The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no 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 wherein they shall remain forever, 3 And it (the Koran) warns 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 adorned the earth with attractive things, so that We may test mankind as to which one is best in conduct, 7 And indeed We shall one day make all that is on it a barren plain. 8 Or, do you think that the Fellows of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wonderful signs? 9 When the young men fled for refuge to the Cave and said: Our Lord! Give us mercy from Thy presence, and shape for us right conduct in our plight. 10 So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. 11 and then roused them so that We might see which of the two parties could best tell the length of their stay. 12