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 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 In which they will abide forever. 3 And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen 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 Yet perchance, if they believe not in this tiding, thou wilt consume thyself, following after them, of grief. 6 Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which We put men to a test, [showing] which of them are best in conduct; 7 but We shall reduce all this to barren waste. 8 Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents? 9 When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give us mercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight. 10 And thereupon We veiled their ears in the cave for many a year, 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12