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.
Tafseer
{ وتحسبهم } لو رأيتهم { أيقاظا } أي منتبهين لأن أعينهم منفتحة، جمع يقظ بكسر القاف { وهم رقود } نيام جمع راقد { ونقلبهم ذات اليمين وذات الشمال } لئلا تأكل الأرض لحومهم { وكلبهم باسط ذراعيه } يديه { بالوصيد } بفناء الكهف وكانوا إذا انقلبوا انقلب هو مثلهم في النوم واليقظة { لو اطلعت عليهم لولَّيت منهم فرارا ولملِّئت } بالتشديد والتخفيف { منهم رعْبا } بسكون العين وضمها منعهم الله بالرعب من دخول أحد عليهم .
{And you would think them} if you saw them {awake} that is, alert because their eyes are open, the plural of yaqiz with a kasra on the qaf {while they are asleep} sleeping, the plural of raqid {and We turn them to the right and to the left} lest the earth consume their flesh {and their dog is stretching out his forelegs} his hands {at the entrance} in the courtyard of the cave. And when they turned over, he turned over like them in sleep and wakefulness. {If you had looked at them, you would have turned away from them in flight and you would have been filled} with emphasis and alleviation {from them with terror} with a sukoon on the ‘ayn and a damma. God prevented them with terror from anyone entering upon them.
