The Cave (Al-Kahf)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah Who has revealed to His servant the Book devoid of all crookedness; 1 and which rightly directs, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to proclaim to the believers who do righteous deeds that they shall have an excellent recompense, 2 wherein they will remain [in a state of bliss] forever. 3 And to warn those who say “Allah has chosen a child.” 4 Surely, of this they have no knowledge, neither they nor their fathers; it is a monstrous word that comes from their mouths, they say nothing but a lie. 5 Then maybe you will kill yourself with grief, sorrowing after them, if they do not believe in this announcement. 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 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 [Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." 10 Wherefore We put a covering over their ears in the cave for a number of years. 11 We then awakened them to see which of the two groups more accurately tells the period they had stayed. 12