Revealed in the middle of the Makkan period, Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) was sent down as a direct divine response to a challenge posed by the Quraysh, who, acting on the advice of Jewish scholars, attempted to test the authenticity of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by demanding answers to ancient historical mysteries. To address this, the chapter masterfully weaves together four distinct, profound narratives that expose the primary trials of human existence: the trial of faith (the courageous young Men of the Cave who fled religious persecution and were miraculously put to sleep for over three centuries), the trial of wealth (the arrogant owner of two magnificent gardens who lost his entire harvest due to his ungrateful delusion of self-sufficiency), the trial of knowledge (Prophet Moses’ deeply humbling journey with the enigmatic figure Khidr, which reveals the unseen, often painful wisdom behind divine decrees), and the trial of power (the righteous king Dhul-Qarnayn, who used his immense global authority to establish justice and build a barrier against the chaotic tribes of Gog and Magog). Highly recommended by the Prophet to be recited every Friday as a spiritual shield against the ultimate deception of the Antichrist (Dajjal), the Surah continuously contrasts the fleeting, deceptive glitter of worldly materialism with the eternal reality of the Hereafter, firmly establishing that true success and protection lie only in unwavering faith, humility, and the recognition that all power and knowledge belong exclusively to God.
Transliteration
Alhamdu lillahi allathee anzala AAala AAabdihi alkitaba walam yajAAal lahu AAiwajan
Translation
Praise be to God, who revealed the Book to His servant, and allowed in it no distortion
Transliteration
Qayyiman liyunthira basan shadeedan min ladunhu wayubashshira almumineena allatheena yaAAmaloona alssalihati anna lahum ajran hasanan
Translation
Valuable—to warn of severe punishment from Himself; and to deliver good news to the believers who do righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent reward
Transliteration
Makitheena feehi abadan
Translation
In which they will abide forever
Transliteration
Wayunthira allatheena qaloo ittakhatha Allahu waladan
Translation
And to warn those who say, “God has begotten a son.”
Transliteration
Ma lahum bihi min AAilmin wala liabaihim kaburat kalimatan takhruju min afwahihim in yaqooloona illa kathiban
Translation
They have no knowledge of this, nor did their forefathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths. They say nothing but a lie
Transliteration
FalaAAallaka bakhiAAun nafsaka AAala atharihim in lam yuminoo bihatha alhadeethi asafan
Translation
Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief, chasing after them, if they do not believe in this information
Transliteration
Inna jaAAalna ma AAala alardi zeenatan laha linabluwahum ayyuhum ahsanu AAamalan
Translation
We made what is upon the earth an ornament for it, to test them as to which of them is best in conduct
Transliteration
Wainna lajaAAiloona ma AAalayha saAAeedan juruzan
Translation
And We will turn what is on it into barren waste
Transliteration
Am hasibta anna ashaba alkahfi waalrraqeemi kanoo min ayatina AAajaban
Translation
Did you know that the People of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wondrous signs
Transliteration
Ith awa alfityatu ila alkahfi faqaloo rabbana atina min ladunka rahmatan wahayyi lana min amrina rashadan
Translation
When the youths took shelter in the cave, they said, “Our Lord, give us mercy from Yourself, and bless our affair with guidance.”
Transliteration
Fadarabna AAala athanihim fee alkahfi sineena AAadadan
Translation
Then We sealed their ears in the cave for a number of years
Transliteration
Thumma baAAathnahum linaAAlama ayyu alhizbayni ahsa lima labithoo amadan
Translation
Then We awakened them to know which of the two groups could better calculate the length of their stay
Transliteration
Nahnu naqussu AAalayka nabaahum bialhaqqi innahum fityatun amanoo birabbihim wazidnahum hudan
Translation
We relate to you their story in truth. They were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance
Transliteration
Warabatna AAala quloobihim ith qamoo faqaloo rabbuna rabbu alssamawati waalardi lan nadAAuwa min doonihi ilahan laqad qulna ithan shatatan
Translation
And We strengthened their hearts, when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth; we will not call on any god besides Him, for then we would have spoken an outrage.”
Transliteration
Haolai qawmuna ittakhathoo min doonihi alihatan lawla yatoona AAalayhim bisultanin bayyinin faman athlamu mimmani iftara AAala Allahi kathiban
Translation
“These people, our people, have taken to themselves gods other than Him. Why do they not bring a clear proof concerning them? Who, then, does greater wrong than he who invents lies and attributes them to God?”
Transliteration
Waithi iAAtazaltumoohum wama yaAAbudoona illa Allaha fawoo ila alkahfi yanshur lakum rabbukum min rahmatihi wayuhayyi lakum min amrikum mirfaqan
Translation
“Now that you have withdrawn from them, and from what they worship besides God, take shelter in the cave. And your Lord will unfold His mercy for you, and will set your affair towards ease.”
Transliteration
Watara alshshamsa itha talaAAat tazawaru AAan kahfihim thata alyameeni waitha gharabat taqriduhum thata alshshimali wahum fee fajwatin minhu thalika min ayati Allahi man yahdi Allahu fahuwa almuhtadi waman yudlil falan tajida lahu waliyyan murshidan
Translation
You would have seen the sun, when it rose, veering away from their cave towards the right, and when it sets, moving away from them to the left, as they lay in the midst of the cave. That was one of God’s wonders. He whom God guides is truly guided; but he whom He misguides, for him you will find no directing friend
Transliteration
Watahsabuhum ayqathan wahum ruqoodun wanuqallibuhum thata alyameeni wathata alshshimali wakalbuhum basitun thiraAAayhi bialwaseedi lawi ittalaAAta AAalayhim lawallayta minhum firaran walamulita minhum ruAAban
Translation
You would think them awake, although they were asleep. And We turned them over to the right, and to the left, with their dog stretching its paws across the threshold. Had you looked at them, you would have turned away from them in flight, and been filled with fear of them
Transliteration
Wakathalika baAAathnahum liyatasaaloo baynahum qala qailun minhum kam labithtum qaloo labithna yawman aw baAAda yawmin qaloo rabbukum aAAlamu bima labithtum faibAAathoo ahadakum biwariqikum hathihi ila almadeenati falyanthur ayyuha azka taAAaman falyatikum birizqin minhu walyatalattaf wala yushAAiranna bikum ahadan
Translation
Even so, We awakened them, so that they may ask one another. A speaker among them said, “How long have you stayed?” They said, “We have stayed a day, or part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed.” “Send one of you to the city, with this money of yours, and let him see which food is most suitable, and let him bring you some provision thereof. And let him be gentle, and let no one become aware of you.”
Transliteration
Innahum in yathharoo AAalaykum yarjumookum aw yuAAeedookum fee millatihim walan tuflihoo ithan abadan
Translation
“If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you back into their religion; then you will never be saved.”