Chapter 18 - 75
The Cave (Surah Al-Kahf)
(110 verses in total; Last year of Makkah)
In the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Praise be to Allah Who transmitted the Book to His servant and allowed no inconsistency in it! Establishing guidance1 while warning about the severe consequences that emanates from God and giving good news to the believers who do good - their rewards will be good and remain with them forever! (v. 1-3)
It is a warning to those who say, “Allah has taken on an offspring!” 2 Neither they nor their ancestors have any knowledge of it. Truly appalling is what comes out of their mouth – what they say is nothing but a clear lie! Perhaps you will destroy yourself in grief for their denial of this message. We have placed on earth useful and alluring things so that We may try and assess which of them are best in conduct. Eventually We shall turn all that are on it into a barren land. (v. 4-8)
Do you find the residents of the cave and inscriptions therein3 as wonders of Our signs? As the youths sought refuge in the cave, they prayed, “Our Sustainer God, may You bless us with Your Mercy and enable us to find the right course for our fate.” Then We put them to sleep for a number of years. We let them arise so that We could see which of the two groups were best able to estimate how long they have been sleeping. We convey this story with truth to you – these youths believed in their God, and We strengthen them in guidance! (v. 9-13)
We fortified their hearts when they stood up to proclaim, “Our God is the God of the heavens and the earth! We devote ourselves to no other god but God – to do otherwise would be an outrage! These people from our community asserts gods beside God, while they bring no clear proof. Who is more corrupt than the one who fabricates lies against Allah? And now that you have withdrawn from your community, from what they worshipped besides Allah, and took refuge in the cave, Your God will shower you with Mercy and ease your way out of your ordeal. (v. 14-16)
If you could visualize – they were in a wide space (in the cave) with the rising sun appearing on their right and the sun setting appearing on their left – another sign of Allah. Whom Allah guides will find the right guidance, whereas whom He leaves to stray, you could not find a friend who could help find the way. You would assume they were awake while they slept as we turned them over to the right and to the left with their dog at the entrance with paws stretched out. If you were to come upon them, you would turn back in fear and will be filled with awe in their presence! (v. 17-18)
Eventually we woke them up and they questioned one another. One of them said, “How long have we been in this condition?” Some said, “A day or part of a day,” while others said, “Only God knows how long have we slept. Now let one of us take some money (we have) to go to the city and look for food that is pure and bring us some provision. Let him be discreet and not disclose to anyone our affairs, because if they overpower us, they will either stone us to death or force us to go back to their religion in which case we will never attain success.” (v. 19-20)
We then let (people) discover them so that people might know that God’s promise (about death and resurrection) is true, and the Hour is sure to come, though they continue to dispute over them. Some said, “Let us build a monument over them.” Those who prevailed in this matter said, “We will build a place of worship4 over them!” (v. 21)
(Some people) said, “(The sleepers were) three, the fourth being their dog,” while others said, “Four, the dog being the fifth,” purely speculating in the dark, while still others said, “Seven, the eighth being the dog.” Tell them (Prophet), “God knows their numbers, and perhaps a few people. It is better not to dispute except with facts and there is no further value in questioning them (People of the Book) about this. Refrain from saying about anything, ‘I will do this tomorrow’, but add if God so wills5. If you forget then say as soon as you remember, ‘May my God guide me to a path nearer than this in pursuit of the right way!” (v. 22-24)
They remained in the cave for three hundred years, while some added nine more years. Say, “God knows best how long they remained. The unknowns of the heavens and the earth are in God’s purview. How Excellent are God’s sight and hearing! There are no guardians besides God, and none have share in God’s judgment! Transmit all that is revealed to you of the Book from your God. There are none who can change the word of God! There is no refuge besides God! (v. 25-27)
Be content with the company of those who remember God morning and evening, seeking God’s countenance. Let your sight not pass over them in search of the allures of the world’s life, nor follow those whose hearts God had made to be unmindful of God’s remembrance – those who follow their vain desires and exceeds all moral and ethical bounds. Reaffirm, “The truth is from your God; therefore, believe if you wish to believe and disbelieve if you are so inclined. (v. 28-29)
For the unjust We have prepared a fire like enclosure that will surround them. If they cry for relief, they will be given water like molten brass, burning their face. What a terrible drink! What a terrifying place to rest! But for those who believe and do good, We do not waste the effort of those who do good! It is for them that there is the Garden of Perpetuity with streams and rivers abound, with bracelets of gold, green robes of silk and rich brocades, reclining on sofas. Excellent rewards! Beautiful resting places! (v. 29-31)
Let’s recount for them the parable of two men – for one We established two gardens of grapevines, surrounded by date-palms, separated by cornfield – both yielding their fruits and produce without failing, while We made a river to flow through them. Therefore, he had abundance in everything. One day he said to his neighbors in a contentious way, “I am wealthier than you are and have greater followers.” He went to his gardens in a such condition of ungratefulness and said to himself, “My affluence will never come to end, and I do not believe in the Day of Judgment. Even if it is true, I believe my return will even be better than this!” His neighbor replied, as they exchanged arguments, “Do you really deny God Who created you out of dust, then into a living ovum and finally made you a whole human being? As for me, Allah is my Sustainer, and I take no partners with God. I wish you had said, when you went to your gardens, ‘It is as Allah had blessed – there is no power other than Allah. Do you really see me less in wealth and family? Perhaps God will give me things better than yours while sending a reckoning from the sky to turn you gardens in a dusty plain. Or, its water will sink deep that will not benefit you.” (v. 32-41)
As his fruits and produce lay in waste, he was grief stricken for what he had invested in them. Seeing the vines ruined on their trellises, and said, “Ah, I wish I took no partners besides God.” He indeed had no host to help him against Allah and he could not defend himself either. Protection belongs to Allah alone – the True God! God is the best in giving rewards and in requiting! (v. 42-44)
Let them understand the life of this world – We rain down water from the cloud so that the vegetation and the land absorb it, giving abundant growth but soon these become dry stubble and then get scattered by the wind. Allah’s hold over all things is limitless! Wealth and children are allures of this life, but good works are the ones that endure – better in the sight of God for hopes and rewards! (v. 45-46)
Be mindful of the Day when the mountains disappear and the earth flattens while We gather people together, with none left behind. They will be arraigned in ranks before the Sustainer God. See how you have come back to Us, just as We created you first! You thought We had made no such future appointment for you. The book of record is placed before them and the guilty are afraid of what is in it; they say, “Ah, what a shame! What a book it is – it leaves nothing unaccounted for, neither large nor small” – all their conducts are staring at them! Your God dispenses injustice to no one! (v. 47-49)
(Remember) when We commanded the angels, “Bow down to Adam”, and they did except Iblis.6 Iblis was a jinn, and he transgressed the command of his Sustainer God. Would you then take Iblis and his followers as your masters rather than Me, while they are your enemies? What an evil exchange made by the ungrateful! I (God) did not make you witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor even their own creation. Neither could I take those who misled to be My aid! One day God will say, “Call on those whom you considered My partners.” They will call but these will not answer, and We will make known their separation. The guilty will see the Fire and realize that they are about to engulfed and cannot escape! (v. 50-53)
Indeed, We have posited examples of all kinds in this Qur’an to make things clear to humankind but human beings are contentious in most affairs. What prevents humankind from following the guidance presented to them and from seeking God’s forgiveness, except that the fate of the ancient should come to them or the chastisement due will confront them? We do not send messengers except to give good news and to warn but the deniers contend with falsehood to weaken the truth; they take My messages and what they are being warned about as mockery. Who are more ungrateful than the ones who are reminded of the messages from the Sustainer God but remain oblivious to their own doings. We have placed a covering over their hearts, lest they comprehend it and a deafness over their ears – such that even if you were to call them (in earnest) to the proper way, they will not find guidance. Yet your Sustainer God is Forgiving, full of Mercy! If God were to punish them for their conduct, God would have quickened their consequences for them except that there is a time appointed for them from which they will not escape. There are towns that We did destroy who did evils, but only at the times appointed for their destructions. (v. 54-59)
Recall when Moses said to his attendant7, “I will not stop until I come to the junction of two bodies of water8 even if I have to go on for years.” When they did reach the junctions, they forgot about the fish which made its way into the body of water, freeing itself. After they have gone some distance, Moses said to his attendant, “Let’s prepare our morning breakfast; we are already tired from this journey.” Then the attendant said, “Remember when we took rest on a rock, I forgot to tell you about the fish; it burrowed its way to the waters while the devil made me forget to tell you about it – an amazing thing!” Moses said, “This is what we are after,” and then traced back on their footsteps. (v. 60-64)
There they came across one of Our servants9 whom We granted mercy from Ourselves and taught him knowledge of Our own. Moses proposed to him, “May I travel with you so that you may teach me from the right guidance that you have endowed with?” He replied, “But you will lose patience with me. How can one have patience in matters that are beyond his knowledge? Moses said, “God willing, you will find me patient and not disagreeing with you on anything.” He said, “If you still want to follow me, then question me not until I explain these to you myself.” (v. 65-70)
Then they travelled together and eventually embarked on a boat where he made a hole in the boat. Moses said, “Did you make a hole to drown everyone? What you have done is egregious!” He replied, “Did I not say to you that you will not have patience with me?” Moses replied, “Don’t hold me accountable for what I forgot and don’t be harsh on me for what I said.” They then continued until they came upon a boy, and he killed the boy. Moses said, “How can you kill an innocent person? He is not guilty of murder. What you have done is horrible!” He said, “Did I not say to you that you will not be able maintain patience with me?” Moses said, “If I question you again after this, you are free to leave me, as you would have found adequate reason to depart me.” So they continued until they came to a town and asked for food from its residents who refused to extend them the courtesy of a guest. There they found a wall falling on itself and he set it upright. Moses said to him, “You could if you wish, take compensation for your work.” (v. 71-77)
He said, “It is time for our separation from each other, but I will explain the significance of things for which you could not contain your patience. Regarding the boat, it belongs to poor people who made their living from the sea and my desire to damage it was to prevent it from being taken away by a king who was seizing every (serviceable) boat by force just ahead of us. Regarding the boy, his parents are good believing people, and we feared that he might cause them much suffering by his evils and disbelief and wished that their Sustainer God give in exchange another who is better in conduct and has more empathy. With respect to the wall in the city, it belonged to two orphans and underneath the wall was treasures buried for them. Their father was a good man, and your Sustainer God wished that they attain maturity and then benefit from this treasure, as a show of mercy from your Sustainer God. I did not do (these) on my own accord. There are the explanations that you did not have patience to wait for. (v. 78-82)
They ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn10. Say, “I will give you an account of him – ‘truly We established him on the earth and granted him means of access to all things. He followed a set course (for conquest) and came upon a land where the sun was setting down into a black sea11 and there were people residing in the area. We said, ‘Dhul-Qarnayn, either punish them or offer them a benefit (as you see fit).’ He replied, ’We will only chastise those who are corrupt and unjust so that they can be sent back to their Sustainer God who will punish them more severely while those who are believers and do good, we will offer them good reward and go easy with our commands.’ He then continued his journey and came upon a land where the sun was rising but the people residing there We had made no protection from the scorching sun. This is how it was, and We had full knowledge of him! (v. 83-91)
Then he continued his travel until he came between two mountains outside of which were a people whose language was hard to understand. They said, “O Dhul Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are causing anarchy in the land. Would you please build a barrier between them and us, if we are to pay you a tribute?” He said, “What God has already given me is better but if you help me with physical labor, I will build a barrier fortified between you and them. Bring blocks of iron and fill the space between the two mountains. Work your bellows until these become hot and then pour molten brass over them.” Such a fortification they will not climb over or make holes in it. (v. 92-97)
He said, “This is a show of mercy from my Sustainer God. But when the promised time comes, God will destroy it, and the promise of my God is always carried out.” On that day, We shall let them surge against one another like waves, blow the trumpet and gather them altogether. We shall, on that day, bring hell to full view for the disbelievers – their eyes were covered to see My signs and they could not bring themselves to listen! (v. 98-101)
Do the disbelievers think that they can take My servants as their masters instead of Me? Indeed We have prepared hell to welcome the disbelievers. Say (Prophet), “Shall we announce to you who will fail in their deeds? It is those whose efforts in this life are misguided, though they think they are being good and productive with their pursuits. These deny the messages from their God and coming back to God – their deeds bear no fruit and on the day of resurrection We will assign them no importance. Such is their reward – hell for their disbelief and for making fun of My messages and My messengers! (v. 102-106)
Those who believe and do good, theirs is the welcome of the Garden of Paradise – they will reside therein and will desire never to be removed. Say, “If the ocean were to become ink to express the words of God, the ocean will be exhausted before the words of God are completed, even if you add another ocean.” Say, “I am a mortal just like you. It has been conveyed to me that your God is One God. If you hope to meet your God, then do good and serve none other than God!” (v. 107-110)
1 Two attributes of the Qur’an – no inconsistency and proper guidance
2 Walad in classical Arabic could mean either son or daughter – many Arab at the time used to believe that angels were God’s daughter while Christian asserts that Jesus is God’s son. Both are being refuted here!
3 Some have suggested that this could relate to the Christian tradition of the “seven sleepers of Ephesus” – Christian youths taking refuge to avoid persecution for their faith in a cave in present day Turkey (Ephesus) or Jordan (close to Amman)
4 ‘masjid’ in this instance signifies not a mosque but rather a place of worship based on the prevailing religious affiliation. Classical commentors believe that these youths were early Christians who were persecuted for their faith and later Christians upon discovery turn them into saints, a possible prelude to saint worship that is common in many orthodox Christian traditions.
5 ‘in-sha-allah’ has become a daily tradition among Muslims to commit to their decisions or intent with this phrase as a sign of complete dependence on God, implying that nothing happens unless God wills as such, despite our best intention or effort.
6 another name for Satan, Lucifer in the Bible
7 Some commentators consider this attendant to be Joshua, son of Nun, a prominent figure in Jewish history
8 Typically, two bodies of water mean coastal plain where rivers (sources of fresh water) meet the seas (the sources of salt water)
9 Even though the name is not mentioned, tradition has it that it was Khidr or al-Khadir – a man of great virtue, a spiritual fountainhead and a person of special knowledge that was gifted by God. Given his interaction with Moses, he is also considered a prophet by Muslim traditions. One could also bear in mind how Jesus was gifted with special healing abilities that was also a special blessing from God.
10 Literally “two-horned” one and by some account this refers to Alexander the Great (Muslim scholars) while other (Biblical scholars) believe this refers to Darius from the Kingdom of Media and Persia per the two-horned ram of Daniel’s vision (Dan 8:3)
11 Literally means murky or muddy water
