The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
Praise be to God. He has sent the Book to His servant and has made it a flawless guide (for human beings) 1 [a divine writ] unerringly straight, meant to warn [the godless] of a severe punishment from Him, and to give unto the believers who do good works the glad tiding that theirs shall be a goodly reward 2 Staying in it for ever; 3 And it (the Koran) warns those who say: 'Allah has taken 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 Yet perchance, if they believe not in this tiding, thou wilt consume thyself, following after them, of grief. 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 And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound. 8 Do you think that the Men of the Cave and the Inscription were one of Our wondrous signs? 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 Then We smote their ears many years in the Cave. 11 Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time. 12