The Cave (Al-Kahf)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to God who has sent down to His servant -- the Book, which is free from any ambiguity 1 (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, 2 [a state of bliss] in which they shall dwell beyond the count of time. 3 And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son, 4 (A thing) whereof they have no knowledge, nor (had) their fathers, Dreadful is the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie. 5 Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief if they do not believe in this message. 6 We have adorned the earth with attractive things, so that We may test mankind as to which one is best in conduct, 7 and, verily, [in time] We shall reduce all that is on it to barren dust! 8 Do you think that the people of the Cave and the Inscription were one of Our wondrous signs? 9 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!" 10 So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. 11 We then awakened them to see which of the two groups more accurately tells the period they had stayed. 12