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 and which rightly directs, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to proclaim to the believers who do righteous deeds that they shall have an excellent recompense, 2 wherein they shall remain forever, 3 Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son": 4 they have no knowledge of it, they nor their fathers; a monstrous word it is, issuing out of their mouths; they say nothing but 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 adorned the earth with attractive things, so that We may test mankind as to which one is best in conduct, 7 And verily! We shall make all that is on it (the earth) a bare dry soil (without any vegetation or trees, etc.). 8 Do you think that the people 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 We then thumped upon their ears in the Cave for a number of years. (* Put them to sleep.) 11 Then roused them to ascertain which of the two groups could account for the period they had stayed. 12