Lessons from Surah Al-Kahf (18)

- The Prophet sws said , whoever memorizes 10 Ayat from the beginning of Surah Kahf has been protected from the fitnah or the Dajjah himself.

- Prophet sws also said, whoever recites Surah Kahf with pondering, on Friday , it creates a light for him , that lasts from one Friday to the next Friday.

This Surah is divided into 4 stories

1. The Story of young people of the cave, verses 9 to 26 :-

Why did Allah swt make mention of this story? Because these young people were tested with their religion and they did not give it up. They left community and society and they went away for 309 years. They were locked and sealed in a cave as though they were wrong men but their religion was saved. They made a dua to Allah: O Allah save us from these negative people from this environment. In today’s time if people around us want to take our religion from us, we can go from that place, we need not compromise our faith.

2. The story of 2 gardens, verses 32 to 44:-

The man who had gardens had lots of wealth and what did he say? All this I have been granted is because of my own capacity and brain. I worked hard and its not going to be depleted. And I dont think there will be an End Hour. This person was given some guidance from another man. This guidance is mentioned:- For you its best to say, this is not because of my brain , my capacity, Allah has blessed me, He has Guided me in a certain directon, He has allowed me to earn all this. So certainly all these things are from Allah swt. I put in a small effort and Allah is the one who provided. The wealth which I have is not mine or others, Allah owns it. We are only custodians of it. The other man said, I am hoping from my Lord to give me better than the gardens you have here. If a person has Wealth, he may share it with the family, the poor, the relatives who are financially weak, poor non muslims and on animals too.

3. Story of Musa(as) and Qidr (as) :- verse 60 to 82

Test of knowledge where Musa (as) was asked a question. Who is the most knowledgeable? Musa (as) thought, he is the most knowledgeable. Musa (as) felt Allah had bestowed it on him, because he was a Nabi. And Allah swt wanted to rectify that. So Allah swt says, We want to show you someone who has more knowledge than you , not on a wholesome level, but certain categories of knowledge , We have granted him more. In terms of knowledge we should realize, what is right, is right, even if the whole world believes its wrong. Today when Islam has prohibited certain things, the rest of the world follows it. Musa (as) met Qidr (as) and certain things happened. The lesson to be learned is:- Always search for knowledge, never think I have arrived the peak and I know more. Above it make sure it is pure, pristine, uncontaminated knowledge and hunt for it until you are satisfied with the source of the knowledge. Knowledge is an Ocean, that has no coast.

4. Story of Dhul- Qarnayn:- verses 83 to 99

Allah speaks about Dhul Qarnayn. Allah speaks about how powerful he was. But he was a person who did not abuse that power. Allah says, We gave Dhul Qarnayn authority and We told him: Dhul Qarnayn now you have the power, do what you want. You can either punish people, you can either let them loose, you can either be good or bad to them. You can do whatever you want. Because he feared Allah, what happened? Dhul Qarnayn says: Oh Allah, as for those who has oppressed and done wrong, we will ensure that justice prevails to the degree that we will punish the one who deserves to be penalized. And when they get to You, You can punish them, or then decide to forgive them. You may do whatever You want Ya Allah . We will try our best to uphold justice. And as for those who believes and do good deeds, there are so many of them, and we will be never be able to recompense them, as a leader, I will not be able to recompense those who do good. So the minimum is we will try to utter a good word for them. So that atleast they feel acknowledged , also You then reward them Ya Allah according to your own measures! These statements can be only from a just ruler. Thus Dhul Qarnayn and his example is for us:- Whenever Allah has given us power, for instance our servants/ people working under us, we should try our best to do justice to them. Because we fear Allah. Allah mentions Yajuj and Majuj who lived in eastern part of the world in this passage. The just king Dhul Qarnayn made an iron barrier(wall) between yajuj majuj and the other innocent people. But this wall will be of no use when the command of Allah comes before the end of times. On that day these groups will be like waves intermixing among one another and the trumpet will be blown. If Dhul Qarnayn were a historic figure, ie somebody whom we know, he would have been the Persian Emperor Darius who ruled 550-486 BC. Darius was monotheist. But Allah knows best. We are not 100% sure.