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Surah Kahf

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Surah Kahf (سُورةُ الكَهِف), meaning the cave, is the eighteenth surah in the Noble Quran. The reason it is called Kahf, the cave, is that the initial verses of it relate the story of the sleepers of the cave aka the companions of the cave (اَصحابُ الكَهف) who were a group of monotheists living at the time of a Roman tyrannical ruler who was an idolater. According to hadiths, they were his advisors or viziers but hid their faith. When they were asked to worship and bow down to the Roman idols, they refused to do so and revealed their belief in God. Therefore, they were sentenced to death. However, they escaped and sought refuge in a cave.

Facts about Surah Kahf

Surah Kahf is the 18th surah of the Holy Quran that Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad in Mecca. This chapter has 110 verses that contains many important Islamic themes and teaches many lessons. However, what makes this surah unique is that it tells four different stories that are quite instructive. The most famous one is the story of Companions of the Cave aka Ashabul Kahf. Reciting this surah is said to have many virtues and benefits. Reciting the last verse of this surah before going to sleep is especially recommended for those who cannot wake up for the night prayer.

18 Surah no.

Juz’ 15 & 16 Place

Makki Makki/Madani

69 Order of revelation

110 No. of verses

1589 No. of words

6425 No. of letters


Arabic Text and Translation of Surah Kahf


بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, most merciful

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا ۜ ﴿1﴾

All praise be to God who has sent down the Book to His servant and He has made it flawless.

قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿2﴾

[He sent this flawless and] The perfect Book to warn [people]of His severe punishment and give good news to the believers who perform good deeds that they will receive a good reward.

مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿3﴾

They will be there forever.

وَيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّـهُ وَلَدًا ﴿4﴾

And to warn those who said, “God has taken a child”.

مَّا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِآبَائِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا ﴿5﴾

They did not have knowledge concerning it nor had their fathers. The word, which they utter, is monstrous. Indeed, they only lie.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴿6﴾

If they do not believe in this word1, it is possible you destroy yourself with grief for their sake.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿7﴾

Indeed, We have made what exists on the earth [as an attractive] adornment for it in order that We may test them [to see] which of them perform the best of deeds.

وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا ﴿8﴾

And We will make what exists on the earth a barren plain!

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا ﴿9﴾

Or Do you think that, “The People of the Cave and the Inscription” are of Our strange signs!

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿10﴾

And when the young men took shelter in the cave and said, “O God! Grant us mercy from Yourself and improve our affairs.”

فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰ آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ﴿11﴾

So, drawing a curtain on their ears [We made them sleep] in the cave for a number of years.

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا ﴿12﴾

Then We awakened them to see which of the two parties is able to best calculate the period they stayed [in the cave].

نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى ﴿13﴾

We truthfully recite their news to you. Indeed, they were the youth who believed in their Lord, so We provided them with more guidance.

وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا ﴿14﴾

And We filled their hearts with courage when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, [therefore,] We will not invoke beside Him another god [because if we do so] we have uttered an outrage.”

هَـٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّـهِ كَذِبًا ﴿15﴾

[The youth continued], “They are our people who have worshipped gods beside Him. Why have they not provided clear authority about them, therefore, who commit greater wrong deed than one who says a lie against God?”

وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّـهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿16﴾

And when you1 left them2 and what they worship except God then “Take refuge in the cave in order that your Lord spread forth His mercy on you, and pave the way of ease in your affair”.

۞ وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّـهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا ﴿17﴾

And you see the sun inclining away from the right side of their cave when it rises and when it sets inclining away from the left side [of the cave]. while they were in an open space within it. That is from God’s signs. Whomever God guides, he is the guided, and whomever He leads astray, you cannot find a guiding master to lead him aright.

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا ﴿18﴾

And they were asleep in the cave, but you would have thought them awake. And We turned them to the right and to the left while their dog was at front of the cave, with his paw stretched. If you had seen them, you would have fled and you[r heart] would have been filled with fear.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءَلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿19﴾

Thus, We awakened them in order that they may question one another. A speaker among them said, “How long have you stayed? They replied, “we have slept a day or some part of a day” they said, “God knows best how long you have slept. Send one of you with your coin to the town that he may seek who has the purest food to bring you some provision from it, and he should be careful lest anyone become aware of you.

إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا ﴿20﴾

[Because], if they become aware of you [and seize you], they will stone you or they will make you revert to their creed, then you will never prosper.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّـهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا ﴿21﴾

Thus, We let them become aware of them. in order that they may know, that God’s pledge is true and the Day of Judgment is beyond doubt. When they were disputing about their matter1, they said, “Build an edifice for them; their Lord knows them best.” [but] those [believers] who were aware of their affair2 said, “We will build a place of worship over them”.

سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿22﴾

Some will say, “They were three and their dog was fourth” and some say, “They were five [men] and their dog was sixth” guessing at the unseen. In addition, some say, “They were seven men and their dog was their eighth member”. Say, “My Lord is fully aware of their number and only a few are aware of it, so do not argue about them except with a clear argument and do not question any of them about them.

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا ﴿23﴾

And do not say about any matter that I will certainly perform it tomorrow.

إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّـهُ ۚ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَـٰذَا رَشَدًا ﴿24﴾

Unless [you say, ‘ I only perform a deed if] God wills’ and remember your Lord when you forget and say, “May my Lord guide me nearer than this to guidance.”

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا ﴿25﴾

And they remained in their caves for three hundred years and nine more.

قُلِ اللَّـهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا ۖ لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا ﴿26﴾

Say, “God knows best how long they stayed in the cave. He has [the knowledge of] the unseen of the heavens and the earth”. How well He sees, and How well He hears! They have no master other than Him and He makes no one His partner in His decision.

وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا ﴿27﴾

And recite what is revealed to you of your Lord’s Book. There is no changer for His words and you never find a refuge instead of Him.

وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا ﴿28﴾

And exercise patience with those who pray to their Lord for seeking His pleasure morning and evening , and do not overlook them desiring the adornment of the life of the world, and do not obey one whom We have made his heart heedless from Our remembrance, and whom he followed his desires and his deed exceeds the limits.

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا يُغَاثُوا بِمَاءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِي الْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا ﴿29﴾

And say, “Truth is from your Lord, so whoever wishes [to be guided], he [should] have belief and whoever wishes [to go astray], leave him to abandon belief. Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose blaze will engulf them, and if they ask for relief they will be showered with a drink [which is] like molten copper which scalds the faces. It is an evil drink and an evil resting place!

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿30﴾

Indeed, those who believe and perform good deeds [are righteous]. Indeed, We will not waste the reward of those whose deeds are good.

أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا ﴿31﴾

They will have Gardens of Eden through which rivers flow, and they will wear bracelets of gold, the green silk clothes and brocade reclining on couches. It is a blessed reward and a good resting place.

۞ وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعً ﴿32﴾

And give them the example of two men: We gave for one of them two gardens of grapes and surrounded them with date palms, and We put crops between them.

كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِم مِّنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَالَهُمَا نَهَرًا ﴿33﴾

Both of the gardens yielded their fruits completely, and We made a river gush forth between them.

وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا ﴿34﴾

And he had abundant fruits, so he said to his companion conversing, “I am wealthier than you and [I have] more powerful men.

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِ أَبَدًا ﴿35﴾

And he entered his garden while he was wronging himself and said, “I do not think this [garden] will ever destroy.

وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا ﴿36﴾

And I do not think that there is a Day of Judgment and if I go back to my Lord I will have a better [position] than this.”

قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلً ﴿37﴾

And while they were speaking, his companion said to him, “Have you abandoned belief in Him who has created you out of clay, then made you a sperm, then made you in the form of a man?”

لَّـٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّـهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا ﴿38﴾

[His colleague continued that] but [I never disobey Him because] He is my Lord and I do not ascribe any partner to Him.

وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّـهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّـهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا ﴿39﴾

And when you entered your garden why did you not say what God wills [will occur], there is no power but in God, so if you see I have less wealth and children than you [it is not important]

فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا ﴿40﴾

May my Lord provide me with better [reward] than your garden and that He may send you a wind from the heaven to make it a barren plain.

أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَاؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَن تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا ﴿41﴾

Or [it is possible] He dries its water, then you will be unable to seek after it.

وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا ﴿42﴾

And his fruit was struck and he wringed his hands in grief for what he had spent on it. [It was entirely destroyed,] as it laid in waste on its trellises, and he said, “I wish I would not have ascribed any partner to my Lord.”

وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ﴿43﴾

And there was no group to help him beside God nor could he protect himself.

هُنَالِكَ الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّـهِ الْحَقِّ ۚ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا ﴿44﴾

Then [it became evident that] authority belongs to the Real God and He is the best in [granting] reward and outcome.

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ﴿45﴾

Give the parable of the life of the world: [it is like] as [the example of] water which We sent down from the sky, and the plants of the earth mingle with it then it turns staff, scattered by the winds.[Indeed,] God is able to perform all things.

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلً ﴿46﴾

Wealth and children are the adornment of [the temporary] life of the world. While good deeds which endure have better reward with your Lord, and it [harbors] hope best.

وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿47﴾

And [remind of ] a Day when We move the mountains and you will see the earth an open plain, and We will give life to mankind and gather [all of them], then we will leave none of them.

وَعُرِضُوا عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا ﴿48﴾

And they will be brought to your Lord in rank as We created you first time [in the world] while you [neglected Our guidance and warnings and] imagined that We have not appointed a time of appointment for you.

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا ﴿49﴾

And the Book [of deeds] will be set, so you will see the guilty fearful of what is in it and they will say, “Woe to us! What a book! It enumerates [all details of my life including] small and great!” And they will find present [whatever they did] and no one will be wronged.

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا ﴿50﴾

And when We said to the angels, “fall prostate before Adam”, so all of them fell prostrate except Iblīs who was of jinn, so he disobeyed His Lord’s command. Do you choose him and his children as a master, instead of Me, God while he is your enemy? [Indeed,] it is an evil substitute for the wrongdoers.

۞ مَّا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا ﴿51﴾

And I did not make them witnesses to the creation of the heavens and the earth nor to their own creation nor do I choose the misleaders as a support.

وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ نَادُوا شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّوْبِقًا ﴿52﴾

And when they will be told1, “Call [the idols] whom you assumed as My partners”, so they2 will call but they3 will not respond to them and We placed an intense hatred between them.

وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا ﴿53﴾

And [when] the guilty will see the fire, they will be sure that they will face it and they will not find any path for escaping.

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلً ﴿54﴾

And We have explained all kinds of examples to mankind in this Qur’ān and the human being is the most contentious of creatures.

وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلً ﴿55﴾

Nothing prevented people from having belief and seeking God’s forgiveness when the guidance came to them unless [they wanted ] the tradition of the prior generations to come on them or the punishment strike them face to face.

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۚ وَيُجَادِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ ۖ وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَمَا أُنذِرُوا هُزُوًا ﴿56﴾

We only send the messengers as givers of good news and warners, but the disbelievers argued through falsehood in order to refute the truth and they mocked at My signs and warnings.

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ ۚ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۖ وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا ﴿57﴾

Who commits greater wrong deed than one who has been provided with his Lord’s signs, but he disregards them and forgets what [he committed and] sent ahead with his hands. Indeed, We put a [spiritual] covering over their hearts lest they understand, and We put over their ears [a state of] deafness and if you invite them to guidance they will not be guided [for they turned a blind eye to guidance].

وَرَبُّكَ الْغَفُورُ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ ۖ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابَ ۚ بَل لَّهُم مَّوْعِدٌ لَّن يَجِدُوا مِن دُونِهِ مَوْئِلً ﴿58﴾

And your Lord is All-Forgiving, All- Merciful, if He had willed to take them to task for what they committed, He would have hastened to hand out the punishment, but they have a specified time, [so] they will not be able to escape.

وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا ﴿59﴾

And there are towns which We destroyed because they wronged, and We have specified a time for their destruction.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا ﴿60﴾

And when Moses said to his [travelling] companion that I will not give up this journey until I reach the junction of the two seas, [even if] I travel for a long time.

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا ﴿61﴾

So when they reached the intersection of two seas they forgot their fish and it went through its path in the sea.

فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا ﴿62﴾

And when they passed, he said to his companion, “Bring our meal. Indeed, we have suffered fatigue in our journey.”

الَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ﴿63﴾

He said, “Do you remember when we took refuge at the rock, I forgot the fish and it was Satan who made me forget to mention it, and the fish escaped through its way in the sea in a wondrous way”.

قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا ﴿64﴾

He said, “It was the place we sought” then they returned, retracing their steps.

فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَا آتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا ﴿65﴾

So they found a servant of Our servants whom We had provided with a mercy from Ourselves, and We had taught him a [profound and special] knowledge from Our knowledge”

قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا ﴿66﴾

He said, “May I follow you to teach me from [the knowledge] which you have learned?”

قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿67﴾

He replied, “You are not able to exercise patience with me.”

وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا ﴿68﴾

And how can you exercise patience about that which you are unaware of it?

قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا ﴿69﴾

He said, “God willing you will see that I am patient and I will not disobey you in any matter.”

قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا ﴿70﴾

He said, “If you follow me, you should not question me about anything at all until I speak about it.”

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا ۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا ﴿71﴾

So they went on and embarked on a ship [but] he made a hole [through] it. [ so] Moses said, “Have you made a hole in order to drown its people? Indeed, you committed a monstrous thing!”

قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿72﴾

He said, “Did I not say to you that you cannot exercise patience with me.”

قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا ﴿73﴾

He said, “Do not take me to task for that which I forgot, and do not impose a difficult task one me.”

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَامًا فَقَتَلَهُ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُّكْرًا ﴿74﴾

They went on until they met a young boy, so he killed him. Moses said, “Did you kill an innocent who had not killed anyone? Indeed, you committed a terrible thing!”

۞ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿75﴾

He replied, “Did I not tell you that you cannot exercise patience with me?”

قَالَ إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَيْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَاحِبْنِي ۖ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّي عُذْرًا ﴿76﴾

He said, “If I question you concerning anything after this, then do not keep my company, then you have attained an excuse from me.”

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ ۖ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَاتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ﴿77﴾

They went on until they reached the people of a town from whom they ask for food, but they refused to show them hospitality, then they saw a wall there which was about to fall, so he repaired it. Moses said to him, “If you had willed, you could have demanded a wage for it.”

قَالَ هَـٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿78﴾

He said, “This is the parting between you and me. I will disclose the interpretation of that [the events] for which you could not have patience.”

أَمَّا السَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَاكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَاءَهُم مَّلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًا ﴿79﴾

As for the ship, it belonged to needy people who worked on the sea. I willed to damage it, because there was a king behind them who was usurping every ship.

وَأَمَّا الْغُلَامُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَخَشِينَا أَن يُرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا ﴿80﴾

And as for the young boy, his parents were believers, so We were fearful lest he should lead them to rebellion and disbelief.

فَأَرَدْنَا أَن يُبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُ زَكَاةً وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمًا ﴿81﴾

So We willed that their Lord replace him with a better [child] than him in purity and mercy.

وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَامَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَالِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَا أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمْرِي ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿82﴾

And as for the wall, it was for two orphan boys [who were living] in the town. Their treasure was under the wall and their father was a righteous man, so your Lord willed they that grow to the ages of maturity and extract their treasure. It was a mercy of your Lord. I did not perform it out of my own desire [but it was God’s command]. It was the interpretation of [the events] for which you could not have patience [to know their philosophy].

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَن ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُو عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا ﴿83﴾

They ask you concerning Dh’ul -Qarnayn. Say [to them], “I will say about him to you.”

إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا ﴿84﴾

Indeed, We had provided him with power on the earth and We had given him [the knowledge of applying] the means of all things.

فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ﴿85﴾

So he applied means [and scientific methods to perform his deeds].

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا ۗ قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا ﴿86﴾

[He continued his journey] until he reached the sun’s setting place and found it sinking in a muddy spring of water by which a group of people were living. We said to him, “O Dh’ul-Qarnayn! Either punish them or treat them well.”

قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا ﴿87﴾

He said, “We will punish the wrongdoer then he will be brought back to His Lord and His Lord will punish him with a very terrible punishment [in the world to come]”.

وَأَمَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُ جَزَاءً الْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًا ﴿88﴾

But those who believed and performed good deeds will have a good reward and We will say to him of our gentle command.”

ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ﴿89﴾

So he applied means [and scientific methods to perform his deeds].

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا ﴿90﴾

Until he reached the sun’s rising place. He found it rising over a people whom We had not protected against its rays.

كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا ﴿91﴾

Thus, [he was managing the affairs] and We were fully aware of what he had with him.

ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ﴿92﴾

So he used means.

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلً ﴿93﴾

Until he reached a place between the two mountains, by which he found a people who could scarcely understand speech.

قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿94﴾

They said, “O Dh’ul- Qarnayn! Indeed [two rebellion tribes] – Gog and Magog- make corruption on the earth, so will you make a barrier between us and them if we pay you?”

قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿95﴾

He said, “What my Lord has given to me is better, therefore, give me a [generous] help, I will set a rampart [ defensive wall] between you and them.”

آتُونِي زُبَرَ الْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ الصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ انفُخُوا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَعَلَهُ نَارًا قَالَ آتُونِي أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا ﴿96﴾

[Dh’ul- Qarnayn commanded], “Provide me with pieces of iron”, so when the space between the mountains was filled [by it] he said, “Heat the iron” till when he made it fire then he said, “Give me molten copper to pour on it.”

فَمَا اسْطَاعُوا أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا لَهُ نَقْبًا ﴿97﴾

Therefore, they were unable to climb nor could they pierce it.

قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقًّا ﴿98﴾

He said, “It is of my Lord’s mercy, so when the pledge of my Lord [concerning the Day of Judgment] is fulfilled, He will crumble it to dust and my Lord’s pledge is certainly true”.

۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعْضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَاهُمْ جَمْعًا ﴿99﴾

And [on the Day of Judgment] We will leave some of them [as waves of the sea] to hit the others and [suddenly] the trumpet will be blown and We will gather all of them.

وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا ﴿100﴾

And that day We will certainly present Hell for the disbelievers.

الَّذِينَ كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِي غِطَاءٍ عَن ذِكْرِي وَكَانُوا لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعًا ﴿101﴾

Those whose eyes were veiled [with sins and neglect] from my remembrance [in the world, and they turned deaf ears to truth, as if] they could not hear.

أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَن يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِن دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ ۚ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلً ﴿102﴾

Did the disbelievers imagine that [they are allowed to] choose1 My servants beside Me as a master. Indeed, We have prepared Hell to host the disbelievers.

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالً ﴿103﴾

Say, “Do I inform you about the worst losers in deeds?”

الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا ﴿104﴾

Those whose attempt fails in the life of this world yet they imagine that they perform good [deeds].

أُولَـٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا ﴿105﴾

They are those who disbelieved in their Lord’s signs and His meeting, therefore, their deeds failed and We will not put any value on them on the Day of Judgment.

ذَٰلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا ﴿106﴾

That is their reward, Hell, because they disbelieved and mocked My signs and messengers.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلً ﴿107﴾

Indeed, those who believe and perform good deeds will have the gardens of paradise as a welcome.

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلً ﴿108﴾

They will be there forever [and] they will not seek any changes.

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا ﴿109﴾

Say, “If the sea had been ink [to write] God’s words2 , the sea would have been finished before finishing my Lord’s words, and even if We had brought another sea like it to replenish it.

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ﴿110﴾

Say, “Indeed, I am a human being like you. It is revealed to me that indeed your Lord is One, therefore, whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should associate no one with the worship of his Lord.”

Benefits of Reciting Surah Kahf

  • Being Blessed With a Light and Being Forgiven of All of One’s Sins: The Prophet has said: Whoever recites Surah Kahf on Friday, Allah will grant him a light that will ascend to the heavens. He will be forgiven of all his sins and will be protected from the evil of Dajjal.
  • Paying Off One’s Debts: To be able to pay off one’s debts, one must write this surah down and place it in a glass bottle that has a narrow neck, and then keep it in his house so that one will be free from being in debt and poverty. 1
  • Overcoming Fear From Thieves and Insomnia: Imam Ali has said in a narration: Whoever fears that a thief might break into his house and cannot sleep owing to such fear should recite verses 11-12 of surah Kahf seven times. 2
  • Awakening From Sleep at a Determined Hour: Abu Abdullah Ja‘far ibn Muhammad has said, “Whichever servant of Allah recites the last verse of surah Kahf [before going to sleep], he will be able to wake up from sleep at any time he wants.” 3

Religious scholars and clerics say that those who cannot wake up for the night prayer should recite this verse before going to sleep.

Themes in Surah Kahf

Surah Kahf talks about many subjects such as:

  1. The Uprightness of the Quran
  2. Everything Takes Place With Allah’s Leave
  3. The Walayah of Allah
  4. Wealth and Children as Adornments of Life
  5. The Events of the Qiyamah
  6. The Eternal Abode of the Righteous
  7. Allah’s Words Never End
  8. Prophet Muhammad is a Human Being Like Us but Receives Revelation

The Uprightness of the Quran in Surah Kahf

Allah says in the first two verses of surah Kahf:

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, most merciful

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿1﴾

All praise be to God who has sent down the Book to His servant and did not place any deviance in it.

قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿2﴾

[He made this book] upright, to warn [people] of His severe punishment and give good news to the believers who perform good deeds that they will receive a good reward. 4

The Quran is a book that there is no crookedness, ‘iwaj (عِوَج), or deviance in it. What Allah means by crookedness is that this book has no flaw or error, and does not ever deviate from the truth. Therefore, it is an upright book, similar to a strong standing fortress that nothing, even the strongest storms and earthquakes can bring it down in terms of it speaking the truth and never straying from what is right and just.

Allah has made the Quran like this to warn disbelievers of a harsh punishment and also to give good news to the righteous as the above verses clearly say. Therefore, the Quran is a perfect, flawless, and upright holy scripture that warns people of hell should they disbelieve and engage in improper conduct, and also gives them the good news of paradise should they believe in Allah and do good deeds.

Everything Takes Place With Allah’s Leave According to Two Verses in Surah Kahf

Allah says in the Quran:

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا ﴿23﴾

And do not say about any matter that I will certainly perform it tomorrow.

إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّى لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا ﴿24﴾

Unless [you say, “I only perform a deed if] God wills,” and remember your Lord when you forget and say, “May my Lord guide me nearer than this to guidance.” 5

In fact, this verse is telling us that when we want to do something in our daily lives, we should not say I will certainly do such and such a thing today, tomorrow, or any time in the future. Instead, we should say, I will do it if Allah wills it. This has now become a much used phrase that Muslims say when they want to do something, expect something to happen in the future, or even wish something to happen.

They say inshā’Allah (اِنْ شَاءَ الله) at the beginning or end of their sentence. For example, they may say: Inshā’Allah, tomorrow I will go to my parents’ house to pay them a visit. Allah wants to tell us that everything happens at His will in these two verses.

The Walayah of Allah in Surah Kahf

Allah says in surah Kahf:

هُنَالِكَ ٱلْوَلَـٰيَةُ لِلَّـهِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا ﴿44﴾

Then [it became evident that] authority belongs to the Real God and He is the best in [granting] reward and outcome. 6

The word walayah (وَلايَة) or wilayah (وِلايَة) means authority or guardianship. Indeed, Allah has full authority over all things and is the guardian of everyone and everything. Why? As the verse says, it is because He is the best in giving reward and determining the outcome of individuals. In truth, is there anyone better than Allah who gives reward to people and is there any reward better than the one Allah gives to them? Is it not Allah who seals the fate of individuals in the best possible way depending on their beliefs and actions? Therefore, such a Divine being deserves to have such authority and guardianship over His own creatures.

Wealth and Children as Adornments of Life in Surah Kahf

Allah the Almighty says in verse 46 of surah Kahf:

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿46﴾

Wealth and children are the adornment of [the temporary] life of the world. While good deeds which endure have better reward with your Lord, and it [harbors] hope best.

Allah in this verse is saying that children and wealth are the beauties and adornments of the world. Therefore, we should not boast about them and think if we have more wealth or children, we enjoy a higher status than others. Yes, they are good to have, but only for this world. What is better is good deeds that endure even after one dies. They are lasting rewards that one keeps receiving even after his death.

Therefore, we must try to do the good deeds that are lasting, not just the ones that have a one-time reward. Examples of enduring good deeds would be building mosques, hospitals, schools, and such like. However, it is important to realize that even wealth and children have the potential to become enduring good deeds. For example, righteous children who serve people and always pray for their parents and ask Allah to reward them can be enduring good deeds.

Likewise, wealth that is spent from one’s inheritance to help the poor and orphans also entails lasting reward because those people would always remember the deceased person and would ask Allah to reward and forgive him. Nevertheless, one should not only rely on his children and wealth to bring him eternal happiness, but rather perform acts of worship that would bring lasting reward for him, too.

Moreover, as the verse says, one should not only think of the reward one receives in the Hereafter, but also the future that lies ahead of him, that is, his ultimate fate. In other words, one should pin his hopes on what is to come and about to happen.

Events of the Qiyamah in Surah Kahf

Allah says in surah Kahf verses 47-49:

وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَـٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿47﴾

And [remind of ] a Day when We move the mountains and you will see the earth an open plain, and We will give life to mankind and gather [all of them], then we will leave none of them.

وَعُرِضُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۭ ۚ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا ﴿48﴾

And they will be brought to your Lord in rank as We created you the first time [in the world] while you [neglected Our guidance and warnings and] imagined that We have not appointed a time of appointment for you.

وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا ﴿49﴾

And the Book [of deeds] will be set, so you will see the guilty fearful of what is in it and they will say, “Woe to us! What a book! It enumerates [all details of my life including] small and great!” And they will find present [whatever they did] and no one will be wronged. 7

Allah describes the events of the Qiyamah in verse 47; a day in which the mountains will be motioned by Allah and the earth will become a barren land. Then all those who are living will die, and once again they will be brought back to life and the affairs of all of them will be attended to. Some people did not believe that a Day of Judgment exists and one day they would be brought to account for their deeds. When they see their book of deeds, they will be stupefied and say, “How is this possible? This book contains every single tiny thing that we did in our life in the world!” Then Allah says in this verse that He is just and fair and no one will be wronged and no one will be a victim of injustice.

The Eternal Abode of the Righteous in Surah Kahf

Allah says in verses 107-108 of surah Kahf:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا ﴿107﴾

Indeed, those who believe and perform good deeds will have the gardens of paradise as a welcome.

خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا ﴿108﴾

They will be there forever [and] they will not seek any changes. 8

Some people think that everything in life is limited to this world. They think there will be no reward of the Hereafter or any punishment. However, this is not the case. In fact, this would go against the system of justice of Allah. A person who is good is different from a person who is bad. Therefore, the good must be rewarded and the bad punished. Therefore, Allah says in these two verses that those who believe in Him and do good deeds will be granted paradise. They will live therein forever and will never become bored of its pleasures. Thus, they will never seek any changes, unlike life in this world where people become bored of its pleasures and always seek higher ones.

Allah’s Words Never End

Allah says in verse 109 of surah Kahf:

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ ٱلْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَـٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِۦ مَدَدًا ﴿109﴾

Say, “If the sea had been ink [to write] God’s words, the sea would have been finished before finishing my Lord’s words, and even if We had brought another sea like it to replenish it. 9

Allah is an infinite being. He is the first and the last. He created time and eternity. Therefore, He is beyond anything we can imagine. In the same vein, His words, signs, effects, and actions are also infinite and endless. To describe this infiniteness, Allah beautifully makes a comparison and says that if the sea with all its vastness were ink, this ink would finish while the words of Allah had not yet finished, even if another sea like it replenished it.

Allah has many words to speak to us. Perhaps, the Quran is the best and most concise book that contains the words of Allah. However, Allah’s words never end and cannot be limited to a single book or writing. That is why He has sent His apostles, prophets, and their successors to communicate His words to people. Their words are Allah’s words. Therefore, we must listen to them and obey them, and it is just like obeying Allah.

Historical Accounts in Surah Kahf

One of the characteristics of surah Kahf is that it tells stories of the past that we can learn many lessons from them. For example, surah Kahf talks about:

  • The story of the companions of the cave
  • The story of the two owners of a garden
  • The story of Prophet Moses (موسی) and Khidr (خِضر)
  • The story of Dhul Qarnayn (ذوالقَرنَين)

The Story of the Companions of the Cave in Surah Kahf

Allah tells the story of the companions of the cave (Ashabul Kahf: اصحاب الکهف) aka the sleepers of the cave in many verses of Surah Kahf. In fact, the surah gets its name from the cave in which those righteous individuals sought refuge. Verses 9-22 of this surah relate the story of the companions of the cave. The Quran begins with verse nine by asking the reader whether he thinks the story of Ashabul Kahf is a wonderful sign of Allah or not? In fact, this is a rhetorical question.

Allah is saying that even though this story is very amazing, it is not something strange or unexpected from Allah as He has power over all things. When the head of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet, was placed on a spearhead after his martyrdom, the head miraculously recited verse nine of surah Kahf. Hussain meant to say that the story of Ashura and the event at Karbala is stranger than the story of Ashabul Kahf. 10

The story goes that a group of advisors or viziers of a tyrannical and evil Roman emperor who was an idolater and polytheist, kept their faith in one God secret, until one day, there was a special occasion where everyone must have worshipped and bowed down before the idols. However, these men who were young at heart, as the Quran describes them, refused to bow down to the idols and said:

وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًا شَطَطًا ﴿14﴾

And We filled their hearts with courage when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, [therefore,] We will not invoke beside Him another god [because if we do so] we have uttered an outrage.”

هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمُنَا ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۭ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ كَذِبًا ﴿15﴾

[The youth continued], “They are our people who have worshipped gods beside Him. Why have they not provided clear authority about them, therefore, who commit greater wrong deed than one who says a lie against God?” 11

Therefore, the king wanted to kill them for defying him. However, they were able to escape from him and Allah inspired them to seek refuge in a mountain. There, they went to sleep. Whoever tried to enter the cave would be frightened and would run out of the cave. This was because Allah made them appear in a frightening state:

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا ﴿18﴾

And they were asleep in the cave, but you would have thought them awake. And We turned them to the right and to the left while their dog was at front of the cave, with his paw stretched. If you had seen them, you would have fled and you[r heart] would have been filled with fear. 12

Then, they slept for 309 years in the cave. When they woke up, they thought they had only slept a day or half a day. They said to each other:

قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿19﴾

They said, “God knows best how long you have slept. Send one of you with your coin to the town that he may seek who has the purest food to bring you some provision from it, and he should be careful lest anyone becomes aware of you,

إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِى مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًا ﴿20﴾

[because], if they become aware of you [and seize you], they will stone you or they will make you revert to their creed, then you will never prosper. 13

So, one of them went to the city and saw how everything had changed. Their family had died, the city had changed, and even the religion of people had changed. When people recognized them and found out that they were the sleepers of the cave, they said that they would make a place of worship in their cave, not for the sake of Allah, but for their own selfish desires and interests. Therefore, the companions of the cave asked Allah to take their souls.

Once again they went inside the cave and Allah took their souls and they died there and were buried there. There are at least two places to which the cave of Ashabul Kahf is attributed. One is in Turkey and the other in Jordan, among other places.

How Many Individuals Were Ashabul Kahf?

This is a matter of dispute among historians. The Quran says in this regard:

سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءً ظَـٰهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿22﴾

Some will say, “They were three and their dog was fourth” and some say, “They were five [men] and their dog was sixth” guessing at the unseen. In addition, some say, “They were seven men and their dog was their eighth member”. Say, “My Lord is fully aware of their number and only a few are aware of it, so do not argue about them except with a clear argument and do not question any of them about them.

So, no one except Allah knows there exact number. However, it is famous that they were seven individuals and their dog was the eighth. In biblical tradition, Ashabul Kahf are known as the Seven Sleepers [of the Cave]. Nevertheless, Allah knows best how many they were and we are not certain as to their number.

The Story of the Two Owners of a Garden in Surah Kahf

Surah Kahf verses 32-44 also tells the story of two people whom each owned a garden. One of them had a bigger and better garden and boasted about it to the other gardener. The other gardener, however, was very humble and pious and said to his friend not to do shirk [ascribe partners to Allah] by saying that nothing can destroy his garden. However, that man was arrogant and ignored the pious man’s words.

He even denied the Day of Judgment and said even if there is such a day, he will have a better position with his Lord. Ultimately, Allah destroyed his garden, and that person regretted his action and wished he had not done shirk. The story concludes by Allah saying that total authority belongs to Allah, meaning He is the best giver of reward and determines the outcome of individuals in the best possible way.

The Story of Prophet Moses and Khidr in Surah Kahf

Verses 60-82 of surah Kahf tell the story of Prophet Moses who was accompanied by his successor Joshua (Yūsha‘: يوشَع). Allah had informed him of a very knowledgeable man who would teach him many lessons in a place where two seas meet. Ultimately, Moses met Khidr and embarked on a journey with him. Khidr had told him he will not be patient with him and will scold him for his actions. However, Moses insisted and Khidr allowed him to accompany him. Certain events took place and every time Moses would object to Khidr why he did such and that. In the end, Khidr informed him why he would do those seemingly wrong actions and the reason behind them. For a more detailed version of this story, refer to the article “Khidr in the Quran.”

The Story of Dhul Qarnayn in Surah Kahf

Dhul Qarnayn was a righteous king whom Allah had given him the means to everything. He had a very large empire and ruled over it with justice and equity. One of the places he went to was to stop a group of people known as Gog and Magog who were doing mischief. He built a strong wall between them so they would not bother people on the other side of the border. Refer to the article “Dhul Qarnayn in the Quran” to read the story of Dhul Qarnayn in detail.

Conclusion

Surah Kahf is one of the most instructive surahs of the Noble Quran. It contains many important Islamic themes and tells four different stories. This surah is also a very virtuous surah to recite and brings much reward. It is especially virtuous to recite this surah on the eve of Friday (Thursday night) and on Friday. If one does so, every week, he will become a martyr in the future. This is one of the surahs that we must try to recite at least once a week. In some Muslims countries like Egypt, there is a special ceremony called “the Quran of Friday” (قرآن الجُمعَة) and on this day surah Kahf or some verses of it are recited.


References

  1. Al-Miṣbāḥ al-Kaf‘amī, p. 455.
  2. Ṭibb al-A’immah, p. 32.
  3. Kanz al-‘Ummāl, hadith 2591.
  4. Quran 18:1-2 (Foroutan).
  5. Quran 18:23-24 (Foroutan).
  6. Quran 18:44 (Foroutan).
  7. Quran 18:47-49 (Foroutan).
  8. Quran 18:107-108 (Foroutan).
  9. Quran 18:109 (Foroutan).
  10. Al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 116.
  11. Quran 18:14-15 (Foroutan).
  12. Quran 18:18 (Foroutan).
  13. Quran 18:19-20 (Foroutan).

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