The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
ALL PRAISE BE to God who has revealed to His votary the Book which is free of all obliquity, 1 and which rightly directs, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to proclaim to the believers who do righteous deeds that they shall have an excellent recompense, 2 They will abide therein for ever. 3 And that it may warn those who say: "God has begotten a son." 4 They do not have any knowledge of it – nor did their forefathers; profound is the word that comes out of their mouths; they only speak a lie. 5 Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message. 6 That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct. 7 And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground. 8 [AND SINCE the life of this world is but a test, dost thou [really] think that [the parable of] the Men of the Cave and of [their devotion to] the scriptures could be deemed more wondrous than any [other] of Our messages? 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 Then We draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not): 11 and then roused them so that We might see which of the two parties could best tell the length of their stay. 12