Last updated on: November 5, 2024
DRAFT
Purpose
To list the detailed guidance in Surah al-Kahf, and to understand its practical implementation.
Abstract
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Full Text
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا
Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave, and hath not placed therein any crookedness,
[Al-Quran 18:1,Translation: Pickthal]
Surah al-Kahf begins with the praise of Allah ﷻ who has not placed any crookedness in The Book which He has revealed. With this statement begins a surah containing fantastic stories. Cross-checking with facts known to science, we come to realise that all of it is absolutely true! Moreover, the ayaat contain important lessons in trials of faith, knowledge, wealth and power. [Links to posts on Surah al-Kahf]
The more we study Surah al-Kahf, the more we discover the information detailed in this surah, and how relevant it is to our times and trials. The following is an attempt to analyse and list as much as possible, and continue to update, if Allah wills (أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ), with more insights.
Tallying with Hadith
According to the ahaadith attributed to our dear Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , he advised the recitation of Surah al-Kahf every Friday, saying that it will be a Noor for the reciter from one Friday to the next; and it will also be a means of protection against the fitna of the dajjal (anti-Christ). Most religions expect the arrival of a Messiah to save humanity from the evil of the anti-Christ.
Surah al-Kahf begins with the story of the young believers who take a stand for their faith in Allah as the only God, refuse to worship the false god(s), and then retire to the pit-cave (al-Kahf). The movement of the Sun across the sky was altered by Allah ﷻ to protect them. Among the signs of end-times is the rising of the Sun from the West. Allah ﷻ disclosed the people of the cave so that people in the town so they would know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it.
Messiah Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) is the Messiah awaited by both Christians and Muslims. He is the sign of the Hour. While Muslims believe that he is a human being and a Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى , Christians say that he is the Son of God. Surah al-Kahf warns them against this false statement.
Surah al-Kahf concludes with the story of earth-corrupting Yajuj Majuj being contained behind a barrier they are unable to cross; and it will remain in place till Allah ﷻ 's promise comes, and then they will be released. It is believed that then Messiah Jesus (Isa عليه السلام), and the believers with him, will hide in a cave seeking Allah ﷻ 's protection against the Yajuj Majuj. Allah ﷻ will send a creature of the earth to destroy them.
Common Themes
Allah ﷻ is the only deity, the only one worthy of worship, there is no mercy, no knowledge, no strength, no power, no protection, except with Allah ﷻ, who completely controls and governs His creation, as He wills. There is no change in His words. Everything that He has planned will come to pass. The Hour is coming!
He has revealed the scripture to His slave. Every one is His slave. He is the Lord, the Sustainer. He is not the father, and he has no son. There is no sharing of His Divinity!
Several sets of twos are compared and contrasted throughout the surah.
The Great War
قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا
مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا
وَيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا
مَّا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِآبَائِهِمْ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا
(But hath made it) straight, to give warning of stern punishment from Him, and to bring unto the believers who do good works the news that theirs will be a fair reward,
Wherein they will abide for ever;
And to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son,
(A thing) whereof they have no knowledge, nor (had) their fathers, Dreadful is the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie.
Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps.
In Surah al-Baqarah, Q2:278-279 warn of a war from Allah ﷻ and His Messenger against those who continue to indulge in usury. Messiah Jesus is expected to return, and the believers expect to eventually win The Great War with Allah ﷻ 's Massive Help.
While the Jews believe that The Law must be upheld, yet they indulge in Usury, even if not within their community. The Christians have freed themselves of the need to follow The Law, even though Jesus came to confirm The Law (The Bible Matthew 5:17). Moreover, through the Nicene Creed, they ascribe co-essential divinity to Jesus, explicitly declaring him to be the son of God. This belief is in sharp contrast to Jesus' use of the phrase (The Hebrew expression "son of man" (בן–אדם i.e. ben-'adam)), in reference to himself in the Bible, and the Christians generally take this phrase to mean Jesus referencing himself. A more literal translation could be 'son of Adam' or progeny of Adam. The Quran declares that Allah ﷻ chose Adam, ... and the family of Imran, who were descendants of Adam (Q3:33-34). Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the daughter of Imran (Q3:35 onwards; Q66:12). So, Jesus, son of Mary, was a human like Adam, both fatherless and both humans (Q3:59-60).
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Everything Temporary & for Trial
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا
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.
And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound.
Everything on Earth grows, flourishes, withers and dies. Similarly, human civilisations also grow, flourish, decline and come to an end. Many ancient civilisations are but heaps of ruins now. Nothing on Earth is meant to last. Its just a means to try who is best in conduct. Its the record of our words and deeds which remain. Things don't!
The Youth who took refuge in The Cave
أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا
إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Or deemest thou that the People of the Cave and the Inscription are a wonder among Our portents?
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.
The famous People of The Cave, on whose cave not only this Surah is titled, but whose mention occurs in many stories across various religious traditions, were not some elderly or middle-aged wise men; or of any high social status; rather they were young men / servants* who sought Allah ﷻ 's Mercy. The wordings of their prayer is significant: they sought Allah ﷻ 's special Mercy which is from near Him, or in His Presence. They needed to do right, and to do that, they needed Allah ﷻ 's intervention.
* see explanation for Q18:13 below
In The Book of Daniel and in The Bible, there is mention of a future event upon which the believers in Judea are advised to flee to the mountains.
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Sound, Cave & Sealing the Ears
فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰ آذَانِهِمْ
فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا
Then We sealed up their hearing
in the Cave for a number of years.
[Al-Quran 18:11, Translation: Pickthal]
So We cast over their ears
in the cave years - a number.
[Al-Quran 18:11, Translation: Literal (word by word)]
In response to the youths' prayer, their hearing was sealed, or they were prevented from hearing, by physically sealing their ears, so that sound could not enter. Also, they were given this protection in a cave. And for a specific count of years...
Sound technology is increasingly common now. Communication over long distances wirelessly is easily achieved already. Ancient monuments testify to the advanced used of acoustic technologies, such that they were even building their monuments using sound. Those monuments even seemed to have been built for acoustic purposes, perhaps loud speakers or something. In our present time, some sonic weapons are in limited use, and more are believed to be under development.
According to emerging research, our brains process sounds even during deep sleep. Also, high-powered sound waves can not only harm the ear drums, but cause disorientation, as well as damage and pain in other parts of the body as well. It seems that their ears were sealed, to protect them from the effect of the sounds that would have entered otherwise through their ears, even though they were asleep. Another way to think about their prolonged sleep with hearing sealed may be compared to a temporary death. At other places, The Quran informs us that we cannot make the dead hear, and also mentions the ashab-ul-quboor (the people of the grave). This also reminds me of the last few ayaat of Surah al-Mulk about Allah ﷻ having mercy or allowing the body to disintegrate...
And for a specific count of years... later on in ayat 25, we learn that the number of years were 300 solar, which is approximately 309 lunar years. Wonder what is the significance of the number of years? Perhaps, as Allah ﷻ increases us in knowledge, we will come to comprehend the wisdom in it.
Towards the end of the surah, we read about the Yujuj Majuj and how heir corruption was contained by sealing them behind a metallic barrier. They are supposed to be released in end times. Wonder what they are going to do, and what the believers will need to protect themselves from that?!
In The Book of Daniel, there is mention of a last king who will try to change times and laws, and the believers will be delivered in his hand for a while, but eventually the Divine Court will be set-up.
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Calculation of Time
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا
And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried.
[Al-Quran 18:12, Translation: Pickthal]
The correct calculation of the number of years is significant! To this day, people debate on which calendar to use. Not only is there confusion regarding the calendar system, truly nobody understands time itself. There exists no proper explanation of the fundamental nature of time, let alone knowing which measurement system to use.
The ayat explicitly mentions two parties. As mentioned under the previous ayat, Q18:25 states the number of years in solar years, and then states add nine to get the correct number in lunar years. The twelve month lunar calendar must be the correct one! For more on this, please read: Wronging the Nafs - III (The Calendar)
Going back to Q18:2-6, it warns of a great war, gives glad tidings to the Believers, and is a warning to those who say that Allah ﷻ has taken a son. From the People of The Book, its the Christians who say that Jesus is the son of God. The Christians adopted the Julian, and then the Gregorian calendar, both of which are pre-Christian solar calendars of pagan-roman origin. Going further back, ancient Egypt employed the solar calendar of 360, and later on, 365 days.
The ayat explicitly mentions two parties. As mentioned under the previous ayat, Q18:25 states the number of years in solar years, and then states add nine to get the correct number in lunar years. The twelve month lunar calendar must be the correct one! For more on this, please read: Wronging the Nafs - III (The Calendar)
Going back to Q18:2-6, it warns of a great war, gives glad tidings to the Believers, and is a warning to those who say that Allah ﷻ has taken a son. From the People of The Book, its the Christians who say that Jesus is the son of God. The Christians adopted the Julian, and then the Gregorian calendar, both of which are pre-Christian solar calendars of pagan-roman origin. Going further back, ancient Egypt employed the solar calendar of 360, and later on, 365 days.
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Belief & Increase in Guidance
نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى
We narrate unto thee their story with truth. Lo! they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
[Al-Quran 18:13, Translation: Pickthal]
Allah ﷻ guides whom He chooses to guide, and increases in guidance those who believe in Him. These people believed, even though their knowledge was limited. Yet, their belief was the reason they were increased in guidance. The Quran places emphasis on the word فِتْيَةٌ (Q18:10, 18:13 || in Moses' story: 18:60, 18:62) comes form the root word ف ت ي , words which share meanings of to ask, or inquire (Q18:22), explain, advise, ruling; so I suppose the word may be conveying either their age or social status or both. Interesting to note is that the same word is being used for young Abraham, and the slave Joseph, both of whom declared their faith at that age, in those situations:
Screenshot excerpt from corpus.quran.com
No age is too young for faith, and no economic status is too low for conviction! Many times people think they do not know enough, or have limited knowledge, or are not sure where they stand as believers. This ayat should serve as a reassurance to all believers that their belief is appreciated, and they should remain firm in their belief, while taking whatever steps they can to increase in piety and submission.
There are many versions of the Sleepers in the Cave. The Quran relates the true story of the People of the Cave, and highlights the learning points that we need to take from their story.
There are many versions of the Sleepers in the Cave. The Quran relates the true story of the People of the Cave, and highlights the learning points that we need to take from their story.
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Open Declaration of Faith
وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَٰهًا لَّقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا
And We made firm their hearts when they stood forth and said: Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We cry unto no Allah beside Him, for then should we utter an enormity.
[Al-Quran 18:14, Translation: Pickthal]
It seems that they were under pressure to call upon other than Allah ﷻ, and needed the firmness of heart to be able to take a stand and openly declare their faith, and withstand the pressure. As we learn subsequently from Q18:20, their faith and their lives were in danger, and they had to choose between the two. With divine help, they were able to choose faith at the risk of losing their lives.
We see a similar open declaration of faith in the story of the magicians in the court of the Pharaoh. When they lost the duel with Moses and realised that Moses had brought the truth, they openly declared their faith, and were willing to sacrifice their lives in pursuit of Allah ﷻ 's Mercy and Forgiveness.
The Bible, and The Book of Daniel, mention the Abomination of Desolation will be set-up, and that the believers will be hated, but they must persevere.
Their people were calling upon other as gods besides Allah ﷻ ... inventing lies about Allah ﷻ .
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Taking a Stand against Polytheism
هَٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا
These, our people, have chosen (other) gods beside Him though they bring no clear warrant (vouchsafed) to them. And who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah?
[Al-Quran 18:15, Translation: Pickthal]
Surah al-Kahf begins with a warning to those who say that Allah ﷻ has taken a son.
Christians openly declare their belief that Jesus is the son of God. The Quran, Surah at-Taubah, ayat 30, also informs us about some Jews' belief about Uzair. Moreover, many existing, and ancient, polytheistic religions also associate a pantheon of deities who they believe are related to God. Furthermore, Trinity is a concept we find in many ancient religions, as well as the Cross or Ankh. The Quran 20:71 informs us that Pharaoh threatened crucifixion as punishment to the magicians who lost to Moses and fell in prostration to Allah ﷻ .
Association of deities with Allah ﷻ is a sin as ancient as humans themselves. Sarah al-Ara`f records the shirk of the first human couple. It also records the witness taken from all the descendants of the sons of Adam over their nafs. Included among the concluding surahs of The Quran is Surah al-Kafiroon (Q109) which commands us to explicitly declare that Who we worship and the Deen we follow is different from the who(m) they worship and the deen they follow, and for them theirs, for us ours. It is important to realise that Deen or Religion is the Laws of Recompense by which we must abide by to be lawful citizens in Allah ﷻ 's Kingdom.
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Mercy & Help sought from Allah ﷻ
وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا
And when ye withdraw from them and that which they worship except Allah, then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will spread for you of His mercy and will prepare for you a pillow in your plight.
[Al-Quran 18:16, Translation: Pickthal]
Earlier in the narrative, Q18:10 records their prayer: '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.' In Q18:14-15, we note that these young men / male servants or slaves, took a stand against the falsehood and stood up for their faith. In the absence of any clear proof that could be considered, all they could do was seek Allah ﷻ 's Mercy and Help.
As can be noted from the screenshot shared under Q18:13 above, the word (فَتًى) is used to describe the young Abraham when he takes a stand for his faith against his father and his people, when he breaks the idols; the word (فَتَاهَا) is used to describe the slave Joseph when he holds on to faith and refuses to succumb to the sinful temptation that he was being invited to, and later on declares his Abrahamic monotheistic faith to his prison inmates as well, who are also (فَتَيَانِ). These Believers who are also described as (الْفِتْيَةُ) similarly took a public stand regarding their faith in Allah ﷻ alone as the only God, the only One worthy of worship.
Q18:4-5 gives a warning to those who say that Allah ﷻ has taken a son. Q3:59 compares Jesus (Issa) with Adam, both made from dust, and the next ayat declares that the truth comes from Allah ﷻ so do not be of those who doubt! In a Mubahilla, Q3:61, advises seeking Allah ﷻ 's curse (removal from Mercy) against the liars. Here, we note that these Believers do not invoke Allah ﷻ 's curse, but seek Allah ﷻ 's Mercy, from near Him, for themselves. Historically, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did offer a Mubahilla to the Christians, but they backed out of it. Earlier, Messenger Elijah (إِلْيَاسَ ) also had a Mubahilla with the prophets of Baal, which is mentioned in The Quran, and detailed in The Bible. In recent times, a Mubahilla occurred between Illias Suttar and the Khalifa of the Jamaat-e-Ahmaddiya.
Its interesting to note the use of the word مِّرْفَقًا in reassuring these Believers, and asking them to seek refuge in al-Kahf (فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ). Pickthal has translated مِّرْفَقًا as pillow. The root (ر ف ق) is used for words for resting place, elbows, and companions.
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Changing the Sun's course
وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا
And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.
[Al-Quran 18:17, Translation: Pickthal]
In the context of ascribing a son to Allah ﷻ, polytheism, and the central role of Sun-worship in polytheistic traditions, its amazing to note that though these Believers were in an open cave (pit cave (vertical cave open from the top)), yet the Sun could not come directly above them. And that inability of the Sun was from the signs of Allah (ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ).
The sun's movement across the Earth's sky varies with the latitude of the observer. The more North or South a person is from the Equator, the more towards the South or North the Sun appears. More details in People of the Cave.
Dwelling on the description of the Sun’s movement, it seems that the Sun rose from the West. Only Allah ﷻ could change its path across the sky.
They did not age in the open pit cave, nor did they suffer any loss or harm from within or without, all the centuries they were sleeping in the cave. They were covered in Allah ﷻ 's Mercy.
Allah ﷻ guided them, and so they were led aright, while their polytheistic people, they did not have a وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا .
People believe that the Sun is sustaining life on Earth, take the Sun for worship, and even keep their time according to the solar calendar. Allah ﷻ informs us that He Himself is our Real Sustainer, demands that He alone be worshipped, and has decreed the lunar calendar to be sighted and observed, as is, without any intercalations. His creations and commands are perfect, and affecting changes causes corruption and increases only in loss. The three definitions of the Deen (Q9:36, Q12:40, Q30:30) cover these very points:
Allah ﷻ is in perfect control of all His creation, and His Plan is perfect. It is important to openly declare faith in Allah ﷻ alone, and trust Allah ﷻ and His Plan for us, seeking His Help and Mercy.
In The Book of Daniel 7:25, it is prophesied that there will arise a king who will try to change times and laws... for a brief time will he be allowed to rule, after which, he will be completely destroyed.
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Protection in al-Kahf || Grave;
Sleep, a temporary Death, ...
وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا
And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them.
[Al-Quran 18:18, Translation: Pickthal]
When Allah ﷻ protects, then nothing and nobody can harm those in Allah ﷻ 's Protection and Mercy.
The Quran informs us that when we sleep, Allah ﷻ takes our Nafs, and returns to those who still have life left ahead of them. So, a sleep is like a temporary death. When we die, we are buried in a hollow dug in the ground. These Believers slept for several centuries in al-Kahf (pit cave (vertical cave open from the top), exposed to all sorts of danger, and deprived of all nourishment. Yet, neither did their body perish, nor did they suffer any external harm.
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Estimating Time;
Death, an extended Sleep, ...
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءَلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.
We humans have no idea what time really is, and we cannot estimate time correctly.
When these Believers were raised from their long sleep, they themselves were confused about the length of time they had remained asleep, thinking it was just a day or part of a day, clueless about the centuries that had elapsed (Q18:25). This means they didn't suffer even any apparent change, like the growth of a beard, or wrinkling of the skin, or any such thing to indicate a long period of time.
The Quran keeps reminding us that we will be raised after death, it will be like awakening after a sleep (Q36:52), and at that time we will think that we remained only a day or part of a day (Q23:112-113).
When these Believers were raised from their long sleep, they themselves were confused about the length of time they had remained asleep, thinking it was just a day or part of a day, clueless about the centuries that had elapsed (Q18:25). This means they didn't suffer even any apparent change, like the growth of a beard, or wrinkling of the skin, or any such thing to indicate a long period of time.
The Quran keeps reminding us that we will be raised after death, it will be like awakening after a sleep (Q36:52), and at that time we will think that we remained only a day or part of a day (Q23:112-113).
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Currency Notes or Personal Card?
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءَلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.
Though several translators have translated بِوَرِقِكُمْ as silver coin, yet The Quran uses this word for leaf: twice in the story of Adam, once to state that not any leaf (وَرَقَةٍ) falls without Allah ﷻ 's knowledge, and once in this ayat. Q3:75 uses the words قِنطَارٍ for great wealth or a hoard of gold, and دِينَارٍ for single coin (gold or silver). Q12:20 also mentions the دَرَاهِمَ that Joseph was sold for. It appears that the currency that these young men had at that time in history was some leaf-like currency, be it notes or even card perhaps, or some other paper-based banking instrument, as it doesn't just say waraq (وَرِقِ) but rather specifies with your waraq (بِوَرِقِكُمْ). Or may be some document (supplementary card?) indicating their owner, on whose account they could charge the things they purchased.
In modern history, we know that since fiat currency has replaced gold or gold-backed currency, interest-based banking has flourished. Allah ﷻ has declared a war against those who continue to deal in usury knowingly that its prohibited. Surah al-Kahf begins with a warning of a great war from near Allah ﷻ . The cleansing of the temple narrative is well-known to Christians. This action against commercial activities within the temple occurs around a week before Jesus was allegedly crucified.
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Stoning to Death
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءَلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin leaf unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous subtle and let no man know of you.
For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.
For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper.
They advise the person who is being sent into town is to be لْيَتَلَطَّفْ lest his true identity is discovered, and he stoned to death or forced to revert to polytheism. Some translate this word as cautious, others as courteous. This word is derived from the root ل ط ف which forms Allah ﷻ 's name اللَّطِيفُ generally translated as The All-Subtle:
Excerpt from corpus.quran.com
Also important to note is that stoning to death has been a polytheistic practice highlighted in a number of ayaat across The Quran:
screenshot excerpted from corpus.quran.com
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The Promised Hour
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.
[Al-Quran 18:21, Translation: Pickthal]
Jesus is the sign of The Promised Hour (السَّاعَةَ), and he will return, just as these Believers returned to their people. We believe Allah ﷻ lifted Jesus alive to somewhere near Himself, and we expect Jesus' return. These Believers were also kept alive with Allah ﷻ 's near Mercy, and they awoke and returned to their people... Compare the wordings of the warning, and these young men's prayer. Both use the word لَّدُنْ which conveys the meanings of from near Allah ﷻ, or from His Presence:
قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا
مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا
[Al-Quran 18:2]
إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
[Al-Quran 18:10]
[Al-Quran 18:2]
إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
[Al-Quran 18:10]
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Place of Prostration / Worship
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.
[Al-Quran 18:21, Translation: Pickthal]
هَٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا
These, our people, have chosen (other) gods beside Him though they bring no clear warrant (vouchsafed) to them. And who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah?
[Al-Quran 18:15, Translation: Pickthal]
There are many shrines all over the world where people indulge in all sorts of activities:
Commemoration of Death Anniversary
There are many locations claiming to be the cave of the sleepers, and their death anniversary is commemorated, like the commemoration at other shrines:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sleepers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sleepers
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Unknown Number = Unknown Location
سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.
[Al-Quran 18:22, Translation: Pickthal]
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To quote from Wikipedia [as on June 16, 2020]:
To quote from Wikipedia [as on June 16, 2020]:
Early versions do not all agree on or even specify the number of sleepers. The Jews and the Christians of Najran believed in only three brothers, the East Syriac five.[4]Most Syriac accounts have eight.[6] In aṭ-Ṭabarī, there are seven, eight or nine plus a dog. In the canonical Muslim account there are seven plus a dog named ar-Raqīm or Qiṭmīr.[4]
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From Q18:22, their number is quite clearly declared unknown, and we are prohibited from pursuing the knowledge of it.
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If Allah Wills
وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا
إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,
Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.
Anything that we intend to do can only happen if and only if Allah wills it. believers are advised to keep reminding themselves this fact by adding the phrase (أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ) to their statements of future intentions. Allah ﷻ knows that at times we will forget, and so we have also been granted words to desire Allah ﷻ 's guidance to improve our right conduct or truthfulness. Interestingly, this is the exact word these Believers used when they prayed for Allah ﷻ 's help:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ...
[Al-Quran 18:10]
عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
[Al-Quran 18:24]
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Solar vs Lunar Calendar
وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا
And (it is said) they tarried in their Cave three hundred years and add nine.
[Al-Quran 18:25, Translation: Pickthal]
And they tarried in their cave three hundred years and added nine.
[Al-Quran 18:25, Translation: Daryabadi]
And they tarried in their cave 300 years, and 9 years over.
[Al-Quran 18:25, Translation: Rodwell]
As noted in Q18:12 above, the purpose of raising them up was to see which of the two parties could calculate time more accurately:
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا
And afterward We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried.
[Al-Quran 18:12, Translation: Pickthal]
In Q18:25, the correct answer has been provided: 309 years!
Allah ﷻ has appointed the moon for humans' time-keeping and we need to follow it for accuracy of calculations. The thing is, nobody as yet really knows anything about the fundamental nature of time. Left on our own, humans cannot estimate time correctly, and make the wrong choice of the solar or the lunisolar calendar, as evident across religions and civilisations throughout history. Allah ﷻ clearly guides us in the matter. More on this in Wronging the Nafs - III (The Calendar).
Allah ﷻ has appointed the moon for humans' time-keeping and we need to follow it for accuracy of calculations. The thing is, nobody as yet really knows anything about the fundamental nature of time. Left on our own, humans cannot estimate time correctly, and make the wrong choice of the solar or the lunisolar calendar, as evident across religions and civilisations throughout history. Allah ﷻ clearly guides us in the matter. More on this in Wronging the Nafs - III (The Calendar).
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Allah ﷻ, The One and Only God
قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا
Say: Allah is Best Aware how long they tarried. His is the Invisible of the heavens and the earth. How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! They have no protecting friend beside Him, and He maketh none to share in His government.
[Al-Quran 18:26, Translation: Pickthal]
Say thou: Allah knoweth best how long they tarried; His alone is the hidden knowledge of the heavens and the earth. How well He seeth and heareth. They have no patron beside Him, nor in His rule He associateth anyone.
[Al-Quran 18:26, Translation: Daryabadi]
Allah ﷻ has decreed the lunar calendar for time-keeping, and nobody can change anything in Allah ﷻ 's decree. Moreover, while we may not know the true nature of time, Allah ﷻ does, and He is aware of all the hidden in the skies and the earth. The very existence of creation depends on Allah ﷻ 's observation of it! Allah ﷻ does not share His Rule with anyone, nor does He approve the taking of any patron besides Him.
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No Change in Allah ﷻ 's Words
وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا
And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. There is none who can change His words, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him.
[Al-Quran 18:27, Translation: Pickthal]
The truth comes from Allah ﷻ. The revealed scripture is the absolute truth. We must keep reciting the words of Allah ﷻ, for our own benefit and whoever else it might benefit, for eventually the truth will prevail.
Whatever Allah ﷻ has planned and written for this world, it all must come to pass, as nobody can change any of Allah ﷻ 's Words. The matters are moving towards the final climax of The Hour, and we must remember why we are here and what we need to be doing.
Besides Allah ﷻ, there is no refuge. In times of trial, it is Allah ﷻ that one must choose to trust and hold on to. Whether we live or lose our life, it is to Allah ﷻ that we will return, and He is the True King, the Master of the Day of Judgement, and He is never unjust. Whenever we slip, must repent and turn back to Him. His Mercy is our only refuge and hope.
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Patiently, altogether, keep Calling upon your Lord
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا
Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.
[Al-Quran 18:28, Translation: Pickthal]
The glitter and glamour of this world is linked to the economy and the financial success of the individual. Those who heed not to the Remembrance, follow their own lusts, and cross many barriers, in the ways they amass the wealth, and in what they spend it on.
The real life is the life of the Hereafter, flourishing in the presence of Allah ﷻ . This surah begins with a warning of a great war that is coming from Allah ﷻ . The Believer is advised to patiently await, along with those who keep calling upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His Face.
The real life is the life of the Hereafter, flourishing in the presence of Allah ﷻ . This surah begins with a warning of a great war that is coming from Allah ﷻ . The Believer is advised to patiently await, along with those who keep calling upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His Face.
In Q18:10, the young men cried to their Lord for Mercy from Himself, and He responded with His Special Mercy, saving them not only from persecution, but protecting them from the Sun and all sorts of harm, protecting their life and ensuring their well-being.
The next ayat describes the state of those whose resting place will be devoid of Allah ﷻ 's Mercy, and the subsequent two ayaat describe the state of those whose resting place will be wonderful because they asked for, and were granted, Allah ﷻ 's Mercy.
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The Truth is in The Revealed Scripture
وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا يُغَاثُوا بِمَاءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِي الْوُجُوهَ بِئْسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!
[Al-Quran 18:29, Translation: Pickthal]
The Quran repeatedly warns of the punishment which will befall the disbelievers. Some believe, while many refuse to believe in accountability and punishment. Q18:27 already declares that there is no change in Allah ﷻ 's words. Allah ﷻ has already declared that He is going to fill Hell with humans and jinns (Q11:119; Q32:13). Only those who are saved by Allah ﷻ 's Mercy will escape Hell.
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إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا
أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
Lo! as for those who believe and do good works - Lo! We suffer not the reward of one whose work is goodly to be lost.
As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place!
As for such, theirs will be Gardens of Eden, wherein rivers flow beneath them; therein they will be given armlets of gold and will wear green robes of finest silk and gold embroidery, reclining upon throne therein. Blest the reward, and fair the resting-place!
Q18:7 informs us that all on Earth is temporary and to test: (لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلً). Q18:30 states that the reward of those who do (أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا) will not be lost, provided the doer is a Believer and does acts of reform.
Heeding to the whispers of the devil, Adam lost his clothing and was exiled from The Garden. Allah ﷻ has promised to restore our clothing and return our inheritance to those of us who believe and do acts of reform (آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ).
Heeding to the whispers of the devil, Adam lost his clothing and was exiled from The Garden. Allah ﷻ has promised to restore our clothing and return our inheritance to those of us who believe and do acts of reform (آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ).
It is interesting to note link between reward (الثَّوَابُ) and clothing (ثِيَابًا) in this ayat, both of which share the same root (ث و ب). Also, the concept of reclining (مُّتَّكِئِينَ) on adorned couches (الْأَرَائِكِ) is repeated a number of times.
In Q18:16, they were told that their Lord will grant them (مِرْفَقًا) in their matter. In Q18:29 (وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا) and Q18:31 (وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا) the same root is used when describing the quality of the permanent resting place:
Screenshot (excerpt) taken from corpus.quran.com
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The Wealthy Man & The Flourishing Gardens
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا
كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِم مِّنْهُ شَيْئًا وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَالَهُمَا نَهَرًا
Coin for them a similitude: Two men, unto one of whom We had assigned two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms and had put between them tillage.
Each of the gardens gave its fruit and withheld naught thereof. And We caused a river to gush forth therein.
Everything on Earth goes through cycles of flourishing and perishing. Nothing is meant to last. In this story of two men, belief vs disbelief is sharply contrasted. The introductory statement in Q18:7-8 that everything is temporary and for trial is being reiterated in this story of the wealthy man who disbelieved, simply because he was assigned plenty:
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا
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.
And lo! We shall make all that is thereon a barren mound.
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The Trial of Gratitude
وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا
وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَٰذِهِ أَبَدًا
وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا
And he had fruit. And he said unto his comrade, when he spake with him: I am more than thee in wealth, and stronger in respect of men.
And he went into his garden, while he (thus) wronged himself his nafs. He said: I think not that all this will ever perish.
I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back unto my Lord I surely shall find better than this as a resort.
The root ح و ر occurs times in The Quran. Words formed with it lend to the meanings of dialogue, disciples, return and fair ones (حُورٌ). That is an interesting combination indeed! Our thoughts, words, and deeds matter, and have long-lasting consequences. We are supposed to use whatever is given to us to prepare for The Hour.
Allah ﷻ had granted this wealthy man so much in terms of flourishing gardens, riches and strengthened him with people. Q18:35 grants two key insights:
Allah ﷻ had granted this wealthy man so much in terms of flourishing gardens, riches and strengthened him with people. Q18:35 grants two key insights:
- his garden and he wronging his nafs
- his assumption that this will never perish
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No partner with Allah ﷻ
قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلًا
لَّٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا
His comrade, when he (thus) spake with him, exclaimed: Disbelievest thou in Him Who created thee of dust, then of a drop (of seed), and then fashioned thee a man?
But He is Allah, my Lord, and I ascribe unto my Lord no partner.
Disbelieving in The Hour is just as adverse as disbelieving in Allah ﷻ . We need to remember that we are to be recompensed, and there are going to be consequences of how we live this present life. Belief in The Hour necessitates that we express gratitude for whatever Allah ﷻ has given us, and patience, over withheld is from us.
When Adam was sent to this Earth, guidance from Allah ﷻ was promised, and Allah ﷻ has been sending prophets, messengers and scriptures. The Hour (السَّاعَةَ), the Day of Judgement (يَوْمِ الدِّينِ) and the Laws of Recompense (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ) have been clearly stated.
We have been amply warned about Satan and his deceptions. He arouses sinful desires in us, and acting upon those desires makes us guilty of taking our desires, and thus Satan, as our Lord instead of Allah ﷻ . The most unforgivable sin is assigning partners to Allah ﷻ . Whether we implicitly or explicitly indulge in polytheism, assigning partners to Allah ﷻ is not permissible. Q18:4 warns those who say Allah ﷻ has chosen a son... Across the world, throughout history, the concept of trinity has manifested itself under various names and various gods. There is no justification for these associations. Its a lie to associate with Allah ﷻ . He is The Lord, The Sustainer, and we must accept the provisions He has created for us as is, and not attempt to make changes in His Creations.
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No Strength except with Allah ﷻ
وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا
أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَاؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَن تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا
وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا
هُنَالِكَ الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّهِ الْحَقِّ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا
If only, when thou enteredst thy garden, thou hadst said: That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah! Though thou seest me as less than thee in wealth and children,
Yet it may be that my Lord will give me better than thy garden, and will send on it a bolt from heaven, and some morning it will be a smooth hillside,
Or some morning the water thereof will be lost in the earth so that thou canst not make search for it.
And his fruit was beset (with destruction). Then began he to wring his hands for all that he had spent upon it, when (now) it was all ruined on its trellises, and to say: Would that I had ascribed no partner to my Lord!
And he had no troop of men to help him as against Allah, nor could he save himself.
In this case is protection only from Allah, the True, He is Best for reward, and best for consequence.
Any thing that happens is exactly according to what Allah ﷻ has permitted to happen. Any strength that we have is only because of Allah ﷻ . The gardens were flourishing only because Allah ﷻ had decreed for them to flourish. There is no strength, no power, without Allah ﷻ granting it. And it can be taken away at any time!
Our thoughts and words matter. Attention is being drawn to the thought we need to think, and the statement we need to declare! When we see something beautiful, powerful or admirable, we must remember that its beauty, power or any other goodness is due to Allah ﷻ , and express it in so many words:
مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah!
With all the technology that anyone may employ to cause vegetation to last longer or not perish at all, there are many external factors that are just as essential for anything to flourish other than internal changes. In these ayaat, the two examples cited are a reckoning (calamity) from the sky or water disappearing underground.
The believer knows that the provisions and strengths in this world are simply trials, and not meant to last. Fortunes keep changing according to Allah ﷻ 's Will and Decree. Many mighty individuals and nations have suffered punishment before, and they were also unable to protect themselves.
The Hour is coming, and Allah ﷻ has promised the best of consequences and rewards to those who believe in Him, and try to keep their duty to Him. Our nafs is in pledge: if we continue wronging our nafs, eventually we risk losing it altogether. That is a loss far greater than any material loss that we can suffer. We must repent and revert to worshipping Allah ﷻ alone, our real Lord and Sustainer.
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This Temporary World & Its Lasting Record
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا
الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
وَعُرِضُوا عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا
وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And coin for them the similitude of the life of the world as water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it and then becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter. Allah is able to do all things.
Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.
And (bethink you of) the Day when we remove the hills and ye see the earth emerging, and We gather them together so as to leave not one of them behind.
And they are set before thy Lord in ranks (and it is said unto them): Now verily have ye come unto Us as We created you at the first. But ye thought that We had set no tryst for you.
And the Book is placed, and thou seest the guilty fearful of that which is therein, and they say: What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a small thing nor a great thing but hath counted it! And they find all that they did confronting them, and thy Lord wrongeth no-one.
Across the world, people depend on rain water directly or indirectly for vegetation. In dry areas, we witness that when rain falls on parched land, vegetation grows in it; then it dries out and the land becoming parched again. This is the life of this world. It is not meant to last.
The only thing that is permanent is the record. It records each and every detail. This life is about generating that record. Allah ﷻ , The Most Just, wrongs no one!
The only thing that is permanent is the record. It records each and every detail. This life is about generating that record. Allah ﷻ , The Most Just, wrongs no one!
Adam & Iblis
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا
And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil-doers.
[Al-Quran 18:50, Translation: Pickthal]
The story of Satan's enmity for Adam and his progeny dates back to the time he was asked, along with all other angels, to prostrate to Adam, the Khalifa of the Earth. According to scientists, before the age of man, the Earth was dominated by reptiles. The words jinn and jaan (snake) share the same root in The Quran.
Screenshot details in جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn)
Note: When mentioning the present creation, The Quran pairs and contrasts the words الْإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ as in Q6:112 and Q7:179 , and the words الْإِنسَانَ and الْجَانَّ and as in Q15:26-27 and Q55:14-15. Whereas, when mentioning the Resurrection and Hereafter, it puts together إِنْسٌ and جَانٌّ regarding their sins and their rewards, as can be seen in the last three entries in the screenshot above.
The Quran exhorts us to remember. Emerging research points to memory being inherited across generations. If so, then the memory of Iblis' refusal to submit to Adam must be embedded somewhere deep in our memory.
Nevertheless, the scriptures keep reminding us of Iblis' enmity, and keeps warning us about the danger we are in. The Torah quite explicitly states the deceiver in Adam's story, commonly translated as serpent / snake, and rarely as dragon, all reptilian creatures. In The New Testament, Revelation 20:2, the dragon is the ancient serpent, who is the devil, the Satan. The Quran uses two different words for the thing Moses' (عَصَاهُ) staff/rod turned into: when he spoke with Allah ﷻ, it turned into (جَانٌّ) translated as snake [Q27:10, Q28:31]; and it turned into (ثُعْبَانٌ) translated as serpent [Q7:107, Q26:32] when he threw the staff/rod in front of Pharaoh.
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The Misleaders
مَّا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا
I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own nafs' creation; nor choose I misleaders for (My) helpers.
[Al-Quran 18:51, Translation: Pickthal; edited in italics to retain word nafs]
The Quran is quite clear that Allah ﷻ does not take misleaders as helpers. Moreover, since they were not made to witness the creation, they do not have the correct knowledge. On the other hand, Allah ﷻ taught Adam all the names; and all the descendants of the sons of Adam were made to witness their nafs...
Snakes, serpents and dragons are prominent in polytheistic religions, and are held sacred. Q34:40-41 quotes the angels statement, in Allah ﷻ 's Court, that humans were worshipping the jinns.
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The Day & The Disillusion
وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ نَادُوا شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّوْبِقًا
And (be mindful of) the Day when He will say: Call those partners of Mine whom ye pretended. Then they will cry unto them, but they will not hear their prayer, and We shall set a gulf of doom between them.
[Al-Quran 18:52, Translation: Pickthal]
People assume and call upon various types of gods, be they real humans (example: Jesus) or other real creatures (example: Satan), or imaginary creatures (idols that Abraham broke). However, there is only One God (Allah ﷻ).
That Day when they stand before Allah ﷻ, their falsehood will become a gulf of doom, a destructive barrier, between them.
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No Escaping The Fire
وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا
And the guilty behold the Fire and know that they are about to fall therein, and they find no way of escape thence.
[Al-Quran 18:53, Translation: Pickthal]
There is no escaping Allah ﷻ 's Punishment. The Hour is indeed coming. We are being tried, and the record is being maintained. The Quran in general, and Surah al-Kahf in particular, is continuously reminding about the consequences awaiting us. Its a Mercy from Allah ﷻ that we have been given this time in this world to save ourselves from The Fire. We must use it wisely!
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All Examples in This Quran
وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا
And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all manner of similitudes, but man is more than anything contentious.
[Al-Quran 18:54, Translation: Pickthal]
The root ص ر ف occurs 30 times in The Quran in seven derived forms, translated variously as divert, avert, turn away, direct, distribute, diversify, escape, and صَرَّفْ in Q15:84 as: explained, detailed, diversified, propounded, interspersed, put forth...
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The Sunnah of The Ancients
وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلًا
And naught hindereth mankind from believing when the guidance cometh unto them, and from asking forgiveness of their Lord unless (it be that they wish) that the judgment of the men of old should come upon them or (that) they should be confronted with the Doom.
[Al-Quran 18:55, Translation: Pickthal]
Surah al-Kahf has 110 ayaat. Halfway through, ayat 55 questions what is preventing mankind from believing and seeking forgiveness... The examples of the past people is documented in the scriptures and countless ancient ruins stand upon the Earth. Their messengers came to them, and they were warned of a pending doom unless they repented. We have been warned about The Hour which can occur anytime now, as the seal of the prophets (Muhammad ﷺ) and the last scripture (The Quran) have already come. The legal notice has been served!
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Glad Tidings & Warnings
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَيُجَادِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَمَا أُنذِرُوا هُزُوًا
We send not the messengers save as bearers of good news and warners. Those who disbelieve contend with falsehood in order to refute the Truth thereby. And they take Our revelations and that wherewith they are threatened as a jest.
[Al-Quran 18:56, Translation: Pickthal]
Allah ﷻ 's Messengers have been giving glad tidings of The Gardens of Immortality and warning about dreadfulness of The Fire...
Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) was also a Messenger of Allah ﷻ to the Bani Israel. Most did not believe him even though his conception, his speaking from the cradle, and all the miracles he performed with the permission of Allah ﷻ, were clear signs. The few who believed in him, requested another sign to believe that he was still alive and not crucified. A Table from Heaven was sent upon their request, with the warning:
وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِي وَبِرَسُولِي قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ
إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ قَالَ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
قَالُوا نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
قَالَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي مُنَزِّلُهَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بَعْدُ مِنكُمْ فَإِنِّي أُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا لَّا أُعَذِّبُهُ أَحَدًا مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ
And when I inspired the disciples, (saying): Believe in Me and in My messenger, they said: We believe. Bear witness that we have surrendered (unto Thee) "we are muslims".
When the disciples said: O Jesus, son of Mary! Is thy Lord able to send down for us a table spread with food from heaven? He said: Observe your duty to Allah, if ye are true believers.
(They said:) We wish to eat thereof, that we may satisfy our hearts and know that thou hast spoken truth to us, and that thereof we may be witnesses.
Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, Lord of us! Send down for us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a feast for us, for the first of us and for the last of us, and a sign from Thee. Give us sustenance, for Thou art the Best of Sustainers.
Allah said: Lo! I send it down for you. And whoso disbelieveth of you afterward, him surely will I punish with a punishment wherewith I have not punished any of (My) creatures.
From Christian history, we come to know that (almost) all the disciples embraced martyrdom because they bore witness to having seen Jesus after his supposed crucifixion. Unfortunately, the Christian historians take it as their testimony to the resurrection of Jesus, while according to The Quran, I believe they bore witness to Jesus being saved alive. Eating of the food was proof that he was alive, mortal, and needed sustenance. Yet most Christians have deified Jesus and done away with The Law. Q18:4-5 warns them against the lie they have invented.
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The Penalty
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا
And who doth greater wrong than he who hath been reminded of the revelations of his Lord, yet turneth away from them and forgetteth what his hands send forward (to the Judgment)? Lo! on their hearts We have placed coverings so that they understand not, and in their ears a deafness. And though thou call them to the guidance, in that case they can never be led aright.
[Al-Quran 18:57, Translation: Pickthal]
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The Mercy of Your Lord, The All-Forgiving,
وَرَبُّكَ الْغَفُورُ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابَ بَل لَّهُم مَّوْعِدٌ لَّن يَجِدُوا مِن دُونِهِ مَوْئِلًا
Thy Lord is the Forgiver, Full of Mercy. If He took them to task (now) for what they earn, He would hasten on the doom for them; but theirs is an appointed term from which they will find no escape.
[Al-Quran 18:58, Translation: Pickthal]
This temporary life and its trials are actually a blessing of our Forgiving Merciful Lord, who has created this especially so that the Believers can try to save themselves from The Punishment of The Fire:
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The Promised Hour
وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا
And (all) those townships! We destroyed them when they did wrong, and We appointed a fixed time for their destruction.
[Al-Quran 18:59, Translation: Pickthal]
The mighty ancients met with destruction when they disbelieved the warnings and were unjust. The promised Punishment overtook them at its appointed time. The Hour is the appointed time for us. There is still time for whoever wants to repent and seek forgiveness.
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At The Confluence
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبًا
قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا
قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا
And when Moses said unto his servant: I will not give up until I reach the point where the two rivers meet, though I march on for ages.
And when they reached the point where the two met, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into the waters, being free.
And when they had gone further, he said unto his servant: Bring us our breakfast. Verily we have found fatigue in this our journey.
He said: Didst thou see, when we took refuge on the rock, and I forgot the fish - and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it - it took its way into the waters by a marvel.
He said: This is that which we have been seeking. So they retraced their steps again.
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Merging of Waters
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Subterranean & Land Fish
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To Forget & Forget to Mention
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Satan & Seeking
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Seeking Right Conduct
قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا
Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach me right conduct of that which thou hast been taught
[Al-Quran 18:66, Translator: Pickthal]
We all need to continuously improve our personal conduct, knowing that we are always falling short of perfect worship. So, we find Moses, the Messenger of Allah ﷻ, seeking knowledge from one more knowledgeable than him.
As noted above, under the title: If Allah Wills, we have also been granted words to desire Allah ﷻ 's guidance to improve our right conduct or truthfulness. Interestingly, this is what the Believers (ashab-e-kahf) prayed for (رَشَدًا) seeking Allah ﷻ 's help:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ...
[Al-Quran 18:10]
عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا
[Al-Quran 18:24]
The root rā shīn dāl (ر ش د) occurs 19 times in The Quran. Fasting is enjoined in the month of Ramadhan because The Quran was revealed in that month. In the section prescribing fasting, we read:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُون
And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright
[Al-Quran 2:186, Translator: Pickthal]
The concept of rushd is elaborated upon in Surah al-Hujarat:
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الرَّاشِدُون
And know that the messenger of Allah is among you. If he were to obey you in much of the government, ye would surely be in trouble; but Allah hath endeared the faith to you and hath beautified it in your hearts, and hath made disbelief and lewdness and rebellion hateful unto you. Such are they who are the rightly guided
[Al-Quran 49:7, Translator: Pickthal]
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Levels of Knowledge & Authority in The Divine Government
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Global Travel
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Polar Regions, Water, Land and The Ozone Hole
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Corruption
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Containment
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًۭا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًۭا ٩٣
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّۭا ٩٤
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌۭ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ٩٥
ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًۭا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًۭا ٩٦
فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًۭا ٩٧
Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hither side a folk that scarce could understand a saying.
They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them?
He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.
Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour thereon.
And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).
— M. Pickthall
[Al-Quran 18:93-97, Translation: Pickthal]
Dhu al Qarnayn did not fight a war with the Gog Magog. He contained their corruption by blocking their route to the surface of the Earth.
Every situation is unique and requires a unique solution. There are times when waging a war is unavoidable. And there are times when there are other strategic solutions to a problem.
Regarding the Gog and Magog, there is a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which informs us that they are so mighty and so numerous that it is not possible for us to fight them. When they appear, Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) and his companions will go hide in the mountain Tur. Then Allah عزوجل will miraculously destroy the Gog and Magog.
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When The Promise Comes
قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقًّا
۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعْضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَاهُمْ جَمْعًا
He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true
And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and the Trumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering
Yujuj Majuj (Gog Magog) will be released when Allah ﷻ 's promise comes to pass. Earlier in Surah al-Kahf, the companions of the cave were made known to the people as a sign of the coming Hour:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them.
[Al-Quran 18:21, Translation: Pickthal]
The people built a place of prostration over the cave. Interestingly, in Surah al-Anbiya, the release of Gog and Magog is linked with the return of the city which has been destroyed.
Concluding Ayaat of Surah al-Kahf
قُل لَّوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.
Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allah is only One Allah. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.
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Slides & Pictures shared from:
Signs of Allah
Gratitude Reminders
Our Record in Our Neck
The Mighty Ancients (presentation)
Rethink Genetic Engineering in the Light of the Quran
Slides & Pictures shared from:
Signs of Allah
Gratitude Reminders
Our Record in Our Neck
The Mighty Ancients (presentation)
Rethink Genetic Engineering in the Light of the Quran
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