The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
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 that it may warn those who say: "God has begotten a son." 4 They have no knowledge of this, as their fathers did not have. How terrible are the words they utter! They speak nothing but lies. 5 Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief if they do not believe in this message. 6 We have adorned the earth with attractive things, so that We may test mankind as to which one is best in conduct, 7 We will surely reduce all that is on it to barren dust. 8 Or, do you think the companions of the Cave and the tomb stone were a wonder among Our signs? 9 When those youths took refuge in the cave, they prayed: "O our Sustainer! Bestow on us grace from Thyself, and endow us, whatever our [outward] condition, with consciousness of what is right!" 10 We sealed their ears in the cave for a number of years. 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12