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 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 They will abide therein for ever. 3 and to warn those who say, 'God has taken to Himself a son'; 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 Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief if they do not believe in this message. 6 We have indeed placed all that is on the earth as its adornment in order that We may test them, who among them has the best deeds. 7 Let it be known that We will turn all things on earth into dust. 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 Wherefore We put a covering over their ears 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