The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. 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 therein to abide for ever, 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 Yet perchance, if they do not believe in this tiding, you will consume yourself with grief and follow after them. 6 Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try them (as to) which of them is best in works. 7 In the ultimate, We shall reduce all that is on the earth to a barren plain. 8 Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? 9 Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!" 10 So We prevented them from hearing in the cave for a number of years. 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12