The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is to Allah Who sent down the Book upon His bondman, and has not kept any deviation in it. 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 shall remain for ever: 3 And to warn those who say “Allah has chosen a child.” 4 They have no knowledge of this, as their fathers did not have. How terrible are the words they utter! They speak nothing but lies. 5 Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message. 6 We have caused earthly things to seem attractive so that We can see who will excel in good deeds. 7 And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound. 8 Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Sign? 9 When the youths sought refuge in the cave, they said: Our Lord! grant us mercy from Thee, and provide for us a right course in our affair. 10 And thereupon We veiled their ears in the cave for many a year, 11 And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried. 12