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 [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 Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son": 4 No knowledge thereof have they, nor had their fathers. Odious is the word that cometh out of their mouths; they say not but a lie. 5 Will you kill yourself for grief of them if they do not believe in this presentation? 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 most surely We will make what is on it bare ground without herbage. 8 Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Sign? 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 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