The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness, 1 (He has made it) Straight to give warning (to the disbelievers) of a severe punishment from Him, and to give glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a fair reward (i.e. Paradise). 2 wherein they shall remain forever, 3 And to warn those who say, "Allah has taken a son." 4 They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers; a grievous word it is that comes out of their mouths; they speak nothing but a lie. 5 Perhaps you will destroy yourself out of grief because they disbelieve this Book. 6 Surely We have made all that is on the earth an embellishment for it in order to test people as to who of them is better in conduct. 7 We will surely reduce all that is on it to barren dust. 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 Recall what time the youths betook themselves to the cave, then said: our Lord! vouchsafe unto us mercy from before Thee, and prepare for us in our affair a right course. 10 For many years We sealed up their hearing in the Cave, 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12