The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. 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 therein to abide for ever, 3 And to warn those who say “Allah has chosen a child.” 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 believe not in this tiding, thou wilt consume thyself, following after them, of grief. 6 We have appointed all that is on the earth an adornment for it, in order that We try which of them is finest in works. 7 And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground. 8 Deemest thou that the people of the cave and the inscription were of Our signs a wonder? 9 When the young men took refuge in the Cave – then said, “Our Lord! Give us mercy from Yourself, and arrange guidance for us in our affair.” 10 Wherefore We put a covering over their ears in the cave for a number of years. 11 Thereafter We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties was best at reckoning the time that they had tarried. 12