Surah 18 Al-Kahf

4 parts - total 37 mins

1)

2)

3)

4)

It is recommended to recite Surat al-Kahf completely the night before Friday, and it is also recommended to do so Friday itself, before Maghrib time. Ibn Abidin said, �And it is best to do so early on Friday, in order to rush to the good and to avoid forgetting. � [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, �Bab al-Jumu`ah�]

The evidence for it being recommended includes the hadith related by Hakim and Bayhaqi, from Abu Sa`id (Allah be pleased with him), �Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on Friday, light shall shine forth for him between the two Fridays.� [Ibn Hajar, Talkhis al-Habir]

It is mentioned in Heavenly Ornaments, by Imam al-Tahanawi:
Assalamu Alaikum Warahamtullahi Wabrakatahu

Chapter 18, The Cave (Al-Kahf)


There are many benefits of reciting sura Kahf on fridays - but when reciting one must also reflect on the four stories told in this chapter!!!

Whoever recites Surat Al-Kahf on Friday, it will illuminate him with light from one Friday to the next. (Ahmed)

Whoever memorizes ten Ayat from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal. (at Thirmidhi and Abu Dawood)


Translated by www.daralislamlive.com

The goal of this chapter: protection from trials.


The chapter narrates four stories. At the end of each story there is a verse containing the moral goal of the story.



Story 1: Companions of the Cave

The story revolves around a group of a few youth (maybe 3, 5 or 7 young men) who believed in Allah in a country full of disbelievers. The youth tried hard to guide their king and people to the path of Allah, but they were rejected. When the few believers felt they were endangered and their countrymen were plotting to murder them, Allah revealed to them to flee to a cave to hide. Here the miracle occurred; Allah made them sleep for 309 years. When they awoke, they thought they slept for a couple of days. One of them decided to leave the cave in disguise to get food for the others. To his surprise he found himself in a totally different place full of believers and worshippers. The countrymen were even more surprised to see his old coins and his old clothes and to hear his strange story about a king who died centuries ago. They decided to follow him to the cave. At that point the cave companions died. Allah wanted the countrymen to make this discovery to know about Allah's miracle in honour of the good believers and take them as an example of devoted worshippers.



Story 2: Owner of the Two Gardens and his Friend

The story revolves around a rich man who owned two huge gardens that produced lots of fruits and plants. The rich man never thanked Allah for these blessings. He had a good friend who advised him to be repentant and go back to Allah's path; however the rich man refused and challenged his friend that nothing will ever happen to him or his gardens. So Allah punished him by destroying his two gardens as the rich man watched.



Story 3: Prophet Moses (Musa) and Al-Khidr

The Israelites asked Prophet Musa (P.B.U.H.) about the most knowledgeable human being on earth, so Musa replied: "I am". Allah revealed to Prophet Musa that there was a more knowledgeable man than him, and his name was Al-Khidr. So Prophet Musa decided to travel to look for Al-Khidr to learn from his knowledge. When the Prophet found him and asked to follow him to learn, Al-Khidr told Musa: "You can't have patience with me. How can you be patient in what you do not have comprehensive knowledge of?" However, Prophet Musa insisted to be with him. Al-Khidr replied: "If you would follow me, then do not question me about anything until I myself speak to you about it."

As they walked they passed by a boat, Al-Khidr made a hole in it. Musa was surprised and asked Al-Khidr for a reason, however Al-Khidr reminded Musa of their agreement not to ask questions, then they walked on. They passed by a young boy. Al-Khidr killed him. Prophet Musa asked him how he could murder an innocent soul; however Al-Khidr warned Musa if he asked any more questions then he will leave. They walked for very long until they got really tired and hungry, when they reached a town, they asked its people for food and shelter, however the townsmen refused. Then they found in the town a wall, which was about to fall, so Al-Khidr started building this wall. Musa was very surprised that he was doing this for people who were not hospitable, so he asked Al-Khidr to take money for re-building the wall. At that point Al-Khidr decided to leave the Prophet for his impatience and too many questions, and decided to give him part of his knowledge for the events he did not comprehend.

Al-Khidr explained that the boat belonged to poor people working on the river and he made a small hole in it because behind them was a king who seized every good boat by force. As for the boy, his parents were righteous believers, however the boy was going to grow and become a disbeliever, so Al-Khidr intended that the Lord might give them a better son in his place. As for the wall, it belonged to two orphans in the town and beneath it a treasure left to them by their righteous father. So when the boys reach maturity they would know where to find the hidden treasure.

Al-Khidr was given future knowledge by the order of Allah. Prophet Musa learned a lot from him. The message here is, sometimes we think bad things have happened to us because we do not see the full picture, however Allah knows best, therefore we must always trust in His fate.



Story 4: The Two-Horned King

The story revolves around a great king, the two-horned, who owns power and knowledge. He travelled from one place to another to spread Allah's message. He reached a country whose people asked for his help against Gog and Magog. So the king built a barrier with the help of the people to block the evil of Gog and Magog from the people. This barrier will someday collapse as a sign of the arrival of Day of Judgment.



Different Types of Trials

As a first impression one might think the four stories have no link between them, however on a closer look one will find that each story talks about a different "fitnah" i.e. trial, meaning an instance of hardship to test one's endurance. The four stories talk about four different trials human beings could go through.

The story of the cave companions talks about the trial of religion. People can be tested with their endurance in their faith and whether they will persevere in its protection or not.


The story of the owner of the two gardens talks about the trial of money. Some people get busy adding to their richness and forget to thank the main source, Allah.


The story of Musa and Al-Khidr talks about the trial of knowledge. Some people become arrogant with their rich knowledge and forget that Allah has all the knowledge and that with His permission, they were granted a small part of it. They might even choose not to teach anyone, or even worse study useless things that will not benefit anyone.


The story of the two-horned king talks about the trial of power. Some people abuse their power and think power will be with them forever.




Benefits of Reading The Cave Chapter

A) The goal of this chapter is the protection from all these different trials, so these stories serve as a reminder.

B) Also there is a Prophetic saying that whoever reads The Cave chapter on Friday, Allah will give them light from their feet to the heavens.

C) Muslims also read this chapter on Fridays to protect them from the trial of "Al-Dajjal" i.e. the Antichrist, who is expected to spread evil around the world. There is a link between this chapter and the trials of the Antichrist.

Trial of religion: the Antichrist will ask people to worship him and deceive many by his ability to resurrect the dead.


Trial of money: the Antichrist will order the earth to bring out its treasures and will control the rain to make people rich to follow him.


Trial of knowledge: the Antichrist will deceive many by his ability to foresee the future.


Trial of power: the Antichrist will be able to control most of the countries on earth except for Madinah and Makkah.




How to be Protected from Trials?

At the end of each story there is a verse or two to serve as a commentary on the way of protection from such trials.

After the companions of the cave story it is clear that the trial of religion can be protected through righteous companions to assist on perseverance and patience. Also to remember the Day of Judgment when the righteous will be rewarded, verses 28 and 29.


After the owner of the two gardens story it is clear that the trial of money can be protected through understanding our real purpose in life and reminder of the Day of Judgment, verses 45 and 46.


After the story of Moses and Al-Khidr it is clear that the protection from the trial of knowledge is through modesty, verse 69.


After the story of the two-horned king it is clear that the protection from the trial of power is through the belief that loyalty of one's work should only be towards Allah and remembering the Day of Judgment, verses 103 and 104.


The last verse, 110, of this chapter concentrates on the protection from all trials is by doing righteous deeds, with its goal being only towards Allah. The religious scholars say for a work to be accepted by Allah, it requires two things; to be good, and devoted towards Allah.


Towards the middle of the chapter in verse 50, we find the story of the devil narrated, after the first two stories and before the last two. The devil is the main motivator behind any trial, so Allah wanted to warn us not to fall in such trap.