The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness, 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 [a state of bliss] in which they shall dwell beyond the count of time. 3 And to warn those who say, "God has taken to Himself a son." 4 They have no knowledge of this, nor did their forefathers have any either. What they say is monstrous: they are merely uttering falsehoods! 5 (O Muhammad), if they do not believe in this Message, you will perhaps torment yourself to death with grief, sorrowing over them. 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 We shall surely make all that is on it barren dust. 8 Do you not think that the story of the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription was one of Our marvelous miracles? 9 When those youths took refuge in the cave, they prayed: "O our Sustainer! Bestow on us grace from Thyself, and endow us, whatever our [outward] condition, with consciousness of what is right!" 10 And thereupon We veiled their ears in the cave for many a year, 11 and then roused them so that We might see which of the two parties could best tell the length of their stay. 12