Pearls from Surah al-Kahf

Exploring the Qur'an's Meaning

Yasir Qadhi

• Publisher: Kube Publishing Ltd
• ISBN:
  9781847741332
• Topic: Teología y religión
• Subtopic: Teología islámica

The Qur’an is full of parables. Each one, when its meaning is unpacked and understood, offers wisdom and guidance. Surah Kahf, chapter 18 from the Qur’an, is particularly thought provoking, and Muslims are advised to read it at least once a week.

But why? And what can we gain from it?

In this book Yasir Qadhi leads us through Surah Kahf, unfolding the lines, stories and symbols that have inspired people for over a thousand years: the people of the cave, Prophet Musa’s momentous encounter with Khidr, the two men and their gardens, and Gog and Magog.

And surely We have explained matters in people in the Qur’an in diverse ways, using all manners of parables. (Qur’an 18:54)

Through Yasir Qadhi’s unmistakeable voice, modern Muslims may glimpse some of the Qur’an’s profound meaning.

Say: “If the sea were to become ink to record the Words of my Lord, indeed the sea would all be used up before the Words of my Lord are exhausted…” (Qur’an 18:109)

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Introduction and Blessings of Surah Al-Kahf

The Virtues of Surah al-Kahf

Surah al-Kahf is among the earliest revelations received by our Prophet f. In a hadith narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd, the Prophet f states: ‘Surah Banī Isrā’īl, al-Kahf, Maryam, Ṭā Hā and al-Anbiyā’ are amongst my first earnings and my old property, and (in fact) they are my old property.’1

The surah summarizes for us the gist of Islam; its main theme is that Allah S will protect us from all trials. Told through a series of stories that illustrate specific trials, it teaches that Allah S will protect the believer at times of severity. Here we will focus on four stories detailed in al-Kahf that represent the crux of the surah:

1. THE PEOPLE OF THE CAVE: The first of the stories is that of the young men who sought refuge in the cave, and it is from this story that Surah al-Kahf derives its name. The trial illustrated in this surah is that of the fitnah (trial or testing) of religion; when people persecute others because of their belief in Allah S. The People of the Cave were one such group of young men who believed in Allah S, for which the king of the land wanted to kill them. As a result, they fled and sought protection in a cave and Allah S protected them.

2. THE MAN WITH TWO GARDENS: This second story illustrates the fitnah of money and the consequences of being mentally consumed by it. The story explores what happens when money causes one to become arrogant, and the solution presented for this trial is to realize that the dunyā is temporary, that Allah S gives and we do not give, and that all we have will eventually be taken away.

3. MŪSĀ AND KHIḌR: The third story is the famous account of Mūsā a and Khiḍr a. The main fitnah here is that of false knowledge. If knowledge does not lead to humility, then it too can become a fitnah. Knowledge can lead to arrogance if it is misused or abused. Of course, Mūsā a overcomes this fitnah and, in his humility and humbleness, he learns from somebody other than himself and rises because of it.

4. DHŪ AL-QARNAYN: The final story is that of Dhū al-Qarnayn, and in this story is illustrated the fitnah of power, including the fitnah of kingship and the control of people. Allah S mentions that He tested Dhū al-Qarnayn with this fitnah, who overcame it by being aware that Allah S is Malik al-Mulk; the One who is the ultimate king.

It is these four major fitans, detailed through the four major stories in Surah al-Kahf, that we will study and learn from.

The Blessings of Surah al-Kahf

There are numerous hadiths that detail the blessings of Surah al-Kahf, and here we will explore a few of them. Prominent among them is the hadith of the famous companion, al-Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib, who narrates:

A man was reciting Surah al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him. A cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet f, and told him of that experience. The Prophet f said, ‘That was al-sakīnah (tranquillity), which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’an.’2

Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī explains that al-sakīnah referred to here are the angels, because wherever angels go, peace and tranquillity descend. Such is the beauty of Surah al-Kahf that it is this peace and tranquillity that descended upon its recitation.

It has been previously mentioned that Surah al-Kahf is one of the earliest revelations, revealed in the first or second year of the Prophet’s f daʿwah. The reason for this early revelation is that this surah fortifies the believer with īmān. It teaches that no matter what is happening, Allah S will take care of you.

Another blessing of Surah al-Kahf is that it protects against the fitnah of Dajjāl. As reported in the hadith of Abū al-Dardā’ t, the Prophet f said: ‘He who memorizes the first ten verses of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from the trial of the Dajjāl. In another narration, it is the last ten verses of Surah al-Kahf.’3 In another lengthy hadith on the authority of al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān, the Prophet f mentioned the fitnah of Dajjāl and stated:

If he comes forth while I am among you I shall be the one who will dispute with him on your behalf, but if he comes forth when I am not among you, then every man must dispute on his own behalf, and Allah will take my place in looking after every Muslim. Those of you who live up to his time should recite over him the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf, for they are your protection from his trial.

We asked: How long will he remain on the Earth?

He replied: Forty days, one like a year, one like a month, one like a week, and rest of his days like yours.

We asked: Messenger of Allah, will one day’s prayer suffice us in this day which will be like a year?

He replied: No, you must make an estimate of its extent. Then Jesus son of Mary will descend at the white minaret to the east of Damascus. He will then catch him up at the gate of Lud and kill him.4

We learn, therefore, that the beginning of Surah al-Kahf—and in another hadith the first ten verses of the surah—is a protection from the fitnah of Dajjāl.

A further blessing of Surah al-Kahf is that our Prophet f has taught us that: ‘Whoever reads Surah al-Kahf on the day of Jumuʿah shall have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.’5 Similarly, Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī narrates that whoever recites Surah al-Kahf as it was revealed, i.e. recited with proper tilāwah (recitation), with tajwīd (the art of Qur’an recitation) and khushūʿ (humility), should they meet Dajjāl they will be saved from being overpowered by him. This is the first blessing detailed in this hadith about Surah al-Kahf. The second blessing detailed in this particular hadith is that whoever recites the surah on Friday will have a light shining from them to Makkah. The hadith therefore shows us that the light emanating as a result of reciting this surah is so powerful that it illuminates all the way to Makkah. In yet another, slightly weaker, version it is reported that whoever recites Surah al-Kahf on a Friday will have all of their minor sins forgiven until the following Friday. Thus, the virtues of reciting this surah on Friday are clear.

Protection from Dajjāl

The protection from Dajjāl is evidently a significant blessing of Surah al-Kahf. The fitnah of Dajjāl will be the worst fitnah mankind will ever witness, as Jābir t narrates:

The Prophet Muhammad f said: There is no fitnah that will arise before the Final Hour greater than the fitnah of Dajjāl, and there has been no prophet in the past, except that they warned their people, and ind...