The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
Praise be to God. He has sent the Book to His servant and has made it a flawless guide (for human beings) 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 Staying in it for ever; 3 And warn those who say: Allah has taken a son. 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 Perhaps you will destroy yourself out of grief because they disbelieve this Book. 6 We have made whatever exists on the earth its adornment to test and try them (and) know who acts better; 7 We will surely reduce all that is on it to barren dust. 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 We lulled them to sleep in that cave for a number of years 11 Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time. 12