The Cave (Al-Kahf)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise be to Allah Who has revealed to His servant the Book devoid of all crookedness; 1 A just Book, to warn of Allah’s severe punishment, and to give glad tidings to the believers who do good deeds, that for them is an excellent reward. 2 They shall abide therein forever. 3 And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen 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 Yet perchance, if they believe not in this tiding, thou wilt consume thyself, following after them, of grief. 6 We have made whatever exists on the earth its adornment to test and try them (and) know who acts better; 7 And most surely We will make what is on it bare ground without herbage. 8 [AND SINCE the life of this world is but a test, dost thou [really] think that [the parable of] the Men of the Cave and of [their devotion to] the scriptures could be deemed more wondrous than any [other] of Our messages? 9 When those young men took shelter in the cave, and prayed: "O Lord, grant us Your favour and dispose our affair aright," 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