Surah Al-Kahf

The Cave

Introduction

Name of Chapter and Reason for its Name

This chapter is named Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) because several of its verses relate to the story of the People of the Cave (Kahf).

Chapter Number

Surah Al-Kahf is the 18th chapter of the Quran, and it was revealed subsequently after Surah al-Ghashiyah.

Number of Verses

All exegetes agree that this chapter contains 110 verses.

Place of Revelation

There is a dispute among the exegetes as to whether this surah is Makki or Madani. Some use the context to believe that all of the verses of this chapter are Makki. Others however, recognize verses 38, and 83-101 as being Madani. Another report suggests that some commentators believe that verse 28 is Madani.

Content

Important Concepts in this Surah

Verses 1, 2, 48,49, 52-58, and 110

Warnings and Tidings (Indhar and Tabshir).

A number of verses express warning and caution. Some verses illustrate the state of the believers and disbelievers. Others encourage belief in the truth and performing righteous deeds, while cautioning them from disbelief (kufr).

Verse 4

Emphasis on negating the attribution of children to Allah.

This chapter stresses upon the issue of negating the attributing of children to Allah. Subsequently after it states:

لِيُنْذِرَ بَأْساً شَدِيداً مِنْ لَدُنْهُ

(to warn and threaten specifically those individuals who attributed a child to Allah), the verse continues:

وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدٗا ٤

Verses 9-26

Narrate the story of the People of the Cave.

The story of the People of the Cave is narrated here in order to demonstrate Allah’s power over His servants.

Verses 27-31 and 99-108

Mention Allah’s condolences to the Prophet for the disbeliever’s lack of faith; encouragement to read the Holy Book, and the outcome of the believers and disbelievers.

The continuation of the verses console the Prophet by emphasizing that this world is filled with trials and tribulations. The Prophet was only sent as a reminder [to mankind]. He was not responsible for whether the people believed or did not believe.

Verses 32-46

Examples of different outlooks that human beings can have in this world.

Several verses of this chapter address two different outlooks that humans may have towards this world and its resources. The first group is with respect to those proud and arrogant individuals whose wealth prevents them from sitting with the needy believers, and whose dependence on wealth causes them to neglect the Almighty Allah mentions a general concept to make them realize that these images are nothing but figments of their imagination.

Another concept brought forth by Allah affects everyone [regardless of wealth].

Verses 60-82

A mention of Prophet Musa’s story and the world.

The following verses are meant to serve as a reminder for the Prophet. They relate the story of Musa’s encounter with a scholar at Majma al-Bahrain who knew how to interpret [supernatural] events.

Verses 83-97

A mention of the story of Dhul Qarnayn.

In the end, the verses narrate the story of Dhul Qarnayn.

Verses 109-110

Remind us that the Quran is Divine and everyone is incapable of bringing anything like it.

The final verses of this chapter clarify that the Quran is a book, revealed to the Messenger of Allah. Human beings are not capable of creating a similar book.

Discussions Regarding this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

Verse 17: “You may see the sun, when it rises, slanting towards the right of their cave, and when it sets, cut across them towards the left, while they are in a cavern within it. That is one of Allah’s signs. Whomever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whomever He leads astray, you will never find for him any guardian or guide.”

وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَتْ تَزَاوَرُ عَنْ كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَتْ تَقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِنْهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ مَنْ يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَنْ تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُرْشِدًا١٧ قال صلی اللّه عليه و سلّه: ما تركت شيئا يقربكم إلى الجنة و يباعدكم من النار إلا و قد أعلمتكم به

The Prophet said: “You should not avoid something that takes you closer to heaven or distances you from the hell-fire - unless I have informed you about it first.”

Verse 28: “Content yourself with the company of those who supplicate their Lord morning and evening, desiring His Face, and do not lose sight of them, desiring the glitter of the life of this world. And do not obey him whose heart We have made oblivious to Our remembrance, and who follows his own desires, and whose conduct is [mere] profligacy.”

وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا٢٨ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا محمد بن بكر، حدثنا ميمون المرئي، حدثنا ميمون بن سياه عن أنس بن مالك رضي اللّه عنه، عن رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلّم قال: «ما من قوم اجتمعوا يذكرون اللّه لا يريدون بذلك إلا وجهه، إلا ناداهم مناد من السماء: آن قوموا مغفورا لكم قد بدلت سيئاتكم حسنات

Imam Ahmad narrates to us from Muhammad ibn Bakr, from Maymun al-Mari, from Maymun ibn Sayyah, from Anas ibn Maalik, from the Messenger of Allah that: “A tribe that gathers together to remember Allah only for His sake, will be called out to with a cry from the heavens: ‘Rise now as forgiven people! Your sins have been replaced with good deeds.’”

Verse 29: “And say, ‘[This is] the truth from your Lord: let anyone who wishes believe it, and let anyone who wishes disbelieve it.’ Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose curtains will surround them [on all sides]. If they cry out for help, they will be helped with a water like molten copper which will scald the faces. What an evil drink, and how ill a resting place!”

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا وَإِنْ يَسْتَغِيثُوا يُغَاثُوا بِمَاءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِي الْوُجُوهَ بِئْسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا٢٩ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا حسن بن موسى، حدثنا ابن لهيعة، حدثنا دراج عن أبي الهيثم، عن أبي سعيد الخدري، عن رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلّه أنه قال: «لسرادق النار أربعة جدر، كثافة كل جدار مثل مسافة أربعين سنة»

Imam Ahmad narrates from Hasan ibn Musa, from Ibn Lahiah, from Darraj, from Abu al-Haytham, from Saeed al-Khudri, from the Messenger of Allah to have said: “The hell-fire has 4 walls. The density of each of these walls will be like 40 years.”

جاء في الحديث الذي رواه الإمام أحمد بإسناده المتقدم في سرادق النار عن أبي سعيد الخدري عن رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلّه أنه قال: «ماء كالمهل- قال- كعكر الزيت فإذا قربه إليه سقطت فروة وجهه فيه»

Imam Ahmad narrates another tradition regarding the walls of hell-fire using the same chain of narrators as the previous tradition. Abu Saeed al-Khudri narrates from the Messenger of Allah that: “A liquid with the viscosity – he said – [or] with the murkiness of oil, when it is brought close to him, a mouse falls into the liquid.”

Verse 39: “Why did you not say, when you entered your garden, ‘[This is] as Allah has wished! There is no power except by Allah!’ If you see that I have lesser wealth than you and children.”

وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ إِنْ تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنْكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا٣٩ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا محمد بن جعفر، حدثنا شعبة و حجاج، حدثني شعبة عن عاصم بن عبيد اللّه عن عبيد مولى أبي رهم، عن أبي هريرة عن النبي صلی اللّه عليه و سلّم أنه قال: «ألا أدلك على كنز من كنوز الجنة؟ لا قوة إلا باللّه» و قد ثبت في الصحيح عن أبي موسى ان رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلّم قال: ألا أدلك على كنز من كنوز الجنة؟ لا حول و لا قوة إلا باللّه

Imam Ahmad narrates from Muhammad ibn Jafar, from Shubah and Hajjaj, from Shubah, from Asim ibn Ubaydallah, from Ubayd Mawla Abu Raham, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet that: “Should I inform you about the treasures of the treasures of Heaven? [It is] ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.’”

Verse 46: “Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world, but lasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.”

ٱلۡمَالُ وَٱلۡبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابٗا وَخَيۡرٌ أَمَلٗا ٤٦ قال ابن جرير وجدت في كتابي عن الحسن بن الصباح البزار، عن أبي نصر التمار عن عبد العزيز بن مسلم، عن محمد بن عجلان عن سعيد المقبري عن أبيه، عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلّم: سبحان اللّه و الحمد للّه و لا إله إلا اللّه و اللّه أكبر، هن الباقيات الصالحات

Ibn Jurayr says that he found in the two books of Hasan ibn Sabah Bazar, from Abu Nasr al-Tammar, from Abd ul-Azeez ibn Muslim, from Muhammad ibn Ajlan, from Saeed al-Maqbari, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah said: “‘Subhan Allah wa Alhamdulillah wa La ilaha illa Allah wa Allahu Akbar,’ are the everlasting righteous deeds.”

Verse 49: “The Book will be set up. Then you will see the guilty apprehensive of what is in it. They will say, ‘Woe to us! What a book is this! It omits nothing, big or small, without enumerating it.’ They will find present whatever they had done, and your Lord does not wrong anyone.”

وَوُضِعَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ مُشۡفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَٰوَيۡلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةٗ وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحۡصَىٰهَاۚ وَوَجَدُواْ مَا عَمِلُواْ حَاضِرٗاۗ وَلَا يَظۡلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدٗا ٤٩ سعد بن جنادة قال: لما فرغ رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلّه من غزوة حنين، نزلنا قفرا من الأرض ليس فيه شي‏ء، فقال النبي صلی اللّه عليه و سلّم: «اجمعوا من وجد عودا فليأت به و من وجد حطبا أو شيئا فليأت به» قال: فما كان إلا ساعة حتى جعلناه ركاما، فقال النبي صلی اللّه عليه و سلّم: «أ ترون هذا؟ فكذلك تجمع الذنوب على الرجل منكم كما جمعتم هذا، فليتق اللّه رجل و لا يذنب صغيرة و لا كبيرة، فإنها محصاة عليه»

Sad ibn Junaadah says: “When the Messenger of Allah returned from the conquest/battle of Hunayn, we reached a wasteland that did not have anything. The Prophet told us: ‘Gather together. One who finds a stick should bring it, one who finds a twig should bring it.’ Sad continued: ‘It was not even an hour before a heap of wood had been made.’ The Prophet asked us: ‘Do you all see this? This is how the sins of man accumulate, the same manner in which you collected these [sticks]. Man must have the consciousness of Allah, he should not make sins, whether small or large, for [each of] these will be counted against him.’”

Verse 53: “The guilty will see the Fire and know that they will fall into it, and they will find no means to circumvent it.”

وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ مُوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا٥٣ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا حسن، حدثنا ابن لهيعة حدثنا دراج عن أبي الهيثم عن أبي سعيد الخدري قال: قال رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلّم: ينصب الكافر مقدار خمسين ألف سنة، كما لم يعمل في الدنيا و ان الكافر ليرى جهنم و يظن أنها مواقعته من مسيرة أربعين سنة

Imam Ahmad narrates from Hasan, from Ibn Lahiah, from Darraj, from Abu al-Haytham, from Abu Saeed al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah said: “The disbeliever will be placed [in the fire] for 50,000 years as if he did not do anything in the world. He will see the hell-fire, thinking that he will rest there from 40 years.”

Verse 76: “He said, ‘Do not take me to task for my forgetting, and do not be hard upon me.’”

قَالَ إِنْ سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَاحِبْنِي قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِنْ لَدُنِّي عُذْرًا٧٦ و عن رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم: رحم اللّه أخى موسى استحيا فقال ذلك و قال: رحمة اللّه علينا و على أخى موسى، لو لبث مع صاحبه لأبصر أعجب الأعاجيب

It has been narrated that the Prophet said: “May Allah bless my brother Musa.” Then he continued: “May the mercy of Allah be upon us and upon our brother Musa. If he remained with his friend they would have seen the strangest of things.”

Verse 100: “And that day We shall bring Hell into view visibly for the faithless.”

وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا١٠٠ في صحيح مسلم عن ابن مسعود قال: قال رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلم: «يؤتى بجهنم تقاد يوم القيامة بسبعين ألف زمام، مع كل زمام سبعون ألف ملك»

Ibn Masood narrates from the Messenger of Allah in Sahih Muslim: “The [disbelievers will be] chained in the hell fire on the Day of Judgement with 70,000 reins; each rein accompanied by 70,000 angels.”

Verse 107: “As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds they shall have the gardens of Firdaws as an abode.”

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا١٠٧ في الصحيحين إذا سألتم اللّه الجنة، فاسألوه الفردوس فإنه أعلى الجنة و أوسط الجنة و منه تفجر أنهار الجنة

In the Sahihayn, it states: “When you ask from Allah, ask him for His Firdaws. It is situated in the middle of heaven, the highest point of heaven, the Arsh of the Lord [rests] above it, and the rivers of heaven flow from it.”

Verse 110: “Say, ‘I am just a human being like you. It has been revealed to me that your Allah is the One Allah. So whoever expects to encounter his Lord —let him act righteously, and not associate anyone with the worship of his Lord.’”

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا١١٠ قال الحافظ أبو بكر البزار: حدثنا الحسين بن علي بن جعفر الأحمر، حدثنا علي بن ثابت، حدثنا قيس بن أبي حصين عن أبي صالح عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول اللّه صلی اللّه عليه و سلم: يقول اللّه يوم القيامة: أنا خير شريك من أشرك بي أحدا فهو له كله

Haafiz Abu Bakr al-Bazzar narrates from Husayn ibn Ali ibn Jafar al-Ahmar, from Ali ibn Thabit, from Qays ibn Abu Husayn, from Abu Saalih, from Abu Hurayrah that: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Allah will say on the Day of Judgement: ‘I am the best partner. Whoever associates another with Me [in an action], it will all belong to the associate (I will let the other one have it entirely).’’”

عنه صلى اللّه عليه و سلم: من قرأ عند مضجعه قُلْ إِنَّما أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ كان له من مضجعه نورا يتلألأ إلى مكة، حشو ذلك النور ملائكة يصلون عليه حتى يقوم و ان كان مضجعه بمكة كان له نورا يتلألأ من مضجعه إلى البيت المعمور حشو ذلك النور ملائكة يصلون عليه حتى يستيقظ

It has been narrated from him (the Prophet): “Whoever recites this verse before going to sleep, (Surah al-Kahf, verse 110), His bed will be illuminated with a light that will shine to Mecca. Angels will praise him until he wakes up. If his bed is in Mecca, then the light that illuminates his bed will shine up to bayt al-mamoor, and the angels will praise him until he awakens.”

According to the Shia Traditions

Verse 7: “Indeed We have made whatever is on the earth an adornment for it that We may test them [to see] which of them is best in conduct.”

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا٧ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلی اللَّهِ علیه هَذِهِ الْآيَة لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً فَقُلْتُ مَا مَعْنَى ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ؟ قَالَ : لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَقْلًا وَ أَوْرَعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ وَ أَسْرَعُكُمْ فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ

Ibn Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah recited this part of the ayah, لنبلوهم أيهم أحسن عملا, and then I asked him: ‘What is the meaning of this [verse], O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied: ‘To test which one of you is the best in terms of intellect, and avoids or refrains from Allah’s prohibitions the most, and who is the fastest of you in obedience to Allah.”

Verse 13: “We relate to you their account in truth. They were indeed youths who had faith in their Lord, and We enhanced them in guidance.”

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى١٣ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْهُذَلِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ لِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَا سُلَيْمَانُ مَنِ الْفَتَى قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الْفَتَى عِنْدَنَا الشَّابُّ قَالَ لِي أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ‏ كَانُوا كُلُّهُمْ‏ كُهُولًا فَسَمَّاهُمُ اللَّهُ فِتْيَةً بِإِيمَانِهِمْ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَ اتَّقَى فَهُوَ الْفَتَى

It has been narrated from Sulayman ibn Jafar al-Hudhaliye, that he said: “Jafar ibn Muhammad told me: ‘Oh Sulayman! Who are the young men?’ [Sulayman continues] I said: ‘May I be sacrificed for you! The young men today are the youth.’ [Imam al-Sadiq] said to me: ‘Did you not know that the People of the Cave were all old, but Allah named them young men [because of] their faith? O Sulayman! Whosoever believes in Allah and has taqwa, are the young men.’”

Verses 23-24: “Do not say about anything, ‘I will indeed do it tomorrow,’ without [adding], ‘if Allah wishes.’ And when you forget, remember your Lord and say, ‘Maybe my Lord will guide me to [something] more akin to rectitude than this.’”

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا٢٣ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ وَاذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَى أَنْ يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَذَا رَشَدًا٢٤ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ: إِذَا حَلَفَ الرَّجُلُ بِاللَّهِ فَلَهُ ثُنْيَاهَا إِلَى أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ قَوْماً مِنَ الْيَهُودِ سَأَلُوا النَّبِيَّ ص عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَقَالَ ائْتُونِي غَداً وَ لَمْ يَسْتَثْنِ حَتَّى أُخْبِرَكُمْ فَاحْتُبِسَ عَنْهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع- أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ وَ قَالَ‏ وَ لا تَقُولَنَ‏ لِشَيْ‏ءٍ إِنِّي‏ فاعِلٌ‏ ذلِكَ‏ غَداً إِلَّا أَنْ يَشاءَ اللَّهُ وَ اذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسِيتَ‏

Abdullah ibn Maymun narrates from Abu Abdillah, who narrates from his father, from Ali ibn Abi Talib that: “When a man swears by Allah, he has a _____ until 40 days. This is because a Jewish tribe asked the Prophet about something, and he replied: ‘Come to me tomorrow, and he did not exclude anything until I inform you.’ Jibrail refrained from him for 40 days, then he came to him, and said: ‘And do not say that you will do something tomorrow unless if Allah wills it. Remember your Lord when you forget.’”

Verse 25: “They remained in the cave for three hundred years, and added nine more [to that number].”

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا٢٥ رَوَى الطَّبْرِسِيُّ ره وَ غَيْرُهُ‏ أَنَّ يَهُودِيّاً سَأَلَ عَلِيّاً عَنْ‏ مُدَّةِ لَبْثِهِمْ‏ فَأَخْبَرَ بِمَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي كِتَابِنَا ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ بِسِنِي الشَّمْسِ وَ هَذَا بِسِنِي الْقَمَرِ

Tabrisi and another person narrated that a Jew asked Ali about the extent of their (the People of the Cave) sleep and the Imam informed him about what was in the Quran. He then said: “In our book we find 300 [years].” Then he continued: “That was in solar years while this is in lunar years.”

Verse 28: “Content yourself with the company of those who supplicate to their Lord - morning and evening, desiring His Face, and do not lose sight of them, desiring the glitter of the life of this world. And do not obey him whose heart We have made oblivious to Our remembrance, and who follows his own desires, and whose conduct is [mere] profligacy.”

وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا٢٨ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ وَ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ‏ فِي قَوْلِهِ‏ وَ اصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ‏ مَعَ‏ الَّذِينَ‏ يَدْعُونَ‏ رَبَّهُمْ‏ بِالْغَداةِ وَ الْعَشِيِ‏ قَالَ إِنَّمَا عَنَى بِهَا الصَّلَاةَ

Zurarah and Humran narrate from Abu Jafar and Abu Abdillah regarding the verse: وَ اصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ‏ مَعَ‏ الَّذِينَ‏ يَدْعُونَ‏ رَبَّهُمْ‏ بِالْغَداةِ وَ الْعَشِيِ‏ that he said: “What is meant by this is none other than the prayer.”

Verse 46: “Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world, but lasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.”

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا٤٦ رُوِيَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ انَ مِن الْبَاقِيَات الصَّالِحَات الْقِيَام بِاللَّيْلِ لِصَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ

It has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah who said: “Among the everlasting deeds is the upholding the night prayer and performing the night prayer.”

Verse 48: “They will be presented before your Lord in ranks: ‘Certainly you have come to Us just as We created you the first time. Rather you maintained that We shall not appoint a tryst for you.’”

وَعُرِضُوا عَلَى رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّنْ نَجْعَلَ لَكُمْ مَوْعِدًا٤٨ رُوِيَ عَن النَّبِيِّ صلی اللَّه علیه أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَحْشُرُ النَّاس مِنْ قُبُورِهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حُفَاةً عُرَاةً غُرْلًا فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَ مَا يَسْتَحِي بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَقَالَ ص لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْن يُغْنِيهِ

It has been narrated that the Prophet said: “People will arise from their graves on the Day of Judgment barefoot and naked (without any clothes).” Aisha said: “O Messenger of Allah, will some of them not be embarrassed in front of others?” [The Prophet] said: “For every man, that Day, will be a matter of concern for oneself (meaning no one will time to worry about anyone else). [Surah Abasa, verse 37]”

Verse 49: “The Book will be set up. Then you will see the guilty apprehensive of what is in it. They will say, ‘Woe to us! What a book is this! It omits nothing, big or small, without enumerating it.’ They will find present whatever they had done, and your Lord does not wrong anyone.”

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا٤٩ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ نَجِيحٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ دُفِعَ إِلَى الْإِنْسَانِ كِتَابُهُ ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهُ اقْرَأْ قُلْتُ فَيَعْرِفُ مَا فِيهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُذَكِّرُهُ فَمَا مِنْ لَحْظَةٍ وَ لَا كَلِمَةٍ وَ لَا نَقْلِ قَدَمٍ وَ لَا شَيْ‏ءٍ فَعَلَهُ إِلَّا ذَكَرَهُ كَأَنَّهُ فَعَلَهُ تِلْكَ السَّاعَةَ فَلِذَلِكَ قَالُوا يا وَيْلَتَنا ما لِهذَا الْكِتابِ‏ لا يُغادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَ لا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصاها.

Khalid ibn Najih narrates from Abu Abdillah that: “The Day of Judgement is when each person’s book will be given to him, and then he will be told to read it.” The companion asked: “Will he know what is inside of it?” He replied: “Allah will surely remind him. There is no instant, no word, no step taken, and no action that he will not remember, as if he did it in that same hour. It is for this reason that they will say: ‘O woe to us! What is this book that it has not left out a single small or big deed unless it was counted.’”

Verse 82: “As for the wall, it belonged to two boy orphans in the city. Under it there was a treasure belonging to them. Their father had been a righteous man. So your Lord desired that they should come of age and take out their treasure —as a mercy from your Lord. I did not do that out of my own accord. This is the interpretation of that over which you could not maintain patience.’”

وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَامَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ كَنْزٌ لَهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَالِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَا أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنْزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمْرِي ذَلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِعْ عَلَيْهِ صَبْرًا٨٢ فِي الدُّرِّ الْمَنْثُورِ ، أَخْرَجَ ابْنُ مَرْدَوَيْهِ عَنْ جَابِر قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلی اللَّهِ علیه :انَ اللَّهَ يُصْلِحُ بِصَلَاحِ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحِ وَلَدُهُ وَ وَلَد وَلَدِهِ وَ أَهْل دُوَيْرَات حَوْلَهُ فَمَا يَزَالُونَ فِي حِفْظِ اللَّهِ مَا دَامَ فِيهِمْ

In Al-Durr al-Manthur, it says that Ibn Mardawayh met Jabir and he said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Allah reforms a righteous man’s children, grandchildren, and the households that are near him. They will not be left out of Allah’s protection as long as he is there.’”

رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ الْأَبِ الصَّالِحِ سَبْعَة آبَاءٍ وَ قَالَ انَ اللَّه لِيُصْلِحَ بِصَلَاحِ الرَّجُلِ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَلَده وَ وَلَد وَلَدِهِ وَ أَهْل دُوَيْرَتِهِ وَ دُوَيْرَات حَوْلَهُ فَلَا يَزَالُونَ فِي حِفْظِ اللَّهِ لِكَرَامَتِهِ عَلَى اللَّهِ

Abu Abdillah has been narrated to have said: “Between the two [sons] and that righteous father, there were seven of his ancestors.” He continued: “Allah reforms a righteous man’s children, grandchildren, household, and the families around him. They will not be left out of Allah’s protection because of his nobility towards Allah.”

Verse 107: “As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds they shall have the gardens of Firdaws for abode.”

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا١٠٧ فِي الدُّرِّ الْمَنْثُورِ ، أَخْرَجَ الْبُخَارِيّ وَ مُسْلِم وَ ابْن أَبِي حَاتِم عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَة قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلی اللَّهِ علیه : إِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ فَاسْأَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْس فَإِنَّهُ وَسَط الْجَنَّةِ وَ أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَ فَوْقهُ عَرْش الرَّحْمَنِ وَ مِنْهُ تفجر أَنْهَار الْجَنَّةِ

In Al-Durr al-Manthur: Bukhari, Muslim, and Ibn Abi Hatam encounter Abu Hurayrah who said: “The Prophet said: ‘When you ask from Allah, ask Him for His Firdaws. It lies in the middle of heaven, at the highest point of heaven, the Arsh of the Lord [rests] above it, and the rivers of heaven flow from it.’”

Verse 109: “Say, ‘If the seas were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be spent before the words of my Lord are spent, though We brought another like it for replenishment.’”

قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا١٠٩ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فِي قَوْلِهِ‏ قُلْ لَوْ كانَ الْبَحْرُ مِداداً لِكَلِماتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِماتُ رَبِّي وَ لَوْ جِئْنا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَداً قَالَ قَدْ أُخْبِرُكَ أَنَّ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ‏ لَهُ‏ آخِرٌ وَ لَا غَايَةٌ وَ لَا يَنْقَطِعُ‏ أَبَد.

Abu Baseer narrates from Abu Abdillah regarding the verse: قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا He said: “I informed you that the words of Allah do not have an end or goal, and they will never discontinue.”

Verse 110: “Say, ‘I am just a human being like you. It has been revealed to me that your Allah is the One Allah. So whoever expects to encounter his Lord - let him act righteously, and not associate anyone with the worship of his Lord.’”

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا١١٠ وَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ وَ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالا: لَوْ أَنَّ عَبْداً عَمِلَ عَمَلًا يَطْلُبُ‏ بِهِ‏ رَحْمَةَ اللَّهِ‏ وَ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَ فِيهِ رِضَا أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ كَانَ مُشْرِكاً

Zurarah and Hamran narrate from Abu Jafar and Abu Abdillah that: “If a servant performs an action seeking the mercy of Allah and heaven in the afterlife, but if the pleasure of another human being was included in that action, then he will be a mushrik (polytheist).”