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 6 contains Āyāt / Parts 5
  • Siparah/ Volume 15 & 16

bismillah

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاء أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاء فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا

Waidrib lahum mathala alhayati a(l)ddunya kamain anzalnahu mina a(l)ssamai fa(i)khtalata bihi nabatu alardi faasbaha hasheeman tathroohu a(l)rriyahu wakana Allahu AAala kulli shayin muqtadira(n)

Propound you to them the similitude of the life of this world. It is as water which We-SWT send down from the heaven, then there mingles with it the vegetation of the earth, and lo! It becomes dry stubble, which the winds scatter. And Allaah-SWT is Potent over everything.

(18:45)

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

Almalu wa(a)lbanoona zeenatu alhayati a(l)ddunya wa(a)lbaqiyatu a(l)ssalihatu khayrun AAinda rabbika thawaban wakhayrun amala(n)

Riches and sons are the adornment of the life of the world, and the righteous works that last are excellent with your Rabb-SWT in respect of reward and excellent in respect of hope.

(18:46)

وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

Wayawma nusayyiru aljibala watara alarda barizatan wahasharnahum falam nughadir minhum ahada(n)

And beware of a Day when We-SWT will cause the mountains to pass away, and you will see the earth plain, and We-SWT will gather them, and We-SWT will leave of them not one.

(18:47)

وَعُرِضُوا عَلَى رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا

WaAAuridoo AAala rabbika saffan laqad jitumoona kama khalaqnakum awwala marratin bal zaAAamtum allan najAAala lakum mawAAida(n)

And they shall be sent before your Rabb-SWT in ranks. Now you have come to Us-SWT as We-SWT had created you the first time. Aye! You fancied that We-SWT had appointed for you no meeting place.

(18:48)

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

WawudiAAa alkitabu fatara almujrimeena mushfiqeena mimma feehi wayaqooloona ya waylatana ma lihatha alkitabi la yughadiru sagheeratan wala kabeeratan illa ahsaha wawajadoo ma AAamiloo hadiran wala yathlimu rabbuka ahada(n)

And the Book shall be placed, and you will see the culprits alarmed at what is therein, and they will say: ah! Woe to us! What ails this Book that it leaves not any misdeed, small or great, but it has comprehended it! And they shall find present all that they had wrought; and your Rabb-SWT wrongs not any one.

(18:49)
In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

The Holy Prophet-SW must tell these people the similitude of this temporal life. For instance, the downpour from the clouds fills the earth with greenery. Then after a certain period the greenery turns pale, withers out and is scattered away by the winds. It drifts along the blowing winds without any destination or worth. Similar is the case of individuals and nations. Many nations assume power and it appears as if they will never face a downfall. But eventually they perish and move on to oblivion. In case of individuals, see how many young and stout men get buried under the dust. It is Allaah-SWT Alone Who-SWT is above any changes and transitions, is Eternal and Omnipotent. Wealth and possessions are undoubtedly an adornment for this world. But deeds last forever, are valued by Allaah-SWT and are expected to be amply rewarded by Him-SWT .

 

Enduring Deeds, Wealth And Progeny

'Good deeds that endure', according to the Commentators, comprise each and every noble deed including the lawful earning of wealth and spending it within the limits of Shari'ah. Also included is the right nurturing of one's children to make them pious and righteous. In short, be it family and tribe, or friends and relatives, wealth or deeds, if an act is in accordance with Shari'ah, it qualifies to be listed amongst the good deeds that endure. And if the same wealth is earned illegally and is spent unlawfully, or the progeny and the tribe or friends and servants are not influenced to observe the limits laid down by Shari'ah, the short lived worldly grandeur and power will eventually prove disastrous. One day even the mountains will be lifted from their place and finally blown to debris. The beauty and festivities of the earth will also come to an end. Neither will there remain habitation nor wilderness. The earth will be transformed into a vast barren field and everyone will be gathered there. None of the mighty arrogant deniers will be able to escape or hide. All human beings will be present before Allaah-SWT in ranks. The non believers will then be addressed: "Your wealth, your false honour and temporary power could not accompany you and you stand here empty handed as when you were born for the first time. You thought that you would never be brought to life again. You did not even have the sense to comprehend the fact that the One Who-SWT had the power to create you for the first time could also do it again. But you did not believe this simple fact”. And then the Register of Conduct of every individual will be opened and placed before him. The wrongdoers will quiver when they see it and will exclaim sorrowfully that the Register has not miss out any details of their conduct. It has documented their actions in the minutest detail. 'And O Prophet-SW! Your Rabb-SWT will not wrong anyone.'

 

Punishment According To Deeds

They will see their doings in front of them. Obviously the punishment will be in consonance with the deeds and shall match the sin committed. Rather, each sin will be embodied to become a proportionate punishment.

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