Friday in Islam is considered a blessed day and among the recommended acts of Friday is the recitation of Surah Kahf. We all have heard about reciting Surah al-Kahf on every Friday and it’s importance. But do you know whatare the benefits of this Surah? Surah al-Kahf is the 18th Surah of the Quran which has 110 verses. In this Surah Allah (SWT) shares with us the stories of people who believed and how this helped them from saving themselves from suffering. This Surah mentions how people achieved salvation by following the commands of Allah without any doubt. It was revealed in the third stage of Prophethood in Makkah. It shares a lot of important lessons to us from the story of the people of the cave, the importance of saying Insha’Allah before any work, and much more. Following are a few very important Ahadith and aqwal related to this Surah:IbnMardawaih reports from Abdullah ibnMughaffalmarfooan (R.A): The home in which Surah Kahf is recited, Shaytaan does not enter that house on that specific night (RoohulMa’ani, vol. 8, pg. 289).Imam Nawawi said: “The reason is that at the beginning of Surat al-Kahf it contains or contains the miracles and signs of God’s greatness. So the contemplating person will not be deceived by the slander of Dajjal”. A person who reads Surah al Kahf on Friday will get the following benefits, insha Allah: (a) Noor: A light will be illuminated between him and Makkah and he will be illuminated with it on the day of resurrection. From Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, who said: “Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the night of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will stretch between him and the Ancient House (the Kaaba).”(Narrated by al-Daarimi, 3407. This hadeeth was classed as Saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami, 6471) “Whoever reads the letter of Al-Kahf on Friday, it will be emitted light for him between two Jum’at.” (Narrated by Al-Hakim: 2/368 and Al-Bayhaqi: 3/249.) (b) Forgiveness from Sins: Anyone who reads Surah Kahf on Friday then His sins between the two Fridays will be forgiven. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, a light will shine for him from beneath his feet to the clouds of the sky, which will shine for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be forgiven (his sins) between the two Fridays.’”Al-Mundhiri said this was narrated by Abu BakribnMardawayh in his Tafseer, with an isnaad with which there was nothing wrong. (al-Targheebwa’l-Tarheeb, 1/298) (c )Protection from Dajjal: This is a very unique virtue of this Surah. We are encouraged to memorize the first ten verses of this Surah and we are promised protection from the fitna of dajjal. According to many scholars, we are at the end of time and it’s high time that we take this seriously and act on the following hadith and encourage our children as well do to this. “If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal.” (Sahih Muslim 809a)In order to understand the Qur’an, we need to understand the language and reflect over the greatest of Speech. Surah Al-Kahf is the 18th chapter of the Qur’an and it too has some beauty that is amazing. This chapter we encourage to recite every Friday and memories its opening passage to gain protection from Dajjal. And every chapter has a theme, a central subject matter which is discussed. And in this Surah, there are four stories that we’ll be important In Sha Allah.
The People Of The Cave: The story of the people of the cave centers on a group of believing men who lived in a society of shirk. Thus when they noticed that people will threaten their lives because of the faith, they left the city and went to a cave for the sake of Allah and their faith. Allah bestowed upon them slumber and when they woke up from their sleep, they had no idea for how long they had slept and sent one to find food for sustenance, the shopkeeper was amazed to see such old coins and the reality of time struck them. Scholars differ on the location of the cave, it is said to be Jordan but others claim it’s in Turkey, other Sham (Syrian territories) and others in Aylah (Jerusalem). But the significant thing is this the lesson from this story is ‘TRIAL OF FAITH’.“And We made their hearts firm and strong when they stood up and said: ‘Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any god other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in disbelief.’ ” (Q18:14)When Allah Almighty puts the faith of a believer to trial and he becomes steadfast on the faith, then Allah assists them in ways that are beyond comprehension. Moreover we are reminded to keep good and righteous company of people. The men of the cave were all righteous men and kept together, that attracted the Mercy and assistance of Allah.
This story is a man whom Allah blessed with two beautiful gardens, he was very rich in every regard. His harvests were very seasonal and the upkeep of his gardens were minimal due to the natural flowing rivers. Additionally he enjoyed the blessings of children and servants. But his wealth and riches led his astray and he started doubting his faith. Arrogance and haughtiness consumed him. He had a poor friend but started to belittle him and ridiculed his advice to show gratitude towards Allah. “And he went into his garden while in the state of injustice to himself. He said: ‘I think not that this will perish. And I think not that the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him.’ ” (Q18:34-36)He was foolishly thought that his wealth and manpower was a sign of Allah’s love and acceptance. Why else would he receive such blessings?! Surely in resurrection Allah would grant him such blessings. Allah destroyed the wealth of this man to show him and us that wealth of this world is not a sign of Allah’s pleasure or displeasure but rather a test through which Allah examines our belief, character and actions. It’s not about the wealth but how you earn it and then spend it. “So his fruits were encircled with ruin. And he remained clapping his hands with sorrow over what he had spent upon it, while I was all destroyed on its trellises, he could only say: ‘Would I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!’ And he had no group of men to help him against Allah, nor could he defend or save himself” (Q18:42-43).
“Surah Al-Kahf details four specific trials—faith, wealth, knowledge, and power—that mirror the deceptive tactics the Dajjal will use to test humanity. By understanding these narratives, Muslims can extract practical lessons to safeguard their faith, resist worldly temptations, and maintain righteousness against ultimate deception.”
In many ways, humbleness and gratitude for the blessings of Allah are ones that help us overcome such trials. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “By Allah, it is not poverty which I fear for you but that the world will be spread out before you just as it was spread out for those who came before you, and you compete in it as they did, so it destroys you as it did them.” Evil of wealth is when it becomes the goal in life rather than a means to the real goal of pleasing Allah. When this happens, wealth can easily lead to arrogance, pride and belittling of others. It’s sad that we see this not only in society but our very own families. We should also learn from this story that the worldly things are temporary and transient and when available on must thank Allah.“And present to them the example of the life of this world, (its being) like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and (then) it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.” (Q18:45). This is the ‘TRIAL OF WEALTH’.
The third unique story is of two Prophets, Musa (AS) and Khidr (AS). Musa stood one day amongst his people and delivered a sermon. He was then asked as to who was the most knowledgeable of people. To this question he replied that he was, without associating his knowledge with to Allah. Allah then instructed him to travel to the junction of the two seas where he would find one endowed with more knowledge than him in certain affairs. “And when Musa said to his boy-servant: ‘I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or until I spend years in travelling.” (Q18:60)Musa (AS) travelled to the man and there upon encountered three amazing situations wherein Musa fails to gasp the wisdom of Khird’s actions. The scuttling of the ship, killing of a young boy and repair of the crumbling wall are then explained to Musa at the end of their time together.
The lesson to be learnt here is that knowledge is not something one should be proud of, rather it should teach humility, piety and genuine concern of the wellbeing of others. One should know that there is always someone who is more knowledgeable and has a better understanding of things than one’s own self. As we normally associate knowledge with goodness and benefits, it can as well be evil. It can lead to arrogance and pride. The moral lesson was ‘TRIAL OF KNOWLEDGE’ Dhul-Qarnayn was a great king that was given knowledge and power. He travelled all across the world to help the people who were in need and spread good wherever he went. He conquered the East and West and provided relief to people from Gog and Magog as Allah tested his immense power.“Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy water. And he found near it a people. We said: ‘O Dhul-Qarnayn! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness.” (Q18:86) Instead of either going to extreme treatment of harshness or kindness, he established justice.“Said: ‘As for him who does wrong, we shall punish him; and then he will be brought back unto his Lord; who will punish him with a terrible torment. But as for him who believes and works righteousness, he shall have the best reward, and we shall speak unto him mild words.” (Q18:87-88). This was the constitution of Dhul-Qarnayn as he went to conquer the East and West and the lands between. His justice, compassion and goodness is further highlighted in the way he dealt with those people who requested his assistance against the oppression of Gog and Magog.“They said: ‘O Dhul-Qarnayn! Verily! Gog and Magog are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?’ He said: ‘That in which my Lord had established me is better. So help me with strength, I will erect between you and them a barrier” (Q18:94-95). Although this story speaks of power at the highest level, it is the same concept of justice and compassion which helps us deal with power at any level and in any form. Parents hold a measure of power over their children, a husband over his wife, an employer over his employee and so on. It was this that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) emphasized on the famous statement, “Indeed all of you shepherds and each one of you is responsible for their flock.”
‘TRIAL OF POWER ‘And How Is It Connected To Dajjal? The Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “There is no trial from the time of Adam until the Hour greater than the Dajjal.” The connection is that the same four trials mentioned within the Surah are the same ones that Dajjal will bring upon us. Firstly he will call himself a god. Then persecute and oppress those who oppose him and disbelieve in him. Second is trial of wealth. And to those who believe in him will be given plentiful crops and food, and he will order the sky above them to bring forth its rain and the earth around them to bring forth vegetation. Third he will try people with knowledge and news he gives to them and as for power, he will have the ability to kill then bring back life and bring back dead relatives with the help of shaytan and his associates. Besides the great reward that comes from reciting Al-Kahf, an understanding of its content can also help a Muslim extract valuable lessons that can help in shaping one’s life towards the path of righteousness. May Allah guide us into implementing His lessons and increase our Iman and knowledge of understanding…Aameen.
(The authors write regularly on Islamic Topics exclusively for the opinion pages of “Kashmir Horizon”. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
