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18. THE CAVE

The Cave

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. 1. Praise is due only for Allah Who has sent down the book to His servant and has not kept any crookedness in it, 2. (and has made it) straight, that He may give warning of a severe punishment from Him, and ( convey ) good news to the believers who do righteous works, that for them there will be a good reward, 3. in which they will stay for ever, 4. and (also) warn those who say, Allah has taken a son. 5. Neither they have any knowledge of it nor their fathers (had). (It is a) grievous word that comes out of their mouths, they speak nothing but a lie.

6. If they do not believe in this statement, then perhaps you will kill yourself with grief, sorrowing after them. 7. We have made that which is on the earth an adornment for it, so that We may test them as to which of them is best in conduct. 8. And We will make that which is on it, a barren ground. 9. Or do you think that the companions of the cave and the inscription were a wonder from among Our signs, 10. when the young men sought refuge in the cave and said, Our Fosterer! Give us mercy from Yourself and shape for us the right way in our affair? 11. So We prevented them from hearing (and kept them sleeping) in the cave, for a number of years. 12. Then We raised them up that We might know (mark out) which of the two parties was better at calculating the time for which they stayed. (R1)

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13. We narrate to you their news in truth, they were young men (who) believed in their Fosterer, and We increased them in guidance,

14. and We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and said, Our Fosterer is the Fosterer of the skies and the earth, we will never pray to any god besides Him, for then we would have indeed said something far away from truth.

15. These our people have taken gods besides Him, why they do not bring clear authority (in support) for them? So who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah?

16. And when you withdraw from them and that which they serve (worship) except Allah, then seek refuge in the cave, your Fosterer will shower His mercy upon you and shape an easy course for you in your affair. 17. And you would have seen the sun when it rose, move away from their cave to the right and when it set, go past them on the left, and they were in a wide space thereof. That is of the signs of Allah. Whomsoever Allah guides, he (it is who) is (really) guided and whomsoever He leaves in error, then you will never find for him a guardian showing the right way. (R2)

18. And you might have thought them to be awake though they were asleep, and We turned them to their right and their left, and their dog lay at the entrance with its paws stretched out. Had you looked at them you would have surely turned away from them in flight, and you would have been filled with terror because of them.

19. And thus We raised them up that they may ask each other. A speaker from among them said, How long have you stayed (here)? They said, We stayed (here) a day or a part of a

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day. (Others) said, Your Fosterer knows best about how long you stayed (here). Now send one of you to the city with this silver coin of yours and let him see what food is pure, then let him come to you with (some) provision from it, and let him be courteous and let no one know about you, 20. for if they prevail over you, they will stone you or turn you back to their religious dictates and then you will not succeed for ever. 21. And thus did We make their case known (to people) that they might know that Allahs promise is true and that (as for) the hour of doom, there is no doubt about it. When the (people of the city) disputed among themselves about their affair and said, Construct a building over them, their Fosterer knew best about them. Those who prevailed over their affair said, We will definitely make a place of worship over them. 22. (Some) will say, (They were) three, their dog being the fourth of them, while (others) will say, (They were) five, their dog being the sixth of them. guessing at the unseen, while (still others) will say, (They were) seven, their dog being eighth of them. Say, My fosterer knows best, their number, no one knows them except a few. So do not dispute about them except with a superfluous disputation and do not ask any of them about the (companions of the cave). (R3) 23. And do not say about anything, I will do that tomorrow, 24. without (adding to it),If Allah wills. And remember your Fosterer when you forget, and say, It may be that my Fosterer will guide me to (something) more closer to that which is right, than this. 25. And they stayed in their cave (for) three hundred years and add nine {1}. 26. Say, Allah knows best how long they stayed, His is the unseen of the skies and the earth, how clear His sight and how clear His hearing. They have no guardian besides Him and He makes none to share His commandment.

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27. And read that which has been communicated to you from the book of your Fosterer, there is none who can change His statements and you will never find any refuge beside Him. 28. And restrain yourself with those who pray to their Fosterer at morning and evening, intending (to seek) His Attention and do not let your eyes pass beyond them intending (to seek) the adornment of the life of this world and do not obey him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desires and whose affair exceeds due bounds. ( P 14 ) 29. And say, (This Quran is) the truth from your Fosterer, so whosoever wills, let him believe and whosoever wills, let him reject. We have prepared for those who are unjust, a fire, an enclosure of which will encompass them, and if they ask for water, they will be given water like molten brass which will burn their faces, evil the drink and ill the resting place. 30. Those who believe and do righteous works, (they will have their reward, because) We certainly do not waste the reward of him who does good work. 31. Those are the persons for whom there are everlasting gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and they will wear green robes of fine silk and thick silk brocade interwoven with gold, reclining therein on raised couches, excellent the reward and good the resting place. (R4)

32. And set forth to them the similitude of two men: We had assigned to one of them two gardens of grapes and We had surrounded them both with date palms and placed between them fields (of vegetation).

33. Each of the two gardens gave its food produce and nothing got reduced from it, and We caused a river to gush forth in the space in between them,

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34. and (its) fruit was (totally) his. So he said to his companion while he conversed with him, I have more wealth than you and I am mightier in the party (of followers). 35. And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, I do not think that this will ever perish, 36. and I do not think that the hour of doom will be established and even if I am brought back to my Fosterer I will definitely find a place of return better than this." 37. His companion said to him while he conversed with him, "Are you ungrateful to Him Who created you from the soil then from the sperm then granted equilibrium to you (in the form of) a man? 38. But as for me, Allah is my Fosterer and I do not associate anything as a partner with my Fosterer. 39. And when you entered your garden why did you not say: That which Allah willed (is in my possession), there is no power except (that) of Allah? If you see me that I am lesser than you in wealth and children, 40. then it may be that my Fosterer will give me (something) better than your garden and will send on it thunderbolts from the sky so that it will become a smooth ground, 41. or He will make its water go deep so that you will never be able to obtain it (again)."

42. And his fruits were encompassed (with destruction), and it fell down on its roofs (trellises) so he began to wring his hands (in regret) on what he had spent on it, and said, "I wish I had not associated anything as a partner with my Fosterer."

43. And he had no group (of his followers) to help him, besides Allah, nor could he defend himself.

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44. There : Protection is the right (only) of Allah, He is the Best Rewarder and the Best Requiter. (R5) 45. And set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: (It is) like water which We send down from the sky, then the vegetation of the earth mixes up with it then it becomes dry broken pieces which the winds scatter, and Allah is the Holder of power over everything.

46. Wealth and sons are an adornment of the life of this world, but the righteous works that remain are better in the sight of your Fosterer in reward and better in respect of hope. 47. And one day We will cause the mountains to move away and you will see the earth appearing plain and We will gather them so that We will not leave anyone of them,

48. and they will be presented before your Fosterer in ranks. (It will be said), "You have come to Us as We had created you the first time. No! You thought that We had not appointed for you a time/place for the fulfilment of the promise,"

49. and the records (of deeds) will be placed, then you will see the criminals fearful of that which is in it and they will say, Ah! Sorrowful is our state! What a record (of deeds) is this, it has not left (anything) small or great but has computed it." And they will find (all) that they did, present (in it), and your Fosterer does not deal unjustly with anyone. ( R 6 )

50. And when We said to the angels, "Bow down before Adam," so they (all) bowed down except Iblis, he was of the jinn so he went beyond the limits of the commandment of his Fosterer. What! Would you then take him and his descendants as friends besides Me while they are your enemies ? (The friendship of Iblis, compared to the friendship of Allah, is) an evil exchange for those who are unjust.

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51. I did not make them witness the creation of the skies and the earth nor their own creation and I am not One to take misleaders as helpers. 52. And the day (when) He will say, "Call those whom you claimed to be My partners." So they will call them but they will not respond to them and We will make a partition between them. 53. And (when) the criminals will see the fire, then they will guess that they have to fall into it, and they will not find (any way) of turning away from it. (R7) 54. And We have indeed repeated in this Quran, every kind of similitude for mankind, but man is disputing in most of the things. 55. And nothing holds back mankind from believing when the guidance comes to them, and from asking protective forgiveness from their Fosterer, except that (they wait) that the procedure (adopted) for the ancients should be adopted for them (too), or (that) the punishment should come face to face (with them). 56. And We do not send the messengers but as conveyers of good news and warners. And those who are infidels dispute, (basing their argument) on falsehood, in order to weaken thereby the truth, and they take My signs and that with which they are warned, as mockery. 57. And who is more unjust than he who is reminded through the signs of his Fosterer but he turns away from them and forgets what his hands have sent forth ? We have certainly placed veils over their hearts lest they should understand the (Quran) and heaviness in their ears, and if you invite them towards guidance, even then they will not accept guidance for ever. 58. And your Fosterer is Protectively Forgiving, Possessor of mercy. Had He caught them for that which they earned, He would have hastened the punishment for them, no, for them there is an appointed time from which they will not find a refuge.

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59. And those towns : We destroyed them when they were unjust, and We had appointed a fixed time for their destruction.(R8) 60. And when Musa said to his servant, "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or I will march on for ages." 61. So when they reached the junction between the two (seas), they both forgot their fish, so it took its way into the sea freely. 62. So when they had gone further (after crossing the junction), he said to his servant, "Bring to us our morning meal, we have met with fatigue from this journey of ours." 63. He (the servant) said, "Did you see! When we stayed on the rock, I forgot the fish, and nothing made me forget to mention it (to you) but the devil, and it took its way into the sea (in) a wonderful (way)." 64. He (Musa) said, "That is what we have been seeking for. So they returned retracing their footsteps, 65. (and) thus they found a servant from among Our servants whom We had given mercy from Us and whom We had given knowledge from Our knowledge. 66. Musa said to him, "May I follow you on (the agreement) that you teach me right (knowledge) from that which you have been taught." 67. He said, You will not be able to be patient with me. 68. And how can you have patience on (matters) about which you do not have comprehensive information?" 69. He (Musa) said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient. And I will not disobey you in any matter." 70. He said, "Well, if you follow me then do not ask me about anything till I myself mention about it to you." (R9) 71. So they both proceeded until when they embarked in a boat, he made a hole in it. He (Musa) said, "Have you made a hole in it to drown those in it? You have indeed come with something strange."

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72. He said, "Did I not tell you that you will not be able to be patient with me ?" 73. He (Musa) said, "Do not catch me for what I forgot and do not involve me in difficulty in my affair." 74. Then they proceeded until when they met a young man and he killed him. He (Musa) said, "Have you killed an innocent person without (this murder being in retaliation to his unjustly killing some other) person ? You have indeed come with something unrecognised." ( P 15 )

75. He said, "Did I not tell you that you will certainly not be able to be patient with me ?" 76. He (Musa) said, "If I ask you about anything after this then do not keep me in your company, you would have indeed reached (a point of not accepting any) excuse from my side."

77. Then they proceeded until when they came to a people of a town. They asked its inhabitants for food but they refused to make them guests. Then they found in it a wall on the point of falling down, so he set it right. He (Musa) said, "Had you willed you could have taken a reward for it." 78. He said, This is (the point of) parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that over which you were not able to be patient.

79. As for the boat, it belongs to poor people who work in the sea, I intended to make it defective because there is a king who is after them (and) he takes every boat by force. 80. And as for the young man, his parents are believers and we feared that he will involve them both in rebellion and infidelity, 81. so we desired that their Fosterer should give them in exchange, (one) better than him in purity and nearer to mercy.

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82. And as for the wall, it belongs to two orphan boys in the city and beneath it there is a treasure for them and their father was a righteous man, so your Fosterer intended that they should reach their (age of) strength and take out their treasure, a mercy from your Fosterer and I did not do it of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that over which you were not able to be patient." (R 10)

83. And they ask you about Zulqarnain (Two horned one), say, "I will tell you (something) from his history." 84. We certainly established him in the earth and gave him means of (access to) everything. 85. So he followed a way, 86. until when he reached the setting place of the sun (west), he found it setting in a black muddy spring (or Black Sea) and found near it a people. We said, "O Zulqarnain! Either punish or treat them in a good manner." 87. He said, "As for him who is unjust we will punish him then he will be returned to his Fosterer then He will punish him with an awful punishment. 88. And as for him who believes and does righteous work, then his reward will be good and we will speak to him in an easy (tone) with regard to our affair." 89. Then he followed a way, 90. until when he reached the rising place of the sun (east), he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made any shelter from it. 91. Thus! And We had comprehensive information about (all) that was with him. 92. Then he followed a way, 93. until when he reached (a place) between two mountains he found on the other side of the (two mountains) a people who could hardly understand a word.

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94. They said, "O Zulqarnain! Yajooj and Majooj are causing corruption in the earth. Then shall we pay you a tribute on (condition) that you make a barrier between us and them?"

95. He said, "That in which my Fosterer has established me is better, so help me with strength (workers), I will make between you and them a strong bank (wall),

96. bring me blocks of iron." Then at the point when he had leveled (the space) between the two mountain sides, he said, "Blow," until when he made it (red hot) fire, he said, "Bring me molten copper which I may pour over it." 97. Thus they all (communities of Yajooj and Majooj) were not able to climb it nor were they able to pierce it. 98. He said, This is a mercy from my Fosterer but when the promise of my Fosterer comes to pass, He will make it crumble to pieces and the promise of my Fosterer is true."

99. And We will leave some of them that day (to pass like restless) waves into the others and it will be blown into the trumpet (structure of the universe) and We will gather them all together.

100. And We will present hell on that day to the infidels as a presentation, 101. those whose eyes were under a cover from My reminder and they were unable (even) to hear. ( R 11 ) 102.Then, do those who do not believe think that they can take My servants as guardians besides Me? We have certainly prepared hell (as) an entertainment for the infidels.

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103. Say, "Shall We inform you of the greatest losers (in respect of their) works? 104. Those (are the persons) who misdirect their efforts in the life of this world but they think that they are doing good work. 105. Those are the persons who neither believe in the signs of their Fosterer nor (their) meeting with Him, so their works become fruitless, consequently, on the day of resurrection, We (too) will not assign any weight to their (deeds).

106. That is their reward, hell, because they did not believe and took My signs and My messengers (as items for) mockery. 107. Those who believe and do righteous works, certainly for them, gardens of paradise will be the entertainment. 108.They will stay in it, they will not seek any change from it."

109. Say, "Had the sea been ink for (writing down) the statements of my Fosterer, the sea would get exhausted before the statements of my Fosterer got exhausted, even if We were to bring (another sea) like it to supplement."

110. Say, "I am a man like you. It is communicated to me that your God is One God, so let him who hopes to meet his Fosterer, do righteous work and (let him) not associate anyone with his Fosterer in His service (worship)."(R 12)

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Summarized Commentary
Chapter 18 (Revealed at Makkah)

Vs 14 The Quran is straight about everything it deals with, it should be used for warning those who do not believe. It gives good news to those who believe and do good. Vs 5 Allah (SWT) does not have any son. Vs 6 Allah (SWT) consoles prophet Muhammed (PBH). Vs 78 The purpose of making the life of this world glamorous is to test human beings as to which of them acts in accordance with the message of Allah (SWT). One day everything on the earth, including its glamorous items, will be destroyed. Vs 9-26 These were some Christian young men who had taken shelter in a cave because the king of their time had ordered the killing of all those who refused idol worship (Vs 15,16). Their number, place and date of the happening are not mentioned probably to indicate the insignificance of details which have no moral value. They were kept sleeping for probably 300 solar years which are equivalent to 309 lunar years [one solar year is 10.95 days longer than a lunar year]. During sleep they were unconscious of time. This incident hints at life after death and being unconscious of time during death (39:42). Vs 2324 orders are given for saying Insha Allah meaning If Allah (SWT) wills, before any future commitment. Vs 2731 Instructions are given regarding the study of the Quran, being in the company of the pious, avoiding glamour and sinners. The pious will be in paradise and the sinners in hell.

Vs 3244 The rich friend was proud and doubted the end of the world. He should have been grateful to Allah (SWT) for his possessions and said, That which Allah willed (is in my possession), their is no power expect that of Allah. After the destruction of his gardens he repented having associated partners with Allah (SWT) i.e. having given the credit of his welfare to his wealth and status and not to Allah (SWT) which too is polytheism. Regarding someone or something other than Allah (SWT) as our benefactor too is polytheism Vs 45 The likeness of the life of this world is only like water which We send down from the sky, then with the (water) mixes up the vegetation of the earth, from which mankind and cattle eat, to the extent that the earth takes up its decoration and is adorned (with luxuriant vegetation); and (when) its owners think that they are all powerful over (getting full benefit out of) it, Our command comes (down on it) by night or by day and We make it a reaped (field of vegetation) as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We explain the signs in detail for a people who reflect. (10:24) Vs 46 In the life of the world, wealth provides many physical comforts and sons provide moral support, therefore people do not hesitate to commit grave sins to acquire wealth and to provide it to their children, basing their hopes on these two sources for a peaceful life but they are many times utterly disappointed. Contrary to this, working in accordance with the Quran and teachings of our prophet is better in reward and the best sources on which we can base our

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hope for a peaceful life here and hereafter Vs 47-49 Multi-storied buildings fall down to the ground due to earthquakes and landslides. Similarly due to severe earthquakes before the end of the world all mountains may fall down exposing the land behind them. All human beings will be brought back to life, gathered together and presented before Allah (SWT) for the decision of their cases based on the record of deeds which will contain everything an individual did. This record of deeds may be our memory. And We have made every mans fate (or action) to cling to his neck {2}, and We will bring out for him on the day of resurrection, a book (or a record) which he will find wide open. (It will be said to him), Read your book, this day your own self is sufficient against you as one who takes account. 17:13-14 Vs 50- 51 See Vs 2:30 and Summarised Commentary Ch: 15 Vs. 26-44. Vs 52-53 On the day of judgment the presumed partners of Allah(SWT) will not respond to the calls of the polytheists and the criminals will be sure to fall in hell Vs 54 See 17:89 Vs 55 Many people believe and ask for forgiveness only after seeing the punishment. Vs 56 Messengers of Allah (SWT) convey the good news of paradise and warn against hell. Infidels try to weaken the truth sent by Allah (SWT) by basing their arguments on falsehood and ridiculing the warning. Vs 57-59 Allah (SWT) seals the receptive powers of some unjust people, therefore they turn away from His message and forget their sins for which they will be punished at an appointed time as was done earlier with such people of many towns. Vs 6080 Some commentators are of the opinion that Musa (PBH) met Khizar. The devil tried to

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delay the reception of correct knowledge by Musa (PBH). Even Musa (PBH) a messenger of Allah (SWT) was asked to seek knowledge from a person who knew certain things more than him.
1 Causing a defect in the boat was apparently a loss but due to this the whole boat was saved for its owners to earn their livelyhood. 2 Killing the boy was an apparent loss but as a result of this his parents were saved from rebellion and infidelity and were also given a better son because they were believers. 3 Repairing a broken wall was a good deed and the result too was good that the treasure of the orphans was saved. Thus the honest earnings of a pious father passed on safely to his sons,

All results were good. If these incidents had not taken place then 1. the boat would have been lost 2. the boy would have misled his parents and 3. the orphans would not have got their fathers treasure. Musa (PBH) was impatient because of lack of knowledge of future. In the lives of pious people certain things may appear to be harmful but the result may be beneficial. Similarly in the lives of sinners certain things may appear to be beneficial but the result in future may be harmful. It is stated in the Quran; . . . . And it is possible that you may dislike a thing which is good for you and it is possible that you may like a thing which is bad for you. And Allah knows and you do not know. 2:216. These three incidents, resulting in benefits, which actually took place could have been predestined because ....Allah created everything then programmed for it programme(destroy) 25:2, in which case Khizar (PBH) was sent to implement destiny and thereby help hard working pious people. The time and place of slaughter of the boy was also fixed as hinted in 3:145, 3:154. The angel in charge of death causes death 32:11, therefore the plural we was used in reporting this incident (18:81). The other possibility too cannot be ruled out, that

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the incidents which were to take place in future, in the absence of Khizar (PBH), were predestined i.e. the boat would have been lost, parents would have been misled by their son and the orphan would not have got their treasure, but Allah (SWT) changed these events because :Allah abolishes what He wills and keeps established (what He wills) and with Him is the original prescription (book) 13:39. Allah has power over everything 3:189. This He did to help hard working pious people. Vs 83101 Zul Qarnain means Two horned one. There is lot of literature on who this king was, where did he live and when. The Quran does not contain any answer to these questions probably because they are of no practical or moral significance. Abdullah Yusuf Ali reasons out that he was Alexander the great, who lived from 356 to 323 B.C. Muhammed Ali is of the opinion that he was Darius I (521 485 B.C.). Abul Kalam Azad gives his name as Cyrus (559 529 B.C.). About Yajooj and Majooj it is accepted by more or less all researches that they lived and operated somewhere in central Asia, around Derbend, Azarbaijan, Armenia etc and that the iron wall with molten copper poured over it was somewhere in the Caucasus mountains and these areas have deposits of iron and copper. When the world ends, the events will be so severe that even this wall made of iron and copper will be destroyed 18:98. It appears that the descendents of the two communities of Yajooj and Majooj were made to spread in the other parts of the world 21:96. They may be the present Russian and European communities who got mixed up to such an extent (like waves) 18:97 that they lost their identity but progressed to such an extent that they could

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move in higher space in aeroplanes, helicopters, rockets etc and come down on earth whenever they wanted (fall from elevated places 21:96). All these things will happen before the end of the world, but they will be finally gathered for giving an account of their deeds and those who did not listen to the message of Allah (SWT) i.e. the infidels will be put in hell. Vs 102 Those who consider anyone other than Allah (SWT) as their guardian will be punished in hell. Vs 103 106 The greatest losers are those who misdirect their efforts in the life of this world but they think that they are doing good work. Such persons do not believe in and act in accordance with the message of Allah (SWT) and deny their meeting Him, therefore their work will become fruitless and they will be punished in hell. Vs 107 108 The believers who do good will be in paradise. Vs 109 Knowledge of Allah (SWT) and His creation is so tremendous that it cannot be written down even if all trees become pens and seven more seas or ocean are added to the present water on the surface of the earth and converted to ink 31:27. Vs 110 Muhammed (PBH) was a human being. One who hopes to meet Allah (SWT) should be sure that there is only one God i.e. Allah (SWT). Therefore no one else should be associated with Him while serving or worshipping Him, all others are His slaves, with this belief he should act in accordance with the Quran and Hadees.

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