Quran chapter: Chapter 18: The Cave (Al-Kahf)

(Connection With the End of the World*)

We caused them to be discovered, to let everyone know that God’s promise is true, and to remove all doubt concerning the end of the world.* The people then disputed among themselves regarding them. Some said, “Let us build a building around them.” Their Lord is the best knower about them. Those who prevailed said, “We will build a place of worship around them.”

وَكَذٰلِكَ أَعثَرنا عَلَيهِم لِيَعلَموا أَنَّ وَعدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السّاعَةَ لا رَيبَ فيها إِذ يَتَنٰزَعونَ بَينَهُم أَمرَهُم فَقالُوا ابنوا عَلَيهِم بُنيٰنًا رَبُّهُم أَعلَمُ بِهِم قالَ الَّذينَ غَلَبوا عَلىٰ أَمرِهِم لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيهِم مَسجِدًا

wa kazaalika a’sarnaa ‘alaihim liya’lamooo anna wa’dal laahi haqqunw wa annas Saa’ata laa raiba feehaa iz yatanaaza’oona bainahum amrahum faqaalub noo ‘alaihim bunyaanaa; Rabbuhum a’lamu bihim; qaalal lazeena ghalaboo ‘alaaa amrihim lanat takhizanna ‘alaihim masjidaa

*18:21 As detailed in Appendix 25, this story helped pinpoint the end of the world.

Some would say, “They were three; their dog being the fourth,” while others would say, “Five; the sixth being their dog,” as they guessed. Others said, “Seven,” and the eighth was their dog. Say, “My Lord is the best knower of their number.” Only a few knew the correct number. Therefore, do not argue with them; just go along with them. You need not consult anyone about this.

سَيَقولونَ ثَلٰثَةٌ رابِعُهُم كَلبُهُم وَيَقولونَ خَمسَةٌ سادِسُهُم كَلبُهُم رَجمًا بِالغَيبِ وَيَقولونَ سَبعَةٌ وَثامِنُهُم كَلبُهُم قُل رَبّى أَعلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم ما يَعلَمُهُم إِلّا قَليلٌ فَلا تُمارِ فيهِم إِلّا مِراءً ظٰهِرًا وَلا تَستَفتِ فيهِم مِنهُم أَحَدًا

sa yaqooloona salaasatur raabi’uhum kalbuhum wa yaqooloona khamsatun saadisuhum kalbuhum rajmam bilghaib; wa yaqooloona sab’atunw wa saaminuhum kalbuhum; qur Rabbeee a’lamu bi’iddatihim maa ya’lamuhum illaa qaleel; falaa tumaari feehim illaa miraaa’an zaahiranw wa laa tastafti feehim minhum ahadaa

(Remembering God
Every Chance We Get)

You shall not say that you will do anything in the future,

وَلا تَقولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىءٍ إِنّى فاعِلٌ ذٰلِكَ غَدًا

wa laa taqoolanna lishai’in innee faa’ilun zaalika ghadaa

without saying, “God willing.”* If you forget to do this, you must immediately remember your Lord and say, “May my Lord guide me to do better next time.”

إِلّا أَن يَشاءَ اللَّهُ وَاذكُر رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسيتَ وَقُل عَسىٰ أَن يَهدِيَنِ رَبّى لِأَقرَبَ مِن هٰذا رَشَدًا

illaaa any yashaaa’al laah; wazkur Rabbaka izaa naseeta wa qul ‘asaaa any yahdiyani Rabbee li aqraba min haazaa rashadaa

*18:24 This important commandment gives us daily opportunities to remember God

([300 + 9]*)

They stayed in their cave three hundred years, increased by nine.*

وَلَبِثوا فى كَهفِهِم ثَلٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍ سِنينَ وَازدادوا تِسعًا

wa labisoo fee kahfihim salaasa mi’atin sineena wazdaadoo tis’aa

*18:25 The difference between 300 solar years and 300 lunar years is nine years. Thus, discovering the end of the world was predetermined by the Almighty to take place in AD 1980 (1400 AH), 300 years (309 lunar years) before the end of the world (see 72:27 and Appendix 25).

Say, “God is the best knower of how long they stayed there.” He knows all secrets in the heavens and the earth. By His grace you can see; by His grace you can hear. There is none beside Him as Lord and Master, and He never permits any partners to share in His kingship.

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعلَمُ بِما لَبِثوا لَهُ غَيبُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضِ أَبصِر بِهِ وَأَسمِع ما لَهُم مِن دونِهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلا يُشرِكُ فى حُكمِهِ أَحَدًا

qulil laahu a’lamu bimaa labisoo lahoo ghaibus samaawaati wal ardi absir bihee wa asmi’; maa lahum min doonihee minw waliyyinw wa laa yushriku fee hukmihee ahadaa

You shall recite what is revealed to you of your Lord’s scripture. Nothing shall abrogate His words, and you shall not find any other source beside it.

وَاتلُ ما أوحِىَ إِلَيكَ مِن كِتابِ رَبِّكَ لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمٰتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دونِهِ مُلتَحَدًا

watlu maaa oohiya ilaika min Kitaabi Rabbika laa mubaddila li Kalimaatihee wa lan tajida min doonihee multahadaa

(Quranic Study Groups)

You shall force yourself to be with those who worship their Lord day and night, seeking Him alone. Do not turn your eyes away from them, seeking the vanities of this world. Nor shall you obey one whose heart we rendered oblivious to our message; one who pursues his own desires, and whose priorities are confused.

وَاصبِر نَفسَكَ مَعَ الَّذينَ يَدعونَ رَبَّهُم بِالغَدوٰةِ وَالعَشِىِّ يُريدونَ وَجهَهُ وَلا تَعدُ عَيناكَ عَنهُم تُريدُ زينَةَ الحَيوٰةِ الدُّنيا وَلا تُطِع مَن أَغفَلنا قَلبَهُ عَن ذِكرِنا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوىٰهُ وَكانَ أَمرُهُ فُرُطًا

wasbir nafsaka ma’al lazeena yad’oona Rabbahum bilghadaati wal’ashiyyi yureedoona Wajhahoo wa laa ta’du ‘aynaaka ‘anhum tureedu zeenatal hayaatid dunyaa wa laa tuti’ man aghfalnaa qalbahoo ‘an zikrinaa wattaba’a hawaahu wa kaana amruhoo furutaa

(Absolute Freedom of Religion)

Proclaim: “This is the truth from your Lord,” then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. We have prepared for the transgressors a fire that will completely surround them. When they scream for help, they will be given a liquid like concentrated acid that scalds the faces. What a miserable drink! What a miserable destiny!

وَقُلِ الحَقُّ مِن رَبِّكُم فَمَن شاءَ فَليُؤمِن وَمَن شاءَ فَليَكفُر إِنّا أَعتَدنا لِلظّٰلِمينَ نارًا أَحاطَ بِهِم سُرادِقُها وَإِن يَستَغيثوا يُغاثوا بِماءٍ كَالمُهلِ يَشوِى الوُجوهَ بِئسَ الشَّرابُ وَساءَت مُرتَفَقًا

wa qulil haqqu mir Rabbikum faman shaaa’a falyu’minw wa man shaaa’a falyakfur; innaaa a’tadnaa lizzaalimeena Naaran ahaata bihim suraadiquhaa; wa iny yastagheesoo yughaasoo bimaaa’in kalmuhli yashwil wujooh’ bi’sash-sharaab; wa saaa’at murtafaqaa

As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, we never fail to recompense those who work righteousness.

إِنَّ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ إِنّا لا نُضيعُ أَجرَ مَن أَحسَنَ عَمَلًا

innal lazeena aamanoo wa ‘amilus saalihaati innaa laa nudee’u ajra man ahsana ‘amalaa