The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
ALL PRAISE BE to God who has revealed to His votary the Book which is free of all obliquity, 1 Straightforward, that it may warn of a severe violence from before Him, and bring glad tidings to the believers who work righteous works that theirs shall be a goodly hire. 2 wherein they shall remain forever, 3 and to warn those who say, 'God has taken to Himself a son'; 4 No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood! 5 Yet perchance, if they believe not in this tiding, thou wilt consume thyself, following after them, of grief. 6 We have adorned the earth with attractive things, so that We may test mankind as to which one is best in conduct, 7 In the ultimate, We shall reduce all that is on the earth to a barren plain. 8 Deemest thou that the people of the cave and the inscription were of Our signs a wonder? 9 When the youths sought refuge in the cave, they said: Our Lord! grant us mercy from Thee, and provide for us a right course in our affair. 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