The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
Praise belongs to God who has sent down upon His servant the Book and has not assigned unto it any crookedness; 1 A just Book, to warn of Allah’s severe punishment, and to give glad tidings to the believers who do good deeds, that for them is an excellent reward. 2 wherein they will remain [in a state of bliss] forever. 3 Furthermore, [this divine writ is meant] to warn all those who assert, "God has taken unto Himself a son." 4 Surely, of this they have no knowledge, neither they nor their fathers; it is a monstrous word that comes from their mouths, they say nothing but 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 lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound. 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 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 We then thumped upon their ears in the Cave for a number of years. (* Put them to sleep.) 11 and thereafter We revived them to find out which of the two parties could best calculate the length of their stay. 12