He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength [i.e., manpower]; I will make between you and them a dam. (Al-Kahf [18] : 95)
1 Mufti Taqi Usmani
He said, “What my Lord has (already) given in my control is better enough (for me than the tax you are offering to me), so help me (only) with some (man) power, and I shall make a rampart between you and them.
2 Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
He responded, “What my Lord has provided for me is far better. But assist me with resources, and I will build a barrier between you and them.
3 Ruwwad Translation Center
He said, “What my Lord has given me is better. But help me with manpower, I will construct a barricade between you and them.
4 A. J. Arberry
He said, 'That wherein my Lord has established me is better; so aid me forcefully, and I will set up a rampart between you and between them.
5 Abdul Haleem
He answered, ‘The power my Lord has given me is better than any tribute, but if you lend me your strength, I will put up a fortification between you and them:
6 Abdul Majid Daryabadi
He said: better is that where in my Lord hath established me; so help me with might, and I shall place between you and them a rampart.
7 Abdullah Yusuf Ali
He said; "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute); Help me therefore with strength (and labour); I will erect a strong barrier between you and them;
8 Abul Ala Maududi
He answered: "Whatever my Lord has granted me is good enough. But help me with your labour and I will erect a rampart between you and them.
9 Ahmed Ali
He said: "The ability my Lord has given me is better. So help me with your manual labour; I will build a wall between you and them.
10 Ahmed Raza Khan
He said, “That which my Lord has given me control over is better, therefore help me with strength – I shall set up a barrier between you and them.”
11 Ali Quli Qarai
He said, ‘What my Lord has furnished me is better. Yet help me with some strength, and I will make a bulwark between you and them.
12 Ali Ünal
He said: "What my Lord has established me in (the power that He has granted me on this earth) is better (than what you offer). So help me with strength (manpower) and I will set a strong rampart between you and them.
13 Amatul Rahman Omar
He said, `The power which my Lord has endowed me with about this is better (than this your tribute), you (only) help me with (your resources and human endeavour of physical) strength. I will raise a rampart between you and them.´
14 English Literal
He said: "What my Lord highly positioned/strengthened/empowered me in it (is) best , so help/support me with power/strength , I make/create/put between you and between them a blockage/barrier
15 Faridul Haque
He said, "That which my Lord has given me control over is better, therefore help me with strength - I shall set up a barrier between you and them."
16 Hamid S. Aziz
He said, "The power my Lord hath established me in is better than tribute; help me, therefore, with strength (labour), and I will set a barrier between you and them
17 Hilali & Khan
He said: "That (wealth, authority and power) in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute). So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier.
18 Maulana Mohammad Ali
They said: O Dhu-l-qarnain, Gog and Magog do mischief in the land. May we then pay thee tribute on condition that thou raise a barrier between us and them?
19 Mohammad Habib Shakir
He said: That in which my Lord has established me is better, therefore you only help me with workers, I will make a fortified barrier between you and them;
20 Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall
He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.
21 Muhammad Sarwar
He replied, "The power that my Lord has granted me is better (than your tax). Help me with your man-power and I shall construct a barrier between you and Gog and Magog.
22 Qaribullah & Darwish
He replied: 'That which my Lord has given me is better, therefore help me with all your power, and I will build a barrier between you and between them.
23 Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
He said: "That in which my Lord had established me is better. So help me with strength, I will erect between you and them a barrier."
24 Wahiduddin Khan
He said, "What My Lord has given me is better [than any tribute]. Help me with a force of labourers and I will erect a barrier between you and them:
25 Talal Itani
He said, “What my Lord has empowered me with is better. But assist me with strength, and I will build between you and them a dam.”
26 Tafsir jalalayn
He said, `That, wealth and so on, wherewith my Lord has empowered me (makkann, a variant reading has makkanan) is better, than the tribute that you offer me, and so I have no need for it. I shall build for you the barrier without [demanding] a fee; so help me with strength, in that which I [will] demand from you, and I will build between you and them a rampart, a fortified barricade.
27 Tafseer Ibn Kathir
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ
He said;"That in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute).
meaning, the power and authority that Allah has given me is better for me than what you have collected.
This is like when Suleiman (Solomon), peace be upon him, said;
Will you help me in wealth What Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you! (27;36)
Similarly, Dhul-Qarnayn said;
`What I have is better than what you want to give me, but help me with strength, i.e., with your labor and construction equipment,
فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ
So help me with strength,
أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا
28 Almuntakhab Fi Tafsir Alquran Alkarim
He said: "what Allah has bestowed on me of wealth and power far excels your tribute. You just help me with your laborious attempt and strenuous exertion of power and I will erect a barrier between you