- All praise to God the One who has sent down the scripture to His servant (Muhammad), and He does not make any crookedness to it (18:1). It is straight, to warn of a severe punishment from Him and to bring good news to the believers — those who do the righteous deeds — that for them is a good reward.(18:2). They will be abiders on it forever (18:3).
Note: All praise to God who has sent down a scripture without any crookedness in it being it straight to warn a severe punishment for the disbelievers but is a good news for the believers who do the righteous deeds to have a good reward from Him, while the punishment for the disbelievers and the reward for the believers will be eternal.
- And it warns those who said, “God has taken a son!” (18:4). They do not have any knowledge of it, nor did their forefathers. It has been very grievous statement coming out of their mouths. They do not say except a lie (18:5). So that you may be the one killing yourself in grief over their footsteps if they do not believe in this statement (18:6).
Note: It is not befitting for God to have a son. Such claim is a blasphemy as well as a great lie.
- Indeed, we have made what is on the earth as an adornment for it, that we may test them, which of them is best in deeds (18:7). And indeed, we will certainly be making what is on it a barren land (18:8).
Note: The earth and everything on it are created to expose who are the righteous among us. Then it will be made a barren land.
- Or, have you thought that the companions of the cave, and the inscription had been a wonder amomg our signs? (18:9). When the youths had taken shelter to the cave, then they said, “Our Lord, grant for us mercy from You and help us with our affair to the right path.” (18:10). So, we had sealed on their ears in the cave for a number of years (18:11). Afterwards, we had raised them up that we may know which of the two parties had a better calculation for what they had stayed in time (18:12). We narrate to you their story with the truth. Indeed, they were youths who had believed in their Lord, and we had increased them in guidance (18:13). And We had strengthened their hearts when they had stood up, then they said, “Our Lord is Lord of the heavens and the earth. We will never call any god other than Him. Certainly, we would have said then an outrage.” (18:14). These, our people, had taken gods other than Him. Why do they not bring for them a clear authority? Then who is more unjust than whoever has invented a lie against God?” (18:15).
- And when you have left them and what they worship except God, then take shelter in the cave; your Lord will spread for you from His mercy and will facilitate for you from your affair an amenity (18:16). And you see the sun when it rises inclining away from their cave to the right, and when it sets passing away from them to the left, while they are in an open space within it. That is from the signs of God. Whomever God guides, then he is the guided one; and whomever He lets go astray, then you will never find for him a protector, a guide (18:17). And you would think they were awake, while they were asleep; and we turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog was the one stretching out his two forearms at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have surely turned away from them in flight, and you would have surely been filled with terror (18:18). And it was thus that we had raised them up that they might question among themselves. A speaker among them said, ‘How long have you stayed?’ They said, “We have stayed a day or a part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord is best Knower of how long you have stayed. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city, and let him see which of it is the purest food, and let him bring you a provision from it. And let him be gentle, and let him not make anyone aware of you. (18:19). If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you to return to their religion; and then you will never succeed.” (18:20). And thus We made them known that they might know that the promise of God is truth and that the Hour—there is no doubt in it. When they disputed among themselves of their affair, they said, “Build a structure over them. Their Lord is best Knower of them.” Those who prevailed over their matter said, “We will surely take a place of worship over them.” (18:21). They will say, “Three, the fourth of them is their dog.” And they say, “Five, the sixth of them is their dog,” guessing at the unseen. And they say, “Seven, and the eighth of them is their dog.” Say, “My Lord is best Knower of their number. None knows them except a few.” So do not debate about them except with a clear debate, and do not inquire about them from anyone of them.(18:22).
- And do not say of anything, “Indeed, I am a doer of that tomorrow.” (18:23). Except that God wills. And remember your Lord when you forget, and say, “It might have been that my Lord will guide me to a nearer right path than this.” (18:24).
- And they had stayed in their cave three hundred years, and they had increased nine (18:25). Say, “God is best Knower of what they had stayed. To Him belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth. How clearly He sees with it and hears! For them there is no protector other than Him, and He does not share anyone in His judgment.” (18:26).
Note: The history and the archeological discovery together depict the truth around the dwellers of the cave. The dwellers were the young Christians who had followed the teachings of Jesus but fled away from the prosecution of the neo-Christians who proclaimed a corrupted Christianity, the Trinity doctrine followed by the Nicene Conference at 323 A.D. after the death of Jesus. Franz Miller, an Austrian archeologist discovered the tomb of the dwellers of the cave located in Ephesus about 200 miles south of ancient Nicene, and 30 miles south of Izmir in Turkey in 1928.
Note: We should remember God when we intend to do anything to stay with God keeping away Satan from us.
Note: The number expressed in a peculiar way (300 + 9) about their staying in the cave is connected with the time the world will end representing 300 solar years and 309 lunar years indicating 9 years difference between Solar and Lunar Calendar.
- And recite what has been revealed to you from a scripture of your Lord. There is no changer for His words, and you will never find any refuge other than Him (18:27). And you (prophet) shall be patient for yourself with those who call their Lord in the morning and the evening, desiring His pleasure. And let not turn your eyes from them desiring an adornment of the life of the world, and you do not obey whomever we have made heedless his heart from our remembrance, and he has followed his desire, and his affair has been an excess (18:28). And say, “The truth is from your Lord,” then whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve. Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire, its canopy has surrounded them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten metal which scalds the faces. It has been a miserable drink, and it is evil as a resting place! (18:29). Indeed, those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds; indeed, We do not fail to give the reward of whoever has done a good deed (18:30). Those, for them are gardens of Eden with rivers flowing underneath them; they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, recliners therein on couches. It has been excellent as a reward, and it has been good as a resting place! (18:31).
Note: The prophet was commanded to recite what has been revealed to him and to be patient and to stay with those who remember their Lord in the morning and the evening to please Him. Then whoever wishes can believe or disbelieve the truth in the reminder. The wicked will be in the Fire, the evil place of resting while those who believe and do the righteous works will have the gardens of Eden, a wonderful place of resting.
- And present to them an example of two men: We had made for one of them two gardens of grapes, and we had bordered them both with date palms, and we had made crops between them both (18:32). Both of the two gardens yielded its produce, and did not diminish anything from it; and we caused a river to gush forth through them both.(18:33). And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, “I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in numbers.” (18:34). And he entered his garden while he was a wrongdoer to himself. He said, “I do not think that this will ever perish.” (18:35). And I do not think the Hour is one that will stand; and even if I am returned to my Lord, I will surely find a better place of return than it.” (18:36). His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, “Do you disbelieve in the One who created you from dust, then from a drop, then fashioned you into a man?” (18:37). “But as for me, He is God, my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord (18:38). And why did you not, when you entered your garden, say, “What God has willed; there is no power except by God? If you see me that I am less than you in wealth and children,” (18:39). Then it might have been that my Lord will give me better than your garden, and send upon it a reckoning from the sky, so it becomes a slippery ground (18:40). Or its water becomes sunken, then you will never find for it any seeking.” (18:41). And his fruits were surrounded, so he began turning his two hands over what he had spent on it, while it was collapsed on its trellises, and he said, “Oh, I wish I had not associated anyone with my Lord!” (18:42). And he had no group to help him other than God, nor was he one defending himself (18:43). There, the protection is for God, the Truth. He is best in reward and best in outcome 18:44).
- And present for them the example of the life of the world like water We have sent down from the sky, then the vegetation of the earth has absorbed it, then it has become debris that the winds scatter it. And God has been all-powerful over everything (18:45).
- Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of the world; but the enduring righteous deeds are better with your Lord for a reward and better for a hope (18:46).
Note: The above two are of many examples mentioned in the Quran to warn us not to idolize our wealth. There are no protectors other than God who is the best to reward us or to punish us. Thus, it has been confirmed that wealth and children are the adornment of the worldly life being tests for us while the righteous works are far better for the Hereafter.
- And a Day we will move the mountains, and you will see the earth prominent, and we have gathered them so that we will not leave behind anyone of them(18:47). And they were presented before your Lord in a row: “Certainly, you have come to Us just as We had created you the first time. Nay, you claimed that We would never make for you an appointment.” (18:48). And the record is placed, then you see the criminals as fearful ones of what is in it. And they say, ‘Woe to us! What is for this record? It leaves out not a small thing nor a great thing except it has numbered it.’ And they found what they had done present, and your Lord does not wrong anyone (18:49).
Note: A day comes when the earth will be a plain land and we will be gathered before our Lord in rows with our records. The guilty will be fearful for what are in their records and will see that nothing are left out of their records what they have committed in the life of the world. They will also realize that their Lord is not unjust with anyone.
- And when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ then they prostrated, except Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against the command of his Lord. Will you then take him and his descendants as protectors other than Me, while they are an enemy to you? It has been a miserable exchange for the wrongdoers!” 18:50). I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor the creation of themselves; nor have I been one to take the misleaders as an assistant (18:51). And a Day He will say, ‘Call My partners, those whom you claimed,’ then they will call them, but they will not respond to them; and we have made between them a barrier.” (18:52). And the criminals will see the Fire, and they will realize that they are to fall into it, and they will find no escape from it (18:53).
Note: Satan is our ardent enemy. We should not take him and his descendants as our protectors. On the promised day they will not be able to respond to the call of the wicked who have taken them as protectors instead of God, and they will have to fall into Hell and there is no escape from it.
- And certainly, we have explained for mankind in this—the Quran of every example; but mankind has been the most argumentative of things (18:54). And what has prevented mankind that they do not believe when the guidance has come to them, nor ask forgiveness of their Lord, except that there comes to them the way of the former peoples, or there comes to them the punishment face-to-face? (18:55). And we do not send the sent ones except as bearers of good news and as warners. And those who disbelieve dispute with falsehood to refute the truth with it, and they take My revelations and what they are warned of as a mockery (18:56).
Note: God has cited many examples in the Quran to make it easier and clear in the chest of the believers, but the disbelievers either bring to them a way of the earlier people to reject or bring to them the punishment as before. while the message in the verse 18:55 is very crucial to reflect being the sum of its digits is a multiple of 19 => 1 + 8 + 5 + 5 = 19 (19x1).
- And who is more wicked than whoever has been reminded with his Lord’s revelations but he has turned away from them, and he has forgot what his two hands have sent forth. Indeed, we have placed covering on their hearts lest they understand it (Quran), and deafness in their ears, and if you invite them to the guidance, they will never ever be guided (18:57). And your Lord is the Forgiving, Owner of mercy. If He were to call them to account for what they have earned, He would have surely hastened the punishment for them; but for them is an appointment from which they will never find a refuge (18:58). And those towns – we had destroyed them when they did wrong and we made their destruction at an appointed time (18:59).
Note: When the reminder came to them, the wicked turn away from it without realizing what they are doing. Consequently, they have been placed veils on their hearts and deafness in their ears. The retribution would come to them immediately to bring them into account for what they are committing if there were not an appointed time for it but there is no escape from it.
- And when Moses said to his young companion, “I will not cease until I reach the junction of the two seas, or I continue for a long period.” (18:60). Then when they both reached the junction between them both, they both forgot their fish, and it took its way into the sea, slipping away. (18:61). Then when they both had passed beyond, he said to his young companion, “Bring us our morning meal; certainly, we have suffered fatigue in this journey of ours.” (18:62). He said, “Did you see when we took shelter to the rock? Then indeed, I forgot the fish—and none made me forget it except Satan, lest I mention it—and it took its way into the sea amazingly!” (18:63). He said, “That is what we have been seeking!” So they both turned back retracing their footsteps (18:64). Then they both found a servant from our servants, we had given him mercy from near Us, and we had taught him knowledge from our end. (18:65). Moses said to him, “May I follow you on the condition that you teach me from what you have been taught of right guidance?” (18:66). He said: “You will never be able to have patience with me? (18:67). And how can you have patience over what you have not encompassed in knowledge?” (18:68). He said, “You will find me, if God wills, as a patient one; and I will not disobey any command of yours.”(18:69).
Note: Before Moses’ meeting with the blessed knowledgeable man at the junction of two seas, the unusual event that happened is finding of the cooked fish its way back to sea. The fish went back to water as the Satan made Moses’ attendant forgetful about it.
- He said, “Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make for you a mention from it.”(18:70). So they both set out until when they both had boarded the ship, he made a hole in it. He said, “Have you made a hole in it to drown its people? Certainly, you have done a dreadful thing.”(18:71). He said, “Did I not say that indeed, you will never be able to have patience with me?” (18:72). He said, “Do not call me to account for what I forgot, and do not burden me from my affair with hardship.” (18:73). So they both set out until when they both met a young boy, then he killed him. He said, “Have you killed a pure soul for other than a soul? Certainly, you have done a horrendous thing!” (18:74). He said, “Did I not say to you that indeed, you will never be able to have patience with me?” (18:75).He said, “If I ask you about anything after it, then do not keep company with me; certainly, you have reached an excuse from my end.” (18:76). So they both set out until when they both came to the people of a town, they both asked its people for food, but they refused to host them both. Then they both found in it a wall wanting to collapse, so he set it up straight. He said, “If you had wished, you could have surely taken for it a reward.” (18:77).
Note: When Moses had followed him, he noticed the unusual events: (a) making of a hole in the ship, (b) killing of an innocent boy and (c) repairing of a wall about to fall without wage.
- He said, “This is the parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of what you were not able to have patience over.” (18:78). As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working in the sea, so I intended to cause a defect in it, as there was a king ahead of them seizing every ship by force (18:79). And as for the boy, his parents were two believers, so we feared that he would burden them both with transgression and disbelief (18:80). So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them both one better than him in purity and nearer in affection (18:81). And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and underneath it was a treasure for them both, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they both should reach their maturity and extract their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of what you were not able to have patience over (18:82).
Note: Moses learned that even all of those seemed to be evil but any of those events did not happen without any good reasons when there were explanations. The ship belonging to the poor fishermen was made defective not to be seized by the king, the boy was killed to replace with a better one for his parents and the wall was repaired to save the treasure of the orphans. What we learn from this story that we should keep patience and we may need to wait to make any decision in some cases until we have enough proofs.
- And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, ‘I will recite to you a mention of him.” (18:83). We had established him in the earth and we had given him a means to everything (18:84). Then, he followed a means (18:85). Until, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. We said, ‘O Zul-Qarnain, either you may punish them, or you may treat them with goodness. (18:86). He said, “As for him who does wrong, we will punish him, then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment.” (18:87). “And as for whoever has believed and has done righteousness, then for him is the best recompense; and we will speak to him of our command with ease.” (18:88). Then he followed a means (18:89). Until, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made any shelter against it. (18:90). It was thus, and certainly, We had encompassed with knowledge all that was with him (18:91). Then he followed the means (18:92). Until, when he reached between the two barriers, he found on the near side of them a people who almost could not understand any speech (18:93). They said, “O Zul-Qarnain, indeed Gog and Magog are corruptors in the earth. So may we make for you a payment on condition that you make a barrier between us and them?” (18:94). He said: “What my Lord has established me in is far better. So help me with strength, and I will make a fortified wall between you and them.”(18:95). “Bring me the iron blocks,” until when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, “Blow,” until when he had made it a fire, he said, “Bring me molten copper that I can pour over it.” (18:96). So they could not climb over it, nor could they make a breach in it (18:97). He said, “This is a mercy from my Lord. Then when the promise of my Lord has come, He has made it flat, and the promise of my Lord has been truth.” (18:98). And We had left a portion of them on that day to surge like waves into one another, and it has been blown in the horn, so We have gathered them all together (18:99).
Note: God has promised to send Zul-Qarnain just before the end of the world with every means to save the believers from the disbelievers and from the oppression of Gog and Magog. The appearance of Zul-Qarnain is the final sign when the world will come to an end. Zul-Qarnain, and Gog and Magog are allegorically presented. It is believed that Zul-Qarnain is one of the God chosen while Gog and Magog are two villainous communities. Zul-Qarnain will be able to build strong protection between the believers and Gog and Magog but at certain point the protection will be broken according to God’s will when the horn is blown. The world will come to an end and we all will be gathered before our Lord. It is also noteworthy that the Quran occasionally uses the past tense for telling us the future events. Thus, the verses from 84 to 99 can be understood to be the future events rather than historical information. It is also interesting to note that if the sura number which is 18 and its verse numbers from 84 to 99 where there are references about Zul-Qarnain are added, the total is a multiple of 19 =>1482 = 19x78, which can be a physical evidence for us that the advent of Zul-Qarnain is the final sign connected to the end of the world.
Note: Although there is a mention of Zul-Qarnain in the verse 83 just being a concern while the prophetic statement starts at the verse 84.
- And We presented Hell, on that day, to the disbelievers in an open view (18:100). They are the ones whose eyes were in a veil from My reminder, and they were unable to hear (18:101). Did those who disbelieved then think that they could take My servants as protectors other than Me? Indeed, We have prepared Hell as a dwelling place for the disbelievers (18:102).
- Say, “Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in respect to works?” (18:103). Those — their effort has gone astray in the life of the world, while they think that they are doing a good deed.” (18:104). Those are the ones who have disbelieved in the revelations of their Lord and His meeting. So, their deeds have been vain, and we will not grant for them any weight on the Day of the Resurrection.(18:105). That is their recompense — Hell — for that they had disbelieved and had taken My revelations and My messengers in mockery (18:106).
- Indeed, those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds, for them have been the Gardens of Firdous as a dwelling place (18:107). Abiding therein forever, they do not seek any move from it (108).
Note: God has confirmed that Hell will be the dwelling place for:(a) the disbelievers as they were heedless to His revelations and messengers as well as had accepted His servants as protectors beside Him and (b) those who were astray in the worldly life but they thought they were doing right things. On the other hand, Paradise will be the dwelling place for those who believed and did righteous works, wherein they will abide forever.
- Say, “If the ocean had been ink for my Lord’s words, surely, the ocean would have run out before my Lord’s words would run out, even if We had brought the like of it as an [ink] supplement.” (18:109). Say, “I (Muhammad) am only a human being like yourselves; it is inspired to me that your god is One god. So, whoever has been hoping for the meeting of his Lord, then he shall do a righteous deed, and let him not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.” (18:110).
Note: The two crucial commandments are explicitly clarified and emphasized: (a) Quran is the only source of religious laws and teachings – (i) it has everything what we need to believe and do as righteous, (ii) whatever God has left out of it, has left out deliberately and (iii) we should not hasten in making judgment on certain events based on limited information, and (b) we are to do deed as righteous as well as to worship God alone without associating anyone with Him if we have been hoping to meet our Lord.
Conclusion
There are 110 verses in the surah al-Kahf (The Cave) and the most significant aspects that are covered in the surah are: (1) God has given us a straightforward scripture, (2) a warning of not to say God has taken a son, (3) an indication that the world will come to an end, (4) the story of the youths in the cave, (5) full freedom in religion, (6) a warning not to idolize our wealth, (7) a hint when the world will come to an end, (8) a warning of not to choose the Satan and his descendants as protectors, (9) citing examples in the Quran to teach us to go to the straight path, (10) Retribution comes from God at an appointed time (11) lessons of Moses, (12) advent of Zul-Qarnain, (13) dwelling places followed by the end of the world and (14) commandments of following Quran alone and worshipping God alone.
The story of the dwellers in the cave is connected with the end of the world and the duration of their staying in the cave is expressed in a peculiar way (300 + 9) representing 300 solar years and 309 lunar years being the difference is 9 years. The history and the archeological discovery around the dwellers of the cave are also considered together to depict the fact to support its connection to predict the year of the end of the world while the number of dwellers in the cave cannot be confirmed.
God has promised to send Zul-Qarnain just before the end of the world with every means to save the believers from the disbelievers and from the oppression of Gog and Magog. The appearance of Zul-Qarnain is the final sign when the world will come to an end. Zul-Qarnain, and Gog and Magog are allegorically presented; It is believed that Zul-Qarnain is one of the God chosen while Gog and Magog are two villainous communities. Zul-Qarnain will be able to build strong protection between the believers and Gog and Magog but at certain point the protection will be broken according to God’s will when the horn is blown. Then the world will come to an end and we all will be gathered before our Lord. However, there is also another version about Zul-Qarnain based on its literary meaning “Having two horns” interpreting two generations that the world will survive two generations on the appearance of Gog and Magog.
Finally, the two crucial commandments are explicitly clarified and emphasized: to follow only the Quran which has everything that we need to lead a righteous life and to worship God alone as there is no other protectors beside Him. What we may also learn from the sura that we should not hasten in making judgment on any matters based on limited information instead we should be patient and wait to have more information or it might be better for us to think that at this point we are not knowledgeable to make any concrete conclusion on the matter if our only objective is to be righteous for pleasing God.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (8/5/2016).