The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah Who has revealed to His servant the Book devoid of all crookedness; 1 A just Book, to warn of Allah’s severe punishment, and to give glad tidings to the believers who do good deeds, that for them is an excellent reward. 2 wherein they shall abide for ever; 3 And that it may warn those who say: God hath taken 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 Yet perchance, if they do not believe in this tiding, you will consume yourself with grief and follow after them. 6 Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which We put men to a test, [showing] which of them are best in conduct; 7 but We shall reduce all this to barren waste. 8 Deemest thou that the people of the cave and the inscription were of Our signs a wonder? 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 draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not): 11 and thereafter We revived them to find out which of the two parties could best calculate the length of their stay. 12