بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Abud-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Whoever commits to memory the first ten Ayat of the Surat Al-Kahf, will be protected from (the trial of) Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist)."
[Muslim].
وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "من حفظ عشر آيات من أول سورة الكهف، عصم من الدجال" وفي رواية: "من آخر سورة الكهف" ((رواهما مسلم)).
Why memorize the first 10 verses of Surah Kahf?
1) Because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked us to do so.
He only asked us to do what he did himself. So consider it as a sunnah as well (not just the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) but of so many companions, successors and so on).
Though memorization of some Surahs is just plain obvious (like Surah Al-Fatihah for the validation of your prayer), but Surah Kahf’s memorization has been specifically talked about.
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was so concerned about us, as mentioned in the sixth verse. Following his advice is the least we can do.
2) Because memorization is important
Most of us think of memorization as an extra deed, but the following hadith clarifies how hollow your soul is when you have nothing of the Quran in your heart.
He who does not memorize any part from the Qur’an he is like the ruined house. [At-Tirmidhi]
You might ask, why memorize in the 21st century when we have the Qur'an preserved by Allah and there are millions of copies and apps for it right at our fingertips, machine memory practically supplanting brain memory?
Because to take a verse to heart is to know it by heart. Memorization provides us with knowledge of a qualitatively and physiologically different variety— you take the verse inside you and you know it at a deeper level than if you had simply read it off a screen. What you have in your heart is more easy to access and apply to your life in spontaneous situations. You won’t have to open the copy of it or turn on your mobile for that.
Qur'an holds so much wisdom in it that keeping it in your heart will make you a wise person as well.
3) Because you will be raised in ranks if you memorize
The more you memorize, the higher the rank.
Recite and rise up, and be increased in reward with every Ayah. [Tirmidhi]
Memorization doesn’t only mean to save it in your heart but also to absorb it deep within. So much so that Qur'an could be seen on you. People could tell, just by looking at you, that you have memorized the Qur'an or a part of it.
The character of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was the Qur'an, as narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her).
4) Because memorizing is a source of peace and tranquility
In a world full of turmoil, we could all use a moment of serenity.
“A man was reciting Surat 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 (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “That was As-Sakina (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’an.”” [Bukhari]
5) Because memorizing teaches you the fundamentals of Islam
Allah combines three fundamentals of Islam in first ten verses – Oneness of Allah (as mentioned in verses four and five), revelation upon Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) (as mentioned in the first verse) and recompense [(as mentioned in verses two and three) – hence combining two emotions together; fear (to not let us procrastinate) and hope (to let us always strive for better)]
6) Because memorizing increases your iman (faith)
Surah Kahf has many stories in it that teach you so many practical lessons to implement in your daily life. But the first ten verses help you to develop a strong connection with Quran because there is no possibility of deviation in it (as mentioned in the first and second verse).
How do we know that Islam is the ultimate truth? It’s the Quran.
No matter how languages evolve, cultures change or standards twist, this one book will never change. No matter how many winds swirl, the whole forest may fall to the ground but this tree shall stand still, embed in it’s ground. There’s a war being raged against it. War of values before the war of Dajjal is upon us.
We have something we can hold onto because it will stay the same till the end of time. So if you want strength, you come to Qur'an.
7) It gives you a goal to achieve in this world.
This worldly life is a test for us (as mentioned in the seventh verse) as to how many among us struggle towards the best of deeds. Not the most but rather the best. Allah is not looking for quantity but quality.
Contrary to our belief that hardships are a test from Allah, here Allah tells us that the adornment of this earth (wealth, beauty, spouses, children, fame etc) is also a test for you. Whoever uses these blessings in the best of ways, receives the glad tidings.
The best of rewards are for the best of deeds.
8) It’s a shield against Dajjal (Antichrist).
Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) warned us ahead of time that— Between time of the creation of Adam and the Resurrection Day, there is nothing greater than the trial of Dajjal (the Antichrist). [Muslim]
That’s why the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to seek Allah’s refuge from Dajjal in his prayer.
When any one of you utters tashahhud (in prayer) he must seek refuge with Allah from four (trials) and should thus say: “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the torment of the Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trial of life and death and from the evil of the trial of Masih al-Dajjal (Antichrist).” [Muslim]
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من عذاب جهنم، ومن عذاب القبر ومن فتنة المحيا والممات، ومن شر فتنة المسيح الدجال
Dajjal is a combination of every tribulation man has ever known-- trial of faith (what the companions of the cave went through), trial of wealth (what owner of the two gardens suffered), trial of knowledge (as learned in the story of Musa and Khidr (peace be upon them) and trial of power (taught through Dhul-Qarnayn’s story).
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: . . . Those of you who live up to his time should recite over him the opening verses of Surat al–Kahf, for they are your protection from his trial . . . [Abu Dawood]
9) To be companions of Isa (peace be upon him)
Imagine Isa (peace upon him) repeating what he said once to his hawaariyyoon (disciples)— Who are my supporters? any companions for the sake of Allah? and you answering— we are supporters for Allah.
But for that, you need to survive the fitnah (trial) of Dajjal and to protect yourself, you need to first memorize Surah Kahf’s verses and then live by them.
But you may say that you won’t be living until that time.
First of all, who knows? Time is in Allah’s hands. He may stretch it or shrink it and the Hour may be upon us while we are unaware of it.
Secondly, if it doesn’t happen in your time, your later generations will be faced with that trial. So to teach them these verses, you need to know them first yourself. Don’t you wish that the believers whose faces will be wiped by Isa (peace be upon him) (who will tell them their status in Paradise), are among your generations? Something that will raise your ranks in Paradise as well, inshaa Allah. Think ahead as Ibrahim (peace be upon him) did. Allah indeed accepts the du'as, but for that we need to put some effort too.
Back in our ancestry, may be there were companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) or may be prophets themselves (after all we all are from Adam and Nuh (aadam-e-thaani) (peace be upon them) and may Allah make our generations, down the line, as one of the hawaariyyoon.
10) There is a beautiful du'a at the end.
The tenth verse is a wonderful du'a which those young people of the cave (who Allah presented as role models for the youth) made.
So every time you recite these verses, you make this du'a also, asking for Allah’s special mercy (since the word min ladunka is used, which is superior to words min doonika or min indika— all meaning the same in English but in Arabic, each of them has a specific meaning).
Grant us mercy, very close and near to You, our Rabb, that comes especially from Your secret vaults. Guidance, forgiveness and provision.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.
Wassalaam
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