The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness: 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 In which they will remain forever 3 Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son": 4 Surely, of this they have no knowledge, neither they nor their fathers; it is a monstrous word that comes from their mouths, they say nothing but a lie. 5 Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps. 6 We have appointed all that is on the earth an adornment for it, in order that We try which of them is finest in works. 7 And most surely We will make what is on it bare ground without herbage. 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 Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!" 10 We lulled them to sleep in that cave for a number of years 11 and then roused them so that We might see which of the two parties could best tell the length of their stay. 12