As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 18, Al-Kahf or the Cave, verses 1-17. The first few verses contain an admonition against those who say that Allah has begotten any progeny, specifically a son. Then we begin to the story of the Companions of the Cave, a group of young men who were forced to take refuge in a cave to escape persecution for their beliefs in God.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Praise be to Allah Who has revealed the Book to His servant and made it free from any crookedness.[1] He has made it straight so that He may warn about the terrible punishment for the unbelievers from Him and give good news to the believers who do good deeds that they shall have a goodly reward (paradise),[2] wherein they will live forever.[3] Further to warn those who say “Allah has begotten a son.”[4] They have no knowledge about it, nor did their forefathers; this is a monstrous word that comes from their mouths. They utter nothing but a lie.[5] O Muhammad! You probably will kill yourself in grief over them, if they do not believe in this Message (the Qur’an).[6] 18:[1-6]
We have decked the earth with all kinds of ornaments to test the people and to see which of them do the best deeds.[7] In the end, We shall reduce all that is on it to a barren wasteland.[8] Do you think that the Companions of the Cave and of Ar-Raqeem (this may refer to the name of their dog, or the tablet on which their names were inscribed or the mountain in which the cave is situated) were a wonder among Our signs?[9] When those young men took refuge in the cave, they said “Our Lord! Have mercy on us from Yourself and facilitate for us the right way.”[10] So We put upon their ears a cover (put them into a deep sleep) for a number of years in the cave,[11] and then awakened them to find out which of the two parties (believers and nonbelievers who were arguing about the fact of life after death) could best tell the length of their stay.[12] 18:[7-12]
Now We tell you their real story. They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.[13] We put courage in their hearts when they stood up and declared: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, we shall never call upon any other deity except Him, for if we do, we shall be uttering blasphemy.[14] These people of ours have taken for worship other gods besides Him; if they are right, why do they not bring forth any convincing proof of their divinity? Who is more wicked than the one who invents a lie about Allah?”[15] The young men said to one another: Now that you have withdrawn from them and denounced those deities whom they worship beside Allah, let us take refuge in the cave; your Lord will extend to you His mercy and provide you a means of safety.”[16] If you could look at them in the cave, it would appear to you that the rising sun declines to the right from their cave, and as it sets, passes them on the left, while they lay in an open space in between. This is from the signs of Allah. He whom Allah guides is rightly guided; but he whom He lets go astray, you will find no guardian to lead him to the Right Way.[17] 18:[13-17]
Ameen.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.