The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
Praise be to God. He has sent the Book to His servant and has made it a flawless guide (for human beings) 1 Immutable, so that it may warn of a severe punishment from Him; and give happy tidings to those who believe and do the right that there is a better reward (of Paradise) for them, 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 perchance, if they do not believe in this tiding, you will consume yourself with grief and follow after them. 6 Lo! We have placed all that is on the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct. 7 In the ultimate, We shall reduce all that is on the earth to a barren plain. 8 Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents? 9 When those young men took shelter in the cave, and prayed: "O Lord, grant us Your favour and dispose our affair aright," 10 Then We sealed up their hearing in 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