The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
ALL PRAISE is due to God, who has bestowed this divine writ from on high upon His servant, and has not allowed any deviousness to obscure its meaning: 1 Straightforward, that it may warn of a severe violence from before Him, and bring glad tidings to the believers who work righteous works that theirs shall be a goodly hire. 2 wherein they shall remain forever, 3 And that it may warn those who say: "God has begotten 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 Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message. 6 Verily We have made whatsoever is on the earth as an adornment thereof, that We may prove them - which of them is best in work. 7 and, verily, [in time] We shall reduce all that is on it to barren dust! 8 Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents? 9 When the young men sought refuge in the cave, they said, "Our Lord, grant us Your special mercy and give us right guidance in our affair." 10 We then thumped upon their ears in the Cave for a number of years. (* Put them to sleep.) 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12