The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Praise be to God who has sent down to His servant -- the Book, which is free from any ambiguity 1 an unerringly Straight Book, meant to warn of a stern punishment from Allah, and to proclaim, to those who believe and work righteous deeds, the tiding that theirs shall be a good reward 2 wherein they will remain [in a state of bliss] forever. 3 And that it may warn those who say: God hath taken a son. 4 a thing about which they have no knowledge, neither they nor their ancestors. Dreadful is the word that comes out of their mouths. What they utter is merely a lie. 5 Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief if they do not believe in this message. 6 We have appointed all that is on the earth an adornment for it, in order that We try which of them is finest in works. 7 And most surely We will make what is on it bare ground without herbage. 8 Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? 9 Recall what time the youths betook themselves to the cave, then said: our Lord! vouchsafe unto us mercy from before Thee, and prepare for us in our affair a right course. 10 Wherefore We put a covering over their ears in the cave for a number of years. 11 Then We raised them up (from their sleep), that We might test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period that they had tarried. 12