A brief commentary on the first eight verses of Surah Al-Kahf

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance.

Allah’s praise for Himself and His Book in verse 1 implies that He is the source of all perfection and excellence, and that He has revealed a Book that is free from any errors or contradictions. The Book is also straight, meaning that it guides to the truth and the right path, without any crookedness or ambiguity. The praise also indicates that Allah has honored His servant, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, by choosing him as the messenger of this Book to all of humanity.

قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا

[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

مَّٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا

In which they will remain forever

The Book warns of a severe punishment from Allah for those who disbelieve in Him and His signs, and who reject His messengers and His revelations. The Book also gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds, that they will have a fine reward from Allah in the Hereafter, which is Paradise. The reward is not only fine, but also everlasting, as they will remain in it forever. The Book thus motivates the believers to be steadfast in their faith and obedience, and warns the disbelievers of the consequences of their denial and defiance.

وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا

And to warn those who say, "Allah has taken a son."

مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِءَابَآئِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا

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.

The false claim that Allah has taken a son is a grave and unfounded assertion that some people make about Allah, without any proof or authority. It is a form of associating partners with Allah, which is the greatest sin in Islam. The origin of this claim is ignorance and deviation from the pure monotheism that Allah has taught to all of His prophets and messengers. The claim also contradicts the attributes of Allah, who is the One and Only, the Eternal and Absolute, who does not beget nor is He begotten. The claim is a lie that comes out of their mouths, which shows their disrespect and arrogance towards Allah.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا

Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.

The Prophet ﷺ reacts to the disbelief and rejection of his people in verse 6 with sadness and grief, as he is deeply concerned for their guidance and salvation. He feels as if he is about to burst with sorrow because of what they say about Allah and His Book. He also seeks refuge with Allah from their evil and harm, and trusts in Allah’s plan and wisdom. He does not give up on conveying the message and inviting them to the truth, but he also does not compromise or alter the message to please them.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

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.

The purpose and significance of Allah’s testing of humanity through the adornment of the earth in verse 7 is to see which of them are best in deeds and which of them are deceived by the worldly life. The adornment of the earth refers to the various attractions and pleasures that Allah has created for people to enjoy, such as wealth, beauty, power, fame, etc. These are not inherently evil or forbidden, but they can become a source of temptation and distraction from the real purpose of life, which is to worship Allah and seek His pleasure. Allah tests people by giving them different amounts and types of these adornments, and observes how they use them and how they affect their faith and morals. Some people are grateful and righteous, while others are ungrateful and wicked. Some people are aware and prepared for the Hereafter, while others are heedless and negligent. The test is a way of distinguishing the true believers from the hypocrites and the disbelievers.

وَإِنَّا لَجَٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا

And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground.

Allah contrasts the transient nature of this world with the eternal nature of the Hereafter in verse 8 by using the metaphor of a plant that grows and withers. He says that He has made whatever is on the earth as an adornment for it, that He may test them as to which of them is best in deed. But He also says that He will surely make what is on it a barren ground. This means that the worldly life and its attractions are temporary and fleeting, and that they will eventually perish and vanish. On the other hand, the Hereafter is everlasting and permanent, and it is the abode of reward and punishment for what people did in this world. Allah thus reminds people to not be attached to or deceived by the worldly life, but to focus on the Hereafter and work for it.

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا

Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

[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.”

These verses introduce the story of the companions of the cave, who were a group of young men who believed in Allah and fled from their people who were idolaters. They took refuge in a cave and Allah caused them to sleep for a long time. They were among the signs of Allah that amazed people. They prayed to Allah for His mercy and guidance in their situation. The story is mentioned in detail in the following verses.

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged his companions and followers to recite Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays, as it has many virtues and blessings. He said that whoever recites it on Fridays will have a light that shines from one Friday to the next, and whoever memorizes its first ten verses will be protected from the Dajjal (the Antichrist).