say (O Muhammad SAW): “My Lord knows best their number; none knows them but a few.” So debate not (about their number, etc.) except with the clear proof (which We have revealed to you). And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture, Jews and Christians) about (the affair of) the people of the Cave.
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall
(18:22) (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.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
(18:22) (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.
Mohammad Habib Shakir
(18:22) (Some) say: (They are) three, the fourth of them being their dog; and (others) say: Five, the sixth of them being their dog, making conjectures at what is unknown; and (others yet) say: Seven, and the eighth of them is their dog. Say: My Lord best knows their number, none knows them but a few; therefore contend not in the matter of them but with an outward contention, and do not question concerning them any of them.
Dr. Ghali
(18:22) They will say, “Three, their dog (was) the fourth of them.” And (others) will say, “Five, their dog (was) the sixth of them, ” guessing at the Unseen. (Some others) will say, “Seven, and their dog (was) the eighth of them.” Say, “My Lord knows best their right number; none knows them, except a few.” So do not wrangle about them, except in outward wrangling, and do not ask any of them for a pronouncement on them.
Ali Unal
(18:22) (Instead of reflecting on the lesson to be learnt from the People of the Cave, people concentrate their interest on the details of the event.) Some will say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; and some will say they were five, the dog being the sixth all guessing at random at (something related to) the Unseen. Still others will say: “They were seven, the dog being the eighth.” Say (O Messenger): “My Lord knows their number better; it is but few that know (the truth about) them.” So do not argue about them, being content with what is obvious (to you through Revelation), nor ask any of them (who argue even among themselves) to give you an opinion about them.
Amatul Rahman Omar
(18:22) Guessing at random (- about them) some say, `(They were) three, their dog being the fourth,´ while others say, `(They were) five and their dog being the sixth.´ Yet there are others who say, `(They were) seven and their dog being the eighth.´ Say, `My Lord knows best their real number. None knows them except a few.´ So do not argue about them save with arguing on known premise (which is) overpowering and seek no legal order concerning them from anyone of them, (from those who make random guesses).
Literal
(18:22) They will say: “Three, their fourth (is) their dog.” And they say: “Five, their sixth (is) their dog.” An unsubstantiated guess with the unseen/absent , and they say: “Seven and their eighth (is) their dog.” Say: “My Lord (is) more knowledgeable with (of) their number, none knows them except few/little , so do not argue/discuss in (about) them, except apparent/visible argument/discussion, and do not take (an) opinion/a clarification (of)anyone from them in (about) them.”
Ahmed Ali
(18:22) Some will say: “They were three, and their dog was the fourth;” and some will also say: “They were five and their dog was the sixth,” — guessing in the dark. And some will even say: “They were seven, and their dog the eighth.” Say: “My Lord alone knows best their number; none but only a few know of them.” So do not argue about it with them but lightly, and do not enquire about them from any one of them.
A. J. Arberry
(18:22) (They will say, ‘Three; and ‘their dog was the fourth of them.’ They will say, ‘Five; and their dog was the sixth of them, guessing at the Unseen. They will say, ‘Seven; and their dog was the eighth of them.’ Say: ‘My Lord knows very well their number, and none knows them, except a few.’ So do not dispute with them, except in outward disputation, and ask not any of them for a pronouncement on them.
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
(18:22) Anon they will say: they were three the fourth of them their dog. And they will say: they were five, the sixth of them their dog- -guessing at the unknown –and they willl say: they were seven, the eighth of them their dog. Say thou: my Lord is the Best Knower of their number; there knew them only a few; so debate thou not regarding them except an cut ward debating, and ask not regarding them anyone of them.
Maulana Mohammad Ali
(18:22) And thus did We make (men) to get knowledge of them, that they might know that Allah’s promise is true and that the Hour — there is no doubt about it. When they disputed among themselves about their affair and said: Erect an edifice over them. Their Lord knows best about them. Those who prevailed in their affair said: We shall certainly build a place of worship over them.
Muhammad Sarwar
(18:22) (With regard to the number of the youths) some say, “There were three and the dog was the fourth one,” Others say, “There were five and the dog was the sixth one.” In reality, they are just feeling around in the dark. Still some of them say, “There were seven and the dog was the eighth one.” (Muhammad), say, “My Lord has the best knowledge of their number. You know very little about it.” Do not insist on arguing with them, but merely tell them the story as it has been revealed to you and do not ask anyone about them.
Hamid Abdul Aziz
(18:22) Thus did We make their people acquainted with their story, that they might know that Allah´s promise is true; and that the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When they (the people of the city) disputed amongst themselves concerning their affair, and said, “Build a building over them, their Lord knows best about them;” and those who prevailed in this affair said, “We will surely build a place of worship over them.”
Faridul Haque
(18:22) So the people will now say, “They are three, their dog is the fourth”
Talal Itani
(18:22) 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.
Ahmed Raza Khan
(18:22) So the people will now say, They are three, their dog is the fourth; and some will say, They are five, their dog is the sixth just blind guesses; and some will say, They are seven, and their dog is the eighth; proclaim (O dear Prophet Mohammed peace and blessings be upon him), My Lord well knows their number no one knows them except a few; therefore do not debate concerning them except what has occurred, and do not ask any of the People of the Book(s) anything concerning them.
Wahiduddin Khan
(18:22) Some will say, “They were three, the fourth was their dog,” and others will say, “They were five, the sixth was their dog,” guessing at random. And yet others say, “They were seven, the eighth was their dog.” Say, “My Lord knows best their number.” Only a few know anything about them. Therefore, do not enter into controversies over them, nor seek information about them from any of them;
Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
(18:22) They say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; and they say they were five, the dog being the sixth, guessing at the unseen; and they say they were seven, and the dog being the eighth. Say: “My Lord knows best their number; none knows them but a few.” So debate not except with the clear proof. And consult not any of them (about the people of the Cave).
Ali Quli Qarai
(18:22) They will say, [They are] three; their dog is the fourth of them, and say, [They are] five, their dog is the sixth of them, taking a shot at the invisible. They will say, [They are] seven, their dog is the eighth of them. Say, My Lord knows best their number, and none knows them except a few. So do not dispute concerning them, except for a seeming dispute, and do not question about them any of them.
Hasan al-Fatih Qaribullah and Ahmad Darwish
(18:22) Some will say: ‘They were three; their dog was the fourth’ Others, guessing at the Unseen, will say: ‘They were five and their dog was the sixth’ And yet others: ‘Seven; their dog was the eighth’ Say: ‘My Lord knows best their number. Except for a few none know their number’ Therefore, do not dispute with them except in outward disputation, and do not ask any of them concerning them.
That is translated surah Al kahf ayat 22 (QS 18: 22) in arabic and english text, may be useful.
Sayaqooloona thalathatun rabiAAuhum kalbuhum wayaqooloona khamsatun sadisuhum kalbuhum rajman bialghaybi wayaqooloona sabAAatun wathaminuhum kalbuhum qul rabbee aAAlamu biAAiddatihim ma yaAAlamuhum illa qaleelun fala tumari feehim illa miraan thahiran wala tastafti feehim minhum ahadan
