The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Praise be to God who has sent down to His servant -- the Book, which is free from any ambiguity 1 [a divine writ] unerringly straight, meant to warn [the godless] of a severe punishment from Him, and to give unto the believers who do good works the glad tiding that theirs shall be a goodly reward 2 In which they will remain forever 3 And to warn those who say “Allah has chosen a child.” 4 No knowledge whatever have they of Him, and neither had their forefathers: dreadful - is this saying that comes out of their mouths, [and] nothing but falsehood do they utter! 5 Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow. 6 We have appointed all that is on the earth an adornment for it, in order that We try which of them is finest in works. 7 Verily what is on earth we shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or herbage). 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 sought refuge in the cave, they said, "Our Lord, grant us Your special mercy and give us right guidance in our affair." 10 We sealed their ears in the cave for a number of years. 11 Thereafter We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties was best at reckoning the time that they had tarried. 12