Every Friday when Muslims have their Jom’a/Friday prayer, they have a habit of reciting Surah Al Kahf, there’re a handful of reasons for that, but mostly because of guidance and reflection, telling the narrative of the People of the Cave.
If you haven’t guessed by now, the direct translation of Kahf is the ‘Cave’ making the surah like a short story narration.
But what’s the story of the Kahf people and why does it make it such a significant surah? That we shall find out below:
Why was Surah Al Kahf revealed?
Surah Al Kahf begins with praises to Allah:
“All praise is due to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance.” (18:1)
Its reason for revelation is that the Meccan people, especially Quraysh tribe were questioning Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his message. Jewish believers asked Quraysh disbelievers to inquire about the sleepers of the cave, the man who journeyed from the East to the West.
Mainly, Surah Al Kahf deals with the questioning of disbelievers who always ask for proof of the prophecy of Prophet Muhammad, Allah, and His message. Specifically around topics like the Day of Resurrection, or Al Qiyamah (the day of judgment).
It describes a sequence of dialogues in minutiae: the People of the Cave, the owner of the two gardens, and finally between Musa (Moses) and Al-Khidr.
Who are the People of the Cave?
The people of the cave are considered devils in Jacobite Christianity, and Syrian Christianity. They were believed to have been discovered 120 or so years before the coming of the prophets of Islam and to this day, churches have murals of the seven sleepers of the cave.
Surah Al Kahf starts with the story of the people of the cave, a group of young believers who retreated to a cave to save themselves from the persecutions of their people, as they were disturbing them because of their faith. They prayed for Allah’s mercy and protection.
“When those youths took refuge in the cave, and said, “Our Lord! Grant us mercy from yourself and guide us rightly through our ordeal” (Surah Al Kahf, 18:10)
Allah accepted their prayers and caused them to fall asleep for a few centuries. Waking up one morning, they found their world changed, and their story became a sign of Allah’s power and mercy.
It emphasizes that faith, trust in Allah, and miraculous protection from Allah to his real servant are all interwoven in this story.
Benefits of Reciting Surah Kahf
Allah encouraged us to recite surah Al Kahaf every Friday and there are many virtues but the main thing is that Allah wants us to remember surah Al Kahaf’s stories every week to know Allah’s wisdom in the tests we face daily.
Reciting Surah Al Kahf Protects from Gog and Magog
In the three Abrahamic religions, Gog and Magog are two destructive characters associated with nothing but chaos. They are locked behind a great wall that’s built by Dhū al-Qarnayn (his story is elaborated at the end of the article) and they are always trying to break free from that great wall, but all of their efforts go to waste.
When they’re so close to breaking it, it gets rebuilt again! And Muslims believe that surah Al Kahf has the power to keep Gog and Magog where they are, as long as they can. But it’s inevitable that one day they will emerge and spread destruction, especially to those with fragile faith in Allah. It’s one of the big signs that day of judgment is nearer than ever.
Saving from Dajjal (The Antichrist)
Dajjal’s primary mission is to mislead and deceive people away from their true faith, and to save us from his Fitna (civil strife and division within the Muslim community).
Therefore, Muslims recite Surah Al Kahf to save themselves from the fitna of Dajjal and to protect themselves and their faith from such danger.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Whoever recites the last ten verses of Surah Al Kahf will be safe from the temptation of Dajjal.”
Guidance and Light
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned:
“Whoever recites Surah Al Kahf on Friday will be emitted light for him from one Friday to the next.”
This light is a metaphor for divine guidance and wisdom which gives the believers direction to sail through life’s challenges.
It has also been mentioned that whoever reads Surah Al Kahf on Friday will receive light beneath their feet extending up to the clouds of the sky, and will be forgiven by Allah between two Fridays. Ibn Umar reported:
“The Messenger of Allah said:
“Whoever reads Surah Al Kahf on Friday, 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”.
Reflecting on Divine Wisdom
The story of Musa and Al-Khidr in Surah Al Kahf inspires the believers to ponder over divine wisdom and the hidden meanings behind life’s happenings. It teaches that Allah’s wisdom is something beyond the reach of human intellect and compels a person to have trust in his plans.
Lessons in Humility and Gratitude
In Surah Al Kahf, the story of the owner of two gardens and the poor man illustrates the lessons of humility and thankfulness. It reminds us how temporary worldly riches really are and how one should focus on spiritual wealth instead.
Encouraging Reflection
It isn’t only for the reward and punishment, but it contains many impactful narratives that encourage deep thought and self-reflection. Surah Al Kahf aims to inspire believers to evaluate their lives, make positive changes, and seek forgiveness and guidance from Allah.
Surah Al Kahf Stories
Surah Al Kahf is famous for having many narratives within it, although it’s named after the Sleepers of the Cave, yet it tells many stories about different people. Each story has an interesting perspective and moral that makes the surah nothing short of unforgettable.
The owner of the two gardens
Two men: one of whom is conceited and rich, and the other is poor and humble. The rich man shows off his gardens and fortune, sneering at the thought of the Day of Resurrection or Al Qiyamah. The poor man rebukes the rich man by mentioning Allah’s powers and the transitory nature of worldly things.
“His ˹believing˺ companion replied, while conversing with him, “Do you disbelieve in the One Who created you from dust, then ˹developed you˺ from a sperm-drop, then formed you into a man? ” (Surah Al Kahf, 18:37)
Finally, the rich man’s garden is destroyed, teaching a lesson in humility, gratitude, and reliance on Allah.
Prophet Musa (Moses) and Al-Khidr
This is a story about the travels of the Prophet Musa in search of knowledge from a wise servant of Allah, Al-Khidr.
“Musa said to him, “May I follow you, provided that you teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught?” (Surah Al Kahf, 18:66)
As much as he was a prophet, there were great lessons for Musa to learn regarding forbearance and humility. Al-Khidr does things that seem strange to Musa but later explains the divine wisdom behind them.
The Story of Dhul-Qarnain
Dhul-Qarnain was a just and journeying king whose name means “The one with two horns” who reached the farthest part of the earth, everywhere meeting out justice and helping those in distress.
In one of his travels, he got caught up with people who were distressed by the raids of the tribes of Gog and Magog and built for them a strong wall to keep them away, to the end of times:
“They pleaded, “O Dhul-Qarnain! Surely Gog and Magog are spreading corruption throughout the land. Should we pay you tribute, provided that you build a wall between us and them?” (Surah Al Kahf, 18:94)
Therefore, the habit of Muslims to recite surah al Kahf is thought to keep them trapped behind that great wall.
