Surah-Al-Kahf
Surah Al Kahf
Surah Kahf (The cave) is the 18th Surah in the Quran with 110 verses, This Surah has 110 verses,12 number of Ruku's, 1583 words, and 6425 letters, Surat Al kahf is found in the 15th and 16th Juzz of the Quran and is called Makki surah.
Introduction:
Here, in Surah al-Kahf, we find that Allah offers examples of various people who did follow guidance, and how it saved them from suffering the same fate as the disbelievers. This serves as yet another proof of the Qur'an being the true guidance, as mentioned in the first ten verses of the surah
Main Points of Surah-Al-Kahf
Surah Kahf was revealed in Makkah. Reciting it has several benefits such as protecting from Dajjal's trial. Surah Kahf teaches us several lessons from the main stories that Allah mentioned, which are: the people of the cave, the man of two gardens, the prophet Moses (AS) and Khidr, Dhul Qarnayn.
Allah begins this surah by relating to us the story of the People of the Cave. We learn that they were youth who realized that, if they wanted to follow Divine guidance, they would have to isolate themselves from the disbelieving people and their environment. Consequently, Allah used their lives as a sign for future believing generations, by giving them a miraculous life. Through this, he provided humanity with clear proof that He is the Creator and that the Resurrection is a reality.
The Story of Two Men | Surah Kahf Series
The parable is about two men, one blessed by Allah with enormous wealth and offspring. His heart was greedy and boastful, while the other was poor but grateful to Allah.
Allah s.w.t mentions in the Quran,
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًا ﴿٣٢﴾ كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِمْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَالَهُمَا نَهَرًا ﴿٣٣﴾ وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا ﴿٣٤﴾
And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops. Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fall short thereof in anything. And We caused to gush forth within them a river.
The story mainly highlights the attitude of the rich man towards his blessings. Allah has endowed him with two lush gardens with crops in between. The vineyards produced some of the most delicious and expensive fruits. They were encircled by palm trees that provided both dates and protection for the orchards. The garden was self-irrigated by a river, adding to its luxury. The crops yielded their full potential and never failed, allowing him to reap the most profit. Allah also blessed him with wealth outside of those gardens.
One day, the poor man comes to him, and they have a conversation;-
The wealthy man brags and compares his wealth & offspring with the poor man. He enters the garden with arrogance and, discredits Allah for his blessings. He says what he has right now will stay with him forever and then the Day will never come, and even if he returns to His Lord, he will receive something even better.
The poor man stands there in silence until he replies to him with the most humbling question. He reminds him of his humble origins, dust, and sperm. The poor man did not get impressed by the rich man's fancies but remained grateful and reaffirmed his belief in the oneness of Allah and admonished him.
Hr taught him to praise Allah whenever he entered his gardens and reminded him of the Greatness of Allah. He asked him to utter, ‘Ma Sha Allah La haul a walaa quwwata illaa billah'.
The poor man knew he had less in this world. Still, he believed in Allah and hoped he would receive the ultimate reward in the Hereafter. He warned the rich man of calamity and punishment of Allah. And then it had fallen upon him!
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى مَا أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا ﴿٤٢﴾
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he turned his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said “Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone.
وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ﴿٤٣﴾
And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself.
هُنَالِكَ الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّهِ الْحَقِّ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا ﴿٤٤﴾
There the authority is completely for Allah, the Truth. He is best in reward and best in the outcome.
In this parable, we see that Allah tests both the rich and the poor. The blessing of wealth is a test of gratitude to Allah and generosity to the less fortunate, while the poor are tested with patience and trust in Allah. Also, we see that arrogance destroys a person, whereas humility elevates him. Finally, we learn that the Dunya is a vessel for tests and trials. Those who pass them are indeed successful.
May Allah make us among those who are humble and grateful to Him. May make Allah us among them who are successful in this world and the Hereafter.
What are the lessons learned from Musa and Khidr?
The 2 major benefits derived from the story of Musa and Khidr are trust in Allah's plan juxtaposed with patience and humility while learning. Musa AS's learning endeavor is a transformational lesson, one that awakens in the reader the need to trust Allah in difficult times.
The story of ZulQarnain from Surah Kahf: –
When Allah bestowed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the responsibility to complete the religion Islam, he gave him immense knowledge about both the past and future. Not only did it help him guide his followers better, but it also allowed him to establish the authority of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as Allah’s messenger. One of these accounts from the past is that of Hazrat Zulqarnain (AS) in Surah Kahf. Surah Kahf sheds light on the story of Dhul-Qarnain and Yajooj and Majooj. There is ample material on Hazrat Zulqarnain’s history in English for better understanding.
Allah mentions Zulqarnain (AS) in Surah Kahf as a righteous ruler who shall attain great rewards. He had immense wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong. Allah made it possible for him to travel from East to West in a single day, depicting the might Allah bestowed upon him. Consequently, all the people believed in Allah’s might wherever he went.
When he came towards the East, he reached a desolate place between two huge walls. Scholars suggest that this place lies in the mountains of present-day Armenia and Azerbaijan. The native people told Hazrat Zulqarnain that Yajooj Majooj live between the two mountains. They come out every day and create havoc in the lands.
They destroy all the crops, and the lands, and kill the people. As they come out of their barricades, they devour everything in sight. People plead to Hazrat Zulqarnain to protect them from the wrath of Yajooj Majooj. Allah further narrates the story of Hazrat Zulqarnain (AS) in Surah Kahf that he rescued the people from the mischief of these creatures. He ordered the people to collect tonnes of iron.
People mined tirelessly for iron ingots and created iron bricks out of them. He also mixed molten brass with iron. Then he ordered the construction of a mighty iron wall. The wall was strong enough to hold back the mischievous creatures. The people offered gratitude to Hazrat Zulqarnain for saving them from such a big calamity.
People at that time did not know how to construct houses, let alone an iron wall. It was a highly advanced construction at that time. This shows how capable and knowledgeable Hazrat Zulqarnain (AS) was. Hazrat Zulqarnain (AS) in Surah Kahf is a lesson for the believers that those who follow Allah’s path earn rewards in this world and the hereafter.
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