سورة الكهف   

Surah Name: Al-Kahf Meaning: The Cave

  • Revealed at Makkah
  • Surah Kahf, answers two of the three questions put to the Holy Prophet-SW by the non believers of Makkah under the direction of the Jews of Madinah. The third question pertaining to Ruh was answered in Surah Bani IsraiI rather briefly. The other two questions are answered here in detail. However, these details do not cover the exact chronological occurrence of the events or the exact geographical locations where they took place. They also do not give out the exact number of people involved. This is because the Quran does not focus on history or geography but on its objective of inviting mankind to Allah-SWT and its reformation. If the recounting of any event supports this cause, it is revealed accordingly. At times segments of a particular incident are mentioned at different occasions as examples to facilitate understanding. Often a single event has also been repeatedly mentioned to serve the same purpose.

    The learned Commentators have rated this Surah as highly meritorious and blessed and its recitation as a shield against various evils. It may be recited daily or on Fridays, or its opening and last Ayat may be memorized and repeated as a protection against evil.

  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 12
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 110
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 18
  • Rukū / Section 8 contains Āyāt / Parts 6
  • Siparah/ Volume 15 & 16

bismillah

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا

Walaqad sarrafna fee hatha alqurani li(l)nnasi min kulli mathalin wakana alinsanu akthara shayin jadala(n)

And assuredly We-SWT have set forth all manner of parables in this Quran for mankind, but man is of all things the most contending.

(18:54)

وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءهُمُ الْهُدَى وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلًا

Wama manaAAa a(l)nnasa an yuminoo ith jaahumu alhuda wayastaghfiroo rabbahum illa an tatiyahum sunnatu alawwaleena aw yatiyahumu alAAathabu qubula(n)

And nothing prevents mankind from believing now when the guidance has come to them and from asking forgiveness of their Rabb-SWT , except that there may come to them the dispensation of the ancients or that the chastisement may come to them face to face.

(18:55)

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَيُجَادِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَمَا أُنذِرُوا هُزُوًا

Wama nursilu almursaleena illa mubashshireena wamunthireena wayujadilu allatheena kafaroo bi(a)lbatili liyudhidoo bihi alhaqqa wa(i)ttakhathoo ayatee wama onthiroo huzuwa(n)

And We-SWT do not send Messengers-AS save as bringers of glad tidings and warners, and those who disbelieve dispute with falsehood that they may rebut thereby the truth; and they take My-SWT Signs and what they are warned of as a mockery.

(18:56)

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَى فَلَن يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا

Waman athlamu mimman thukkira biayati rabbihi faaAArada AAanha wanasiya ma qaddamat yadahu inna jaAAalna AAala quloobihim akinnatan an yafqahoohu wafee athanihim waqran wain tadAAuhum ila alhuda falan yahtadoo ithan abada(n)

And who does greater wrong than he who is admonished with the Signs of his Rabb-SWT and yet turns away from them and forgets what his hands had sent forth? We-SWT have set up veils over their hearts lest they should understand it, and in their ears a heaviness; and if you call them to the guidance, lo! They will not let themselves ever be guided.

(18:57)

وَرَبُّكَ الْغَفُورُ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابَ بَل لَّهُم مَّوْعِدٌ لَّن يَجِدُوا مِن دُونِهِ مَوْئِلًا

Warabbuka alghafooru thoo a(l)rrahmati law yuakhithuhum bima kasaboo laAAajjala lahumu alAAathaba bal lahum mawAAidun lan yajidoo min doonihi mawila(n)

And your Rabb-SWT is the Forgiver, Owner of Mercy. Were He-SWT to call them to account for what they have earned. He-SWT would have hastened torment for them, but for them there is a return, and beside it they cannot find a place to take themselves to.

(18:58)

وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَى أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا

Watilka alqura ahlaknahum lamma thalamoo wajaAAalna limahlikihim mawAAida(n)

And these cities! We-SWT destroyed them when they did wrong, and We-SWT had appointed a time for their destruction.

(18:59)
In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

People must not have plunged into destruction by disobeying the Holy Prophet-SW. Yet they are so mindless that when Allaah-SWT favoured them by sending guidance through His-SWT Prophets-AS, instead of seeking His-SWT Forgiveness and embracing Islam they looked forward to the promised doom like the preceding doomed nations. Or do they wish to be struck by doom right away? The Messengers-AS of Allaah-SWT are given clear and manifest miracles and the code for the guidance of mankind. But these people argue for the sake of argument, hoping to avoid facing the truth. Since they have no answer to the logical reasoning and evidence presented by the Holy Prophet-SW, they simply resort to mockery. But let it be known that whoever having received the Divine Commandments, turns his face away in arrogance is a transgressor. What is it afterall over which they are so arrogant, as to have adopted an evil conduct and forgotten the fact that one Day they will have to face retribution for their misdeeds?

 

Sin And Infidelity Drape The Hearts, Marring The Importance Of Piety

But what can they possibly see as WE-SWT have draped their hearts because of their indulgence in sin and disbelief. They cannot even discern what piety is, and their ears have been deprived of the capacity to hear the truth. Now even if the Holy Prophet-SW persistently invites them to the truth, they will never be guided, as they can neither hear the invitation, nor see how beautiful the path of guidance is.

 

Nevertheless, your Rabb-SWT is Most Clement and Munificent, otherwise the conduct of these people is so vile that they deserve to be seized and punished instantly. They make friends with Iblis instead of Allaah-SWT and obey him. However, they are granted respite and a time has been destined for their death and retribution. And they will never be able to escape the moment promised to them, nor will they find any escape. The ruins of many such settlements can be seen whose habitants had given to transgression and waywardness. Allaah-SWT destroyed them. They too had been granted respite but when the destined hour struck they were decimated.

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