The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness: 1 A just Book, to warn of Allah’s severe punishment, and to give glad tidings to the believers who do good deeds, that for them is an excellent reward. 2 wherein they shall abide for ever; 3 Furthermore, [this divine writ is meant] to warn all those who assert, "God has taken unto Himself a son." 4 Neither they nor their fathers had any knowledge of such utterance (that God has begotten a son). Whatever they say about (this matter) is vicious blasphemy and plain lies. 5 Haply thou art going to kill thyself over their footsteps, if they believe not in this discourse, out of sorrow. 6 We have appointed all that is on the earth for an adornment for it, and that We may try which of them is fairest in works; 7 In the ultimate, We shall reduce all that is on the earth to a barren plain. 8 Or, do you think the companions of the Cave and the tomb stone were a wonder among Our signs? 9 Recall what time the youths betook themselves to the cave, then said: our Lord! vouchsafe unto us mercy from before Thee, and prepare for us in our affair a right course. 10 We then thumped upon their ears in the Cave for a number of years. (* Put them to sleep.) 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12