In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) explained that Surah al-Kahf is of the earliest revelation that has been revealed to him because it fortifies our Iman (Faith).
“Whoever reads Surah al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” [Narrated by al-Haakim, al-Bayhaqi]
Peace and tranquility will be brought down to those who recite Surah al-Kahf.
Narrated Al-Bara': 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, and told him of that experience. The Prophet said, "That was As-Sakina (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur'an." [Bukhari]
Each story in Surah al-Kahf presents a main trial (fitnah) and teaches us how we can overcome those fitnah.
1. Young men that went to seek shelter in the cave
This story is about the fitnah of religion. It is about a group of young men who believed in Allah, but the king wanted to kill them because they were believers. So the young men retreated to a cave seeking Allah’s protection and Allah gave them that protection.
Allah is teaching us that those who seek refuge in Allah, He will pave a way out for them when Allah says,
إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿١٠[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:10]
Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." (10)
2. The story of the man with the 2 gardens
This story is about the fitnah of wealth/money. It tells us what happens when money gets into your head. And it tells us what happens when money gets you to be arrogant.
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٢﴾ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّـهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ﴿٤٣[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:42-3]
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone." (42) And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself. (43)
The solution here is to realize that this world/life is temporary – that Allah gives and you didn’t give. That what you have will perish and what is with Allah will remain forever. So we don't become too crazy with this world and forget the Lord.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦﴾ وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَـٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿٤٧[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:46-47]
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46) And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth prominent, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone. (47)
3. The story of Prophet Musa (alayhissalaam) and Khidr (alayhissalaam)
Knowledge is a fitnah if it does make you humble and wise. Knowledge can cause one's arrogance if he forgets the All-Knowing and All-Wise. Prophet Musa overcame that by looking for Khidr who Allah has given certain knowledge so he can learn from him.
It is also for us to recognize that acquiring knowledge requires lots of patience.
قَالَ إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَىْءٍۭ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَـٰحِبْنِى ۖ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّى عُذْرًا ﴿٧٦[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:76]
[Moses] said, "If I should ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion. You have obtained from me an excuse." (76)
4. The story of Dhul-Qarnayn
The story is about the fitnah of power. Allah mentioned that Allah tested Dhul-Qarnayn with that fitnah:
إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ سَبَبًا ﴿٨٤[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:84]
Indeed We established him upon the earth, and We gave him to everything a way. (84)
And Dhul-Qarnayn overcame it by constantly being aware that Allah is al-Malik ul-Mulk. Allah is the Ultimate King.
قُلْنَا يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّآ أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّآ أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا ﴿٨٦﴾ قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا ﴿٨٧﴾ وَأَمَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَهُۥ جَزَآءً ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًا ﴿٨٨[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:86-87]
... Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness." (86) He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment. (87) But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of Paradise, and we will speak to him from our command with ease." (88)
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿٩٥[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:95]
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam. (95)
May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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