بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Surah Al Kahf is the 18th chapter of the Quran. It consists of 110 ayahs and serves as a source of spiritual guidance and reflection for us, encouraging us to maintain faith, seek knowledge and remain humble in the face of life challenges.
The famous story of young people who flee to a cave and survived throughout the most difficult trials and held on to their faith, illustrates the concept of Divine protection for those who hold steadfast to the faith. Allah miraculously aided them throughout the ages allowing them to sleep for 300 plus years.
The story of the man with two gardens emphasizes humility and gratitude to Allah for one's blessings. It contains lessons on the consequences of arrogance and the temporary nature of worldly wealth. The man with the two gardens overestimates what his wealth can do and he talks down to his neighbor, who is so insignificant that his assets are not even mentioned in the Quran. Allah teaches the rich man a lesson by removing all of his assets. His gardens were flipped upside down.
We shouldn't underestimate what Allah can do. If you have nothing you still have Allah, and if you have everything, don't think that you have everything. Allah can take that all away.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦﴾
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. [Quran, Al Kahf 18:46]
The story of Prophet Musa and his encounter with Khidr, a mysterious figure who imparts important lessons about Divine wisdom and hidden knowledge of God.
Then the story of Dhulkarnain who travels around the world and solve problems.
Both Prophet Musa and Dhulkarnain want to do the right thing, but one is completely helpless to change the situation around him, and the other one sees injustice and he fixes it. Allah contrasts the two stories for us to understand that sometimes you have the power to do things materially and sometimes you don't. There is a larger plan at work and we have to understand that sometimes we have the material resource and sometimes we don't have the material resource at our disposal to be able to do the right thing, to be able to execute justice.
Allah has given us this amazing Surah and it is really our approach to worldly life. Having power is a blessing and not having power is also a blessing. When you have the power, use it the right way. When you don't have it, understand that you still have much to do, you still have much to learn, and there is a reason why you don't have it. When you don't have resources, there maybe a grand plan like the case of the youth of the cave. Allah will aid you in a way you don't expect. When you have a lot of resources -- money, media power, reputation, fame, knowledge, etc. -- none of that mean anything. Allah can take that away whenever He wants, so our reliance falls entirely on Allah.
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدَۢا ﴿١١٠﴾
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." [Quran, Al Kahf 18:110]
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿١٠﴾
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. [Quran, Al Kahf 18:10]
Aameen
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