#18. Kahf *SURAH*
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful
1. Praise be to Allah Who hath sent to His Servant the Book and
hath allowed therein no Crookedness
2. (He hath made it) Straight (and Clear) in order that He may
warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him and that He
may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds
that they shall have a goodly Reward
3. Wherein they shall remain forever:
4. Further that He may warn those (also) who say "Allah hath
begotten a son"
5. No knowledge have they of such a thing nor had their fathers.
It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying.
What they say isa nothing but falsehood!
6. Thou wouldst only perchance fret thyself to death following
after them in grief if they believe not in this Message
7. That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show
for the earth in order that We may test them as to which of them
are best in conduct
8. Verily what is on earth We shall make but as dust and dry soil
(without growth or herbage)
9. Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of
the Inscriptione were wonders among Our Signs?
10. Behold the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said
"Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself and dispose of our
affair for us in the right way!
11. Then We drew (a veil) over their ears for a number of years
in the cave (so that they heard not)
12. Then We roused them in order to test which of the two parties
was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried!
13. We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who
believed in their Lord and We advanced them in guidance
14. We gave strength to their hearts: Behold they stood up and
said: "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth:
never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did; we
should indeed have uttered an enormity!"
15. "These our people have taken for worship gods other than Him:
why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing)
for what they do? Who doth more wrong than such as invent a
falsehood against Allah?
16. "When ye turn away from them and the things they worship
other than Allah betake yourselves to the Cave: your Lord will
shower his mercies on you and dispose of your affair towards
comfort and ease."
17. Thou wouldst have seen the sun when it rose declining to the
right from their Cave and when it set turning away from them to
the left while they lay in the open space in the midst of the
Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: he whom Allah guided;
but he whom Allah leaves to stray for him wilt thou find no
protector to lead him to the Right Way
18. Thou wouldst have deemed them awake whilst they were asleep
and We turned them on their right and their left sides: their dog
stretching forth his two forelegs on the threshold: if thou hadst
come up on to them thou wouldst have certainly turned back from
them in flight and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror
of them
19. Such (being their state) We raised them up (from sleep) that
they might question each other. Said one of them "How long have
ye stayed (here)?" They said "We have stayed (perhaps) a day or
part of a day." (At length) they (all) said "Allah (alone) knows
best how long ye have stayed here Now send ye then one of you
with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is
the best food (to be had) and bring some to you that (ye may)
satisfy hunger herewith: and let him behave with care and
courtesy and let him not inform anyone about you
20. "For if thy should come upon you they would stone you or
force you to return to their cult and in that case ye would never
attain prosperity."
21. Thus did We make their case known to the people that they
might know that the promise of Allah is true and that there can
be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold they dispute among
themselves as to their affair. (Some) said "Construct a building
over them": their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed
over their affair said "Let us surely build a place of worship
over them."
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
23. Nor say of anything "I shall be sure to do so and so
tomorrow"
24. Without adding "So please Allah!" And call thy Lord to mind
when thou forgettest and say "I hope that my Lord will guide me
ever closer (even) than this to the right road."
25. So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years and (some)
add nine (more)
26. Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the
knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how
clearly He sees how finely He hears (everything)! They have no
protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any
person whatsoever
27. And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the
Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words and none wilt thou
find as a refuge other than Him
28. And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord
morning and evening seeking his Face; and let not thine eyes pass
beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey
any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of
Us one who follows his own desires whose case has gone beyond all
bounds
29. Say "The Truth is from your Lord": let him who will believe
and let him who will reject (it): for the wrongdoers We have
prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames) like the wall and roof
of a tent will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be
granted water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How
dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!
30. As to those who believe and work righteousness verily We
shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a (single)
righteous deed
31. For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers
will flow; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold
and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade;
they will recline therein on raised thrones. How good the
recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on!
32. Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We
provided two gardens of grapevines and surrounded them with
date-palms: in between the two We placed corn-fields
33. Each of those gardens brought forth its produce and failed
not in the least therein: in the midst of them We caused a river
to flow
34. (Abundant) was the produce this man had: he said to his
companion in the course of a mutual argument: "More wealth have I
than you and more honor and power in (my following of) men."
35. He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his
soul: He said "I deem not that this will ever perish
36. "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come:
even if I am brought back to my Lord I shall surely find (there)
something better in exchange."
37. His companion said to him in the course of the argument with
him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust then out of
a sperm- drop then fashioned thee into a man?
38. "But (I think) for my part that He is Allah my Lord and none
shall I associate with my Lord
39. "Why didst thou not as thou wentest into thy garden say:
`Allah's Will (be done)! There is no power but with Allah!' If
thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons
40. "It may be that my Lord will give me something better than
thy garden and that He will send on thy garden thunderbolts (by
way of reckoning) from heaven making it (but) slippery sand!
41. "Or the water of the garden will run off underground so that
thou wilt never be able to find it."
42. So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin)
and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had
spent on his property which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its
very foundations and he could only say "Woe is me! would I had
never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!"
43. Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah nor was he able
to deliver himself
44. There the (only) protection comes from Allah the True One. He
is the Best to reward and the Best to give success
45. Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world:
it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the
earth's vegetation absorbs it but soon it becomes dry stubble
which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah Who prevails over
all things
46. Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world:
but the things that endure Good Deeds are best in the sight of
thy Lord as rewards and best as (the foundation for) hopes
47. One Day We shall remove the mountains and thou wilt see the
earth as a level stretch and We shall gather them all together
nor shall We leave out any one of them
48. And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks (with
the announcement) "Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created
you first: aye ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment
made to you to meet (Us)!"
49. And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou
wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded)
therein; they will say "Ah! woe to us! what a book is this! It
leaves out nothing small or great but takes account thereof!"
They will find all that they did placed before them: and not one
will thy Lord treat with injustice
50. Behold! We said to the angels "Bow down to Adam": they bowed
down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns and he broke the
Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as
protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil
would be the exchange for the wrongdoers!
51. I called them not to witness the creation of the heavens and
the earth nor (even) their own creation: nor is it for Me to take
as helpers such as lead (men) astray!
52. One Day He will say "Call on those whom ye thought to be My
partners" and they will call on them but they will not listen to
them; and We shall make for them a place of common perdition.
53. And the Sinful shall see the Fire and apprehend that they
have to all therein; no means will they find to turn away
therefrom
54. We have explained in detail in this Qur'an for the benefit of
mankind every kind of similitude: but man is in most things
contentious
55. And what is there to keep back men from believing now that
Guidance has come to them nor from praying for forgiveness from
their Lord but that (they ask that) the ways of the ancients be
repeated with them or the Wrath be brought to them face to face?
56. We only send the Apostles to give glad tidings and to give
warnings: but the Unbelievers dispute with vain argument in order
therewith to weaken the truth and they treat My Signs as a jest
as also the fact that they are warned!
57. And who doth more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs
of his Lord but turns away from them forgetting the (deeds) which
his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their
hearts lest they should understand this and over their ears
deafness. If thou callest them to guidance even then will they
never accept guidance
58. But your Lord is Most Forgiving Full of Mercy. If He were to
call them (at once) to account for what they have earned then
surely He would have hastened their Punishment: but they have
their appointed time beyond which they will find no refuge
59. Such were the populations We destroyed when they committed
iniquities; but We fixed an appointed time for their destruction
60. Behold Moses said to his attendant "I will not give up until
I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and
years in travel."
61. But when they reached the Junction they forgot (about) their
Fish which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a
tunnel
62. When they had passed on (some distance) Moses said to his
attendant: "Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much
fatigue at this (stage of) our journey."
63. He replied: "Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook
ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none
but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its
course through the sea in a marvelous way!"
64. Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after": so they
went back on their footsteps following (the path they had come)
65. So they found one of Our servants on whom We had bestowed
Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our
own presence
66. Moses said to him: "May I follow thee on the footing that
thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast
been taught?"
67. (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have
patience with me!
68. "And how canst thou have patience about things about which
thy understanding is not complete?"
69. Moses said: "Thou wilt find me if Allah so will (truly)
patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught."
70. The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me ask me no
questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning
it."
71. So they both proceeded: until when they were in the boat he
scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown
those in it? Truly "strange thing hast thou done!"
72. He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no
patience with me?"
73. Moses said: "Rebuke me not for forgetting nor grieve me by
raising difficulties in my case."
74. Then they proceeded: until when they met a young man he slew
him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had
slain none? Truly a foul (unheard-of) thing hast thou done!"
75. He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no
patience with me?"
76. (Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this
keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received
(full) excuse from my side."
77. Then they proceeded: until when they came to the inhabitants
of a town they asked them for food but they refused them
hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down
but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished
surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!"
78. He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now
will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which
thou wast unable to hold patience
79. As for the boat it belonged to certain men in dire want: they
plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable for
there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by
force
80. "As for the youth his parents were people of Faith and we
feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and
ingratitude (to Allah and man)
81. "So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a
son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection
82. "As for the wall it belonged to two youths orphans in the
Town; there was beneath it a buried treasure to which they were
entitled: their father had been a righteous man: so thy Lord
desired that they should attain their age of full strength and
get out their treasure a mercy (and favor) from thy Lord. I did
it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those
things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience."
83. They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say "I will rehearse to
you something of his story."
84. Verily We established his power on earth and We gave him the
ways and the means to all ends
85. One (such) way he followed
86. Until when he reached the setting of the sun He found it set
in a spring of murky water: near it he found a People: We said:
"O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority) either to punish them or to
treat them with kindness."
87. He said: "Whoever doth wrong him shall we punish; then shall
he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a
punishment unheard-of (before)
88. "But whoever believes and works righteousness he shall have a
goodly reward and easy will be his task as we order it by our
command."
89. Then followed he (another) way
90. Until when he came to the rising of the sun he found it
rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering
protection against the sun
91. (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what
was before him."
92. Then followed he (another) way
93. Until when he reached (a tract) between two mountains he
found beneath them a people who scarcely understood a word.
94. They said: "O Zul-qarnain! the Gog and Magog (people) do
great mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in
order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them?"
95. He said: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is
better (than tribute): help me therefore with strength (and
labor): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them:
96. "Bring me blocks of iron." At length when he had filled up
the space between the two steep mountain sides he said "Blow
(with your bellows)." Then when he had made it (red) as fire he
said: "Bring me that I may pour over it molten lead."
97. Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through
it
98. He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord: but when the promise
of my Lord comes to pass He will make it into dust; and the
promise of My Lord is true."
99. On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one
another; the trumpet will be blown and We shall collect them all
together
100. And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see
all spread out
101. (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from
Remembrance of Me and who had been unable even to hear
102. Do the Unbelievers think that they can take my servants as
protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the
Unbelievers for (their) entertainment
103. Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of
their deeds?
104. "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while
they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?"
105. They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact
of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be
their works nor shall We on the Day of Judgment give them any
Weight
106. That is their reward Hell; because they rejected Faith and
took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest
107. As to those who believe and work righteous deeds they have
for their entertainment the Gardens of Paradise
108. Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish
for from them
109. Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the
words of my Lord sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would
the words of my Lord even if we added another ocean like it for
its aid."
110. Say: "I am but a man like yourselves (but) the inspiration
has come to me that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to
meet his Lord let him work righteousness and in the worship of
his Lord admit no one as partner."
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