The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
Praise belongs to God who has sent down upon His servant the Book and has not assigned unto it any crookedness; 1 an unerringly Straight Book, meant to warn of a stern punishment from Allah, and to proclaim, to those who believe and work righteous deeds, the tiding that theirs shall be a good reward 2 wherein they will remain [in a state of bliss] forever. 3 And to warn those who say, "Allah has taken a son." 4 No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. Mighty is the word that comes out of their mouths [i.e. He begot (took) sons and daughters]. They utter nothing but a lie. 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 And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound. 8 Or dost thou think the Men of the Cave and Er-Rakeem were among Our signs a wonder? 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 then thumped upon their ears in the Cave for a number of years. (* Put them to sleep.) 11 and then We awakened them: [and We did all this] so that We might mark out [to the world] which of the two points of view showed a better comprehension of the time-span during which they had remained in this state. 12