The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise be to God. He has sent the Book to His servant and has made it a flawless guide (for human beings) 1 [a divine writ] unerringly straight, meant to warn [the godless] of a severe punishment from Him, and to give unto the believers who do good works the glad tiding that theirs shall be a goodly reward 2 In which they will abide forever. 3 And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son, 4 No knowledge whatever have they of Him, and neither had their forefathers: dreadful - is this saying that comes out of their mouths, [and] nothing but falsehood do they utter! 5 (O Muhammad), if they do not believe in this Message, you will perhaps torment yourself to death with grief, sorrowing over them. 6 We have caused earthly things to seem attractive so that We can see who will excel in good deeds. 7 but We shall reduce all this to barren waste. 8 Do you think that the Men of the Cave and the Inscription were one of Our wondrous signs? 9 When those youths sought refuge in the Cave and said: "Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Yourself and provide for us rectitude in our affairs." 10 So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. 11 and then roused them so that We might see which of the two parties could best tell the length of their stay. 12