The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
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 an unerringly Straight Book, meant to warn of a stern punishment from Allah, and to proclaim, to those who believe and work righteous deeds, the tiding that theirs shall be a good reward 2 [a state of bliss] in which they shall dwell beyond the count of time. 3 And to warn those who say “Allah has chosen a child.” 4 They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except a lie. 5 Perhaps you will destroy yourself out of grief because they disbelieve this Book. 6 That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct. 7 and, verily, [in time] We shall reduce all that is on it to barren dust! 8 Do you not think that the story of the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription was one of Our marvelous miracles? 9 [Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." 10 Then We smote their ears many years in the Cave. 11 Afterwards. We raised them up again, that We might know which of the two parties would better calculate the while they had tarried. 12