Sura al-Kahf: Difference between revisions

'''Sūra al-Kahf''' is 18th sura of the [[Qur'an]]. It is a [[makki sura]] and located in juz's 15 and 16. The word "kahf" means "cave". This sura is named "kahf" because it speaks about the story of the [[Companions of the Cave]]. Sura al-Kahf invites people to believe in the truth and do righteous deeds and emphasizes that God has no child. Several stories are mentioned in this sura, three of which are more comprehensive than others: the story of the Companions of the Cave, the story of [[Moses (a)]] and one of God's servants ([[Khidr]]) and the story of [[Dhu l-Qarnayn]]. It is said that sura al-Kahf was revealed when some people from [[Quraysh]] were supposed to learn from [[Jew]]s some issues and test the [[Prophet (s)]] with them. Those issues were questions from the three mentioned stories and also the time of the [[Judgement Day]].

One of the famous [[verse]]s of Sura al-Kahf is verse 50 which refers to the story of [[angel]]'s [[prostration to Adam (a)]] and disobedience of [[Satan]]. There are many narrations about the merits of recitation of Sura al-Kahf, including a [[hadith]] narrated from the [[Prophet (s)]] that upon the [[revelation]] of Sura al-Kahf, 70 thousand angels followed it and its glory filled the skies and the earth; whoever recites it on [[Friday]], [[God]] will forgive his [[sin]]s until the next Friday and will give him a light which shines up to the sky and he will be safe from the trial of [[Dajjal]].

=== Naming ===

=== Order and Place of Revelation ===

Sura al-Kahf is a Makki sura. It was 69th sura revealed to the Prophet (s), but now it is 18th sura in the Qur'an,<ref>Maʿrifat, ''Āmūzish-i ʿulūm-i Qurʾān'', vol. 1, p. 166.</ref> located exactly in the middle of the Qur'an in juz's 15 and 16.<ref>Khurramshāhī, ''Dānishnāma-yi Qurʾān'', vol. 2, p. 1241.</ref>

Sura al-Kahf has 110 verses, 1589 words and 6550 letters. Regarding volume, it is among "Mi'un suras" (suras with about 100 verses) and middle size taking about half of one juz'.<ref>Khurramshāhī, ''Dānishnāma-yi Qurʾān'', vol. 2, p. 1241.</ref>

About the content and the goal of Sura al-Kahf, it is said that through threats and good news, it invites people toward the truth and righteous deeds. In this sura, it is also emphasized that God has no child; as, in some verses, those who have considered children for God are threatened. Thus, this sura addresses those who believed that angels, [[jinn]]s and righteous people are children of God and [[Christian]]s who believe that [[Jesus (a)]] is son of God. It is also said that it is possible that this sura was revealed to narrate the three extraordinary stories of the Companions of the Cave, Moses (a) and one of God's servants and the story of Dhu l-Qarnayn.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 13, p. 236.</ref> These stories are mentioned all in one place, contrary to most other stories in the Qur'an which are divided in different suras.<ref>Khurramshāhī, ''Dānishnāma-yi Qurʾān'', vol. 2, p. 1240-1241.</ref>

* Story of the Companions of the Cave (verses 8 – 26): Guidance of these people by God, their struggle with [[disbeliever]]s, seeking refuge in the cave, the [[miracle]] of their survival by the help of God, their waking up and people's reaction toward them, clarification of the truth and explaining the argument disbelievers had with the Prophet (s) about this story.<ref>Maʿmūrī, "Taḥlīl sākhtār-i riwāyat dar Qurʾān", p. 160.</ref>

* Story of Moses (a) and Khidr (a) (verses 60 – 82): Company of Moses (a) and the teenager to Majma' al-Bahrayn, forgetting the fish, returning to find the fish, meeting one of God's servants (Khidr (a)), Moses' (a) request to accompany him, Khidr's (a) warning about Moses' (a) impatience, making a hole in the boat, Killing the boy, repairing the wall in the city whose people rejected them and the three complaints of Moses (a), separation of Moses (a) from Khidr (a), mentioning the [[Tafsir|interpretation]] of Khidr's (a) actions.<ref>Maʿmūrī, "Taḥlīl sākhtār-i riwāyat dar Qurʾān", p. 162.</ref>

* Story of [[Dhu l-Qarnayn]] (verses 83 – 98): asking the Prophet (s) about Dhu l-Qarnayn, gifting the kingdom to Dhu l-Qarnayn, his treatment toward the two groups in the west and the east, arriving between the two barriers, complaints of people about [[Gog and Magog]], building a bulwark to prevent the attack of Gog and Magog.<ref>Maʿmūrī, "Taḥlīl sākhtār-i riwāyat dar Qurʾān", p. 162.</ref>

About the [[context of the revelation]] of Sura al-Kahf, it is narrated from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] that [[Quraysh]] sent three people to Najran tribe to learn some issues there and use them to test the Prophet (s). The three people went to Najran and met Jewish scholars. Jews told them to ask the Prophet (s) three things, and "if he (s) answers the way we know, he (s) is true to his claim; otherwise, he (s) is lying; then, you ask him one more thing. If he (s) says that he (s) knows the answer, he (s) is a liar." The three issues they decided to ask the Prophet (s) were the story of the Companions of the Cave, the story of Moses (a) with Khidr (a) and the destiny of the person (Dhu l-Qarnayn) who traveled between the east and the west and reached the barrier of Gog and Magog. Jews gave the three people from Quraysh the answers to the questions. The fourth issue was about the time of the [[Judgement Day]].

Those from Quraysh returned to [[Mecca]] and went to [[Abu Talib]] and posed their questions to the Prophet (s). The Prophet (s) told them that, "I will give the answers tomorrow." But, he (s) did not say "In sha'Allah" (If God wills). Thus, he (s) did not receive [[revelation]] for forty days, so that he (s) became sad and his companions who had believed in him, became doubtful while Quraysh were happy and began mocking and harassing the Prophet (s). Abu Talib became very upset. After forty days, Sura al-Kahf was revealed to the Prophet (s). The Prophet (s) asked angel [[Gabriel]] the cause of delay and he said that, "we are not able to come on our own, but with God's permission." Imam al-Sadiq (a) then mentioned the story of the Companions of the Cave.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 13, p. 278.</ref>

{{center|"When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate before Adam,' they prostrated, but not Iblis. He was one of the jinn, so he transgressed against his Lord's command."}}

According to commentaries, this verse refers to a story mentioned in [[Qur'an 2]]<ref>Qurʾān, 2:30-38.</ref> which gives the report of the creation of [[Adam (a)]] and prostration of angels to him.<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna''. Vol. 1, p. 181.</ref> Two of the points mentioned by [[exegete]]s about this verse are that although [[Satan]] was one of the [[jinn]]s, but he achieved a position among angels due to his obedience and position before God,<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 12, p. 462.</ref> and another point is that it can be learned from the prostration of angels that prostration for other than God has no problem if it is for the sake of reverence.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 1, p. 122.</ref> The story of prostration of angels and disobedience of Satan is mentioned in several places in the Qur'an including verse 73 of [[Qur'an 38]], verse 30 of [[Qur'an 15]] and verse 34 of Qur'an 2.

{{center|"Say, 'I am just a human being like you. It has been revealed to me that your God is the One God."}}

*It is narrated from the Prophet (s) that upon the revelation of Sura al-Kahf, 70 thousand angels followed it and its glory filled the skies and the earth. Whoever recites it on [[Friday]], God will forgive his sins until the next Friday and (according to another narration, it keeps him away from sins) and gives him a light which shines up to the sky and he will be safe from the trial of [[Dajjal]].<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 12, p. 336.</ref>

*It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that whoever recites Sura al-Kahf on the eve of Fridays, he will die as [[martyr]] and will be resurrected with martyrs and will be among them on the Judgment Day.<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 12, p. 336.</ref>

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