The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
All praise is to Allah Who sent down the Book upon His bondman, and has not kept any deviation in it. 1 [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward 2 In which they will remain forever 3 And to warn those who say, "Allah has taken 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 Perhaps you will destroy yourself out of grief because they disbelieve this Book. 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 Verily what is on earth we shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage). 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 those young men took shelter in the cave, and prayed: "O Lord, grant us Your favour and dispose our affair aright," 10 We sealed their ears in the cave for a number of years. 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12