Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

Surat Al-Kahf (The Cave)
Surat Al-Kahf is a Makkan Surah. It was revealed after Surat Al-Ghaashiyah, but in
the order of the Qur’an it comes after Surat Al-Isra’. It consists of 110 ayahs.
Threads for One Fabric
Surat Al-Kahf consists of four stories: The story of the people of the cave; that of the
man with the two gardens; that of Prophet Musa (AS) (Moses) and Al-Khidr; and that
of Dhul Qarnain. Several ayahs follow each story for further comment. Thus some
questions are to be raised : What do these stories then have in common Why is the
Surah named Surat Al-Kahf Why should it be read every Friday
The Advantages and Rewards for whoever reads Surat Al-Kahf
The Prophet (SAWS) said, “He who reads Surat Al-Kahf on Friday, Allah will light
for him radiance that stretches from his feet to the holy Ka’ba.” 4 .
The Prophet (SAWS) also said, “…and he who reads the last ten ayahs of Surat Al-
Kahf, Al-Dajjal will not be able to harm him.” 5 .
And in another Hadith, “…whoever among you encounters him – Al-Dajjal – should
read upon him the opening ayahs of Surat Al-Kahf.” 6 .
What is Al-Dajjal’s relationship with Surat Al-Kahf and what do the stories within the
Surah have in common Let’s then have a brief survey of the four above mentioned
stories.
The cave of mercy
The first story talks about young men who believed in Allah (SWT) and called to Him
despite the fact that the tribe they lived in was ruled by an unjust king who did not
believe in Allah SWT). The young men presented their religion (surrender to Allah as
an only One Lord) to their people, but the the latter rejected them. Allah (SWT) says
what can be translated as, “And We made their hearts firm and strong (with the
light of Faith in Allah and bestowed upon them patience to bear the separation
of their kith and kin and dwellings) when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is
the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any iIlah (god)
other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in
disbelief. These our people have taken for worship illah (gods) other than Him
(Allah). Why do they not bring for them a clear authority And who does more
wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah... but no one knows its true
meanings except Allah” (TMQ, 18:14-15).
The young men began to call people to Allah (SWT), but they were denied and
oppressed. Thus, Allah (SWT) inspired them to seek refuge in the Cave. Allah (SWT)
4 Sahih Al-Game’: 6471.
5 Sahih Al-Targhib: 225.
6 Muslim: 2937.