The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
All praise is to Allah Who sent down the Book upon His bondman, and has not kept any deviation in it. 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 and they will live for ever therein. 3 And to warn those who say, "Allah has taken a son." 4 They do not have any knowledge of it – nor did their forefathers; profound is the word that comes out of their mouths; they only speak a lie. 5 Thou wouldst only, perchance, fret thyself to death, following after them, in grief, if they believe not in this Message. 6 We have indeed placed all that is on the earth as its adornment in order that We may test them, who among them has the best deeds. 7 In the ultimate, We shall reduce all that is on the earth to a barren plain. 8 Or, do you think the companions of the Cave and the tomb stone were a wonder among Our signs? 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 So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. 11 and then We awakened them: [and We did all this] so that We might mark out [to the world] which of the two points of view showed a better comprehension of the time-span during which they had remained in this state. 12