Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

There is also a certain vagueness about the location of the barrier built by Dhul-
Qarnain, and where Ya’juj and Ma’juj will appear, as well as the actions of Al-Khidr
and Prophet Musa’ (AS) questions…why is this so
It is as if the Surah reminds us that Allah alone knows the unseen, that situations in
life appear in a way we don’t understand. The Surah hence urges us to have trust in
Allah and surrender to Him so that we can be assured protection from temptation
insh’Allah (if Allah wills).
The cave of da’wa
There remains one last question: Why is the Surah called Surat Al-Kahf
By simply hearing the word ‘cave’, a person may feel afraid, terrified and confused.
So when the phrase “seek refuge in the cave” is uttered, two things are associated in
his mind: darkness and the feeling of fear in such a dark place. However, Allah (SWT)
makes the cave mentioned in the ayah a safe place and sends down his mercy upon
the young men : “…then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will open a way for
you from His Mercy” (TMQ, 18:16).
Allah (SWT), who alone knows the unseen, predetermines the course of events in a
way Man totally ignores and can never predict as in the case of the young men who
sought refuge in the deserted cave and ignored what will happen to them. Surat Al-
Kahf (the cave) was called so in order to make Man aware of his ignorance of the
unseen and to tell the Muslim : “leave the unseen to Allah and put your trust in Him.
Just as the young men sought refuge in the cave and Allah sent down his mercy upon
them, do seek refuge in the ‘cave of Da’wa (the call to Allah) and surrender your
situation to Allah (SWT) so that He will spread for you of His mercy and pave the way
for you to obtain whatever you like.