The Holy Quran is a divine book of guidance that contains timeless wisdom and teachings for all of humanity. Surah Al-Kahf is one of the most significant chapters of the Quran, which is recommended to be recited every Friday. The first ten verses of Surah Kahf, introduce the story of the People of the Cave (Ashab-e-Kahf) and provide important insights into the power of faith and the consequences of disbelief. This story is about a group of young men who took refuge in a cave to escape persecution for their faith. Allah (SWT) saved them by putting them into a deep sleep, which lasted for centuries.
Abu Darda' reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal. [Sahih Muslim]
Abu al-Darda’ reported the prophet (ﷺ) as saying : If anyone memorizes ten verses from the beginning of surat al-Kahf, he will be protected from the trial of Dajjal (Antichrist). Abu Dawud said: In this way, Hashim al-Dastawa’i transmitted it from Qatadah, but he said: “If anyone memorizes the closing verses of surat al-Kahf.” Shu’bah narrated from Qatadah the words “from the end of al-Kahf. [Sunan Abi Dawud]
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَاۜ (١)
قَيِّمًۭا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًۭا شَدِيدًۭا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًۭا (٢)
Qaiyimal liyunzira baasan shadeedam mil ladunhu wa yubashshiral mu’mineenal lazeena ya’maloonas saalihaati anna lahum ajran hasanaa
[He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward
مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًۭا (٣)
Maakiseena feehi abadaa
In which they will remain forever
وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًۭا (٤)
Wa yunziral lazeena qaalut takhazal laahu waladaa
And to warn those who say, “Allah has taken a son.”
مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍۢ وَلَا لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةًۭ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًۭا (٥)
Maa lahum bihee min ‘ilminw wa laa li aabaaa’ihim; kaburat kalimatan takhruju min afwaahihim; iy yaqooloona illaa kazibaa
They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except a lie.
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌۭ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا (٦)
Fala’allaka baakhi’un nafsaka ‘alaaa aasaarihim illam yu’minoo bihaazal hadeesi asafaa
Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةًۭ لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا (٧)
Innaa ja’alnaa ma ‘alal ardi zeenatal lahaa linabluwahum ayyuhum ahsanu ‘amalaa
Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.
وَإِنَّا لَجَـٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًۭا جُرُزًا (٨)
Wa innaa lajaa ’iloona maa ‘alaihaa sa’eedan juruzaa
And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground.
أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْكَهْفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا۟ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا عَجَبًا (٩)
Am hasibta anna Ashaabal Kahfi war Raqeemi kaanoo min Aayaatinaa ‘ajabaa
Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?
إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا (١٠)
Iz awal fityatu ilal Kahfi faqaaloo Rabbanaaa aatinaa mil ladunka rahmatanw wa haiyi’ lanaa min amrinaa rashadaa
[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.”
Surah Al-Kahf is full of blessings and benefits Allah offers its followers if recited. The surah is a source of forgiveness for the sins that we, as humans, have conducted. Someone who recites the surah, especially on Fridays, would then be shone a light and be forgiven for his sins from one Friday to the next, and this light would later shine for him on the Day of Resurrection. InshAllah.
Reciting these verses would also be important since the Prophet (SAW) asked us to memorize them. By memorizing these verses, we would also be protected from the appearance of dajjal. As memorizing these verses would protect you from dajjal and bad things, it would also teach us the fundamentals of Islam, increase our iman, and hopefully reach our goals. Therefore, reciting these verses would benefit us not only in this life but also in the hereafter.
