The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. 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 [a state of bliss] in which they shall dwell beyond the count of time. 3 and to warn those who say, 'God has taken to Himself a son'; 4 No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood! 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 Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try them (as to) which of them is best in works. 7 and We shall surely make all that is on it barren dust. 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 draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not): 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12