بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The 4 stories in Surah Kahf talk about the major trials and temptations in human life:
1- The trial of religion: the case of people’s evil acts towards a believer in the form of harm, torture or threats which may cause his loss of faith, deviation from religion or fear. This was the trial the companions of the cave experienced and passed.
2- The trial of wealth: this was the trial of the man with the two gardens, who was so proud of his wealth that he considered the Hereafter not to be true.
3- The trial of knowledge: The case of a man who boasts of the knowledge he possesses to the extent that he feels arrogant and hence forgets about modesty. Such a man may learn things of no benefit to him or to his community. Or else he may misuse the knowledge he was granted in a way that may harm him or the society in which he lives. The trial of knowledge is illustrated in the story of Prophet Musa and Al-Khidr (peace be upon them).
4- The trial of power: The example of a man who, given all the means to achieve material and technological success to push civilization forward and to gain authority and power, denies Allah, abuses power and oppresses his people. In contrast to this sets the story of Dhul-Qarnain. The latter is presented as a just king who attributes his wealth and power to Allah alone.
The main idea of Surah Al-Kahf is protection from temptation. This Surah safeguards one from the greatest trial in the history of mankind, from Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment. It is that of the Dajjal. In this respect, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says: “Between the creation of Adam and the Day of Judgment, there exists no greater trial than that of the Dajjal.”
The Dajjal will appear before the Day of Judgment and present the four temptations. He will try to push people to abandon their faith and will ask them to worship him and not Allah. Allah will give him the ability to perform miracles: The Dajjal then may promise to bring to life one’s mother and father if one rejects Allah and believes in him instead. Everybody will be tempted except those blessed by Allah. The Dajjal has the temptation of wealth: he simply commands the sky to rain down on a particular piece of land and vegetation then flourishes. He will be able to transform a barren desert land into a beautiful green garden. He also has the temptation of knowledge: he captivates people with what he knows which leads some of them to believe in him. Finally, he has the temptation of power: he subjugates people to his strength and authority in many parts of the earth except Makkah and Madinah.
These are serious temptations that all Muslims must protect themselves against. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) told us the means to do this -- read Surah Kahf every Friday and understand the meanings within it, especially the four stories and the Divine messages they carry.
Imam Muslims narrates in his Sahih that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
“Whosoever memorizes 10 verses from the beginning of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from the tribulation of the Dajjal.”
Imam Munawi in his Fayd al-Qadeer (commentary on Jami’ as-Saghir of Imam Suyuti) said:
“It is because of what is in the story of the people of the cave of wonders, such that whoever knows these will not be amazed by the Dajjal and therefore, he will not be tried; or, whosoever ponders over these verses and contemplates their meanings will be weary of the Dajjal and therefore safe from him; or that this is a specialty given to this Surah ...”
May Allah make us of those who are consistent in reciting Surah Kahf and save us the trial and tribulations of this life and the next. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
No comments:
Post a Comment