The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Praise be to Allah Who has revealed to His servant the Book devoid of all crookedness; 1 so that he could warn them of His stern retribution, give the glad news of the best and everlasting reward to the righteously striving believers, 2 Where they will abide for ever; 3 And it (the Koran) warns those who say: 'Allah has taken a son' 4 They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except 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 for an adornment for it, and that We may try which of them is fairest 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 young men took refuge in the Cave – then said, “Our Lord! Give us mercy from Yourself, and arrange guidance for us in our affair.” 10 We sealed off their ears in the cave for a number of years, 11 And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried. 12