The highlight of Surah al-Kahf, and also the reason behind its name, is an incident which occurred most probably between the era of Nabi Isa Alaihi-Sal\u0101m and Rasulull\u0101h (\ufdfa). It had to do with a group of youngsters, who were not prepared to allow themselves to be merely pushed by the tide of kufr, shirk and evil.
\nAccording to what has been narrated by Baghawi in his Tafs\u012br, these youngsters found in front of them a fair or ceremony (during which false deities would be worshipped), one in which all would have to participate. Failure to participate in the event would be punishable with death, yet this made no difference to their resolution to stay pure from the filth of the function. To avoid execution, they decided to flee to an unknown cave and emerge only after everything had calmed down.
\nThe manner in which Almighty All\u0101h thereafter saw to the protection of these youth, by creating an aura of fear around the cave, so that none would dare enter it, and then placing them in such a deep sleep, which would last for over 300 years, without a single bed sore forming, protected from all harm, be it through insects, snakes, wild animals, etc., all this spoke volumes of the Divine Power of Almighty All\u0101h and the high position these lads enjoyed in the court of Almighty All\u0101h. Yet, when Almighty All\u0101h made mention of this most amazing and astonishing event, He, Jalla Jal\u0101luhu, began it with the phrase:
\n\u0623\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u062d\u064e\u0633\u0650\u0628\u0652\u062a\u064e \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064e \u0623\u064e\u0635\u0652\u062d\u064e\u0627\u0628\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0643\u064e\u0647\u0652\u0641\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0631\u0651\u064e\u0642\u0650\u064a\u0645\u0650 \u0643\u064e\u0627\u0646\u064f\u0648\u0627 \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652 \u0622\u064a\u064e\u0627\u062a\u0650\u0646\u064e\u0627 \u0639\u064e\u062c\u064e\u0628\u064b\u0627
\n\u2018What, do you regard the incident of the people of the cave to be from amongst the major signs of All\u0101h\u2019s powers!?\u2019
\n(al-Kahf v. 9)
\nIn other words, \u2018Do not regard such events to be rare, one of its kind, one in a million, etc., rather such incidents shall continue occurring, on condition that one be ready to place his full trust on Almighty All\u0101h, as these lads had done!\u2019
\nNo matter how strong the opposing tide may seem to be, no matter how attractive and alluring the temptation may be, if one, with determination, in the love of Almighty All\u0101h, stands up and refuses to submit to the demands of peer pressure and the whisperings of nafs (carnal desires) and shait\u0101n, Almighty All\u0101h shall, In-sh\u0101 All\u0101h, deal with him as He had dealt with the lads of the cave.
\nThese youth were not made of iron. They also feared the repercussions of their actions. They were also attacked by the whisperings of the devil. They were young boys, made of the same material all other youth are made of. It was their bold step towards Almighty All\u0101h however which made the difference between them and the rest of the people of their era.
\nAs soon as they took that step forward, Almighty All\u0101\u1e96 grabbed them, drew them forward, instilled spiritual strength within their hearts and enshrouded them with peace and tranquillity, due to which all their fears dissolved into thin air.
\n\u0648\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0628\u064e\u0637\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0627 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0642\u064f\u0644\u064f\u0648\u0628\u0650\u0647\u0650\u0645\u0652 \u0625\u0650\u0630\u0652 \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0645\u064f\u0648\u0627 \u0641\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064f\u0648\u0627 \u0631\u064e\u0628\u0651\u064f\u0646\u064e\u0627 \u0631\u064e\u0628\u0651\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0648\u064e\u0627\u062a\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0623\u064e\u0631\u0652\u0636\u0650
\n\u2018And when they stood up and proclaimed that, \u2018Our Creator is the very One that is The Creator of the heavens and the earth\u2019, at that moment We made their hearts firm!\u2019
\n(al-Kahf v. 14)
\nThe message being given to all, and especially to the youth of the Ummah is that when you shall be invited to areas of evil, to join millions of others in celebrating festivals dominated with obscene dressing, intoxicants, music, merry-making, dancing and promiscuity, do as the as the lads of the cave did!
\nStand up and distance yourself from this madness, no matter how impossible it may seem, and Almighty All\u0101h shall, In-sh\u0101 All\u0101h, do the rest. As He, Jalla Jal\u0101luhu, saw to the protection of the youth of the cave, so too shall He, In-sh\u0101 All\u0101h, enshroud you with His divine love, mercy and protection. As He made their hearts strong and erased all their fears, so too shall He do with you. All that is needed is the first step from your side!
\nAs we find ourselves gripped in a fever of international sport viewing, a fever of \u2018sport-idols\u2019 adoration, a fever of blind imitation of their hairstyles, clothing and style, this is perhaps one of the best opportunities one could find to tread in the footsteps of Ash\u0101b-e-Kahf (the people of the cave), to walk their walk and to talk their talk.
\nMay Almighty All\u0101h, during these testing times, instill within us all the courage to refuse to flow with the tide! Remember, no matter how fierce the winds of opposition may appear to be, whoever wishes to walk against it shall most definitely find the strength to do so.
\nAgainst every environment of evil there shall always be some \u2018people of the cave\u2019. May Almighty All\u0101h make us all from that most blessed group. \u1fb9m\u012bn!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The highlight of Surah al-Kahf, and also the reason behind its name, is an incident which occurred most probably between the era of Nabi Isa Alaihi-Sal\u0101m and Rasulull\u0101h (\ufdfa). It had to do with a group of youngsters, who were not prepared to allow themselves to be merely pushed by the tide of kufr, shirk […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-c85-al-quran"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n