Surah Kahf is one of the oft-recited surahs in the Quran. The prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked us to recite it every friday. The lessons from this surah are going to be vital for the tough times that the Ummah is going to face in the future, particularly when the fitna of the dajjal starts.

Since it is such an important part of a muslim's life, I am thinking of writing up a brief discussion that goes through the entire surah and picks up the vital lessons. I think, it is vital for muslims to understand this stuff.

As a teaser, I would like to share what i think is an amazing connection between the history of the Ummah and the stories in Surah kahf as articulated by Indian scholar Manazir hassan Gilani (rahimullah), using the authentic traditions of the prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) on the signs of the last day and the trials the ummah will go through.

So lets begin:

The Ummah is going to go through several phases. The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said:

The Prophethood will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wills it to be. Then Allaah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be the khilaafah upon the Prophetic methodology. And it will last for as long as Allaah wills it to last. Then Allaah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be biting kingship, and it will remain for as long as Allaah wills it to remain. Then Allaah will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be tyrannical (forceful) kingship and it will remain for as long as Allaah wills it to remain. Then He will raise it when He wills to raise it. Then there will be a khilaafah upon the Prophetic methodology.

Then he (the Prophet) was silent.

Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud. Silsilah as-Saheehah of Imaam al-Albani (1/34 no. 5) and it is Saheeh.

After prophethood, we had the khilafah upon the prophetic methodology (Abu bakr -Ali -Hassan), After this we had biting kingship (the ummayad e.tc), this ended with the fall of the Ottoman after this we have had tyrannical leaderships which started with colonialism and then dictators, After this we will return back to Khilafah.

The muslims will go through a period of tyrannical leadership (tough times) before the laws of Allah will come back again.

The connection

The first story in surah kahf starts with a tyrannical leadership (tyrannical kingship) that forced a bunch of youths to take refuge in a cave to save their religion. At the advent of colonialism on the muslim lands, muslim scholars tried taking on the colonialists and were getting massacred. Across the muslim world, scholars decided that the best way to preserve the faith was to go into hiding. Across the muslim world, scholars set up these learning institutions ( for youth) that were cut off from society. They refused to learn the language of the colonisers or wear their clothes or use the roman calendar or eat with a fork and knife. They were going to maintain the Quran and the sunnah.

Just like the youths stayed in the cave for hundreds of years, muslim scholars stayed away from society for hundreds of years of colonial rule and Muslim youth were the pioneers of preserving the faith during the years of colonialism. The scholars formed these cave-like institutions to protect the faith.

The vast majority of muslims on the other hand were adopting western values, the biggest of which is materialism . Just like the youths after centuries in the cave were easily recognizable as not been from that era. After colonial rule, the muslims came out of hiding but faced a different reality. The muslims had become so materialistic that a reminder to stick to the Quran and the sunnah was lost to most muslims. These people making these reminders are told that they belong in the mosques because they are considered backwards.

The second story in surah kahf is about materialism. The farmer who is obsessed about his gardens, He says (roughly translated):

He went into his garden and wronged himself by saying, ‘I do not think this will ever perish, or that the Last Hour will ever come– even if I were to be taken back to my Lord, I would certainly find something even better
there.’ (Surah 18: 35-36)

His garden is eventually taken away. The muslims sit on the world's resources, some of the most valuable resources on the planet are under muslim feet. And yet, Allah has stripped them of those same resources. They can't even use them. And Allah continues to put the muslim ummah through degradation and humiliation as a result of their materialism so that hopefully they can get their act together like the farmer...

The prophet (peace be upon him) said in a hadith:

"Soon the nations will gather to take from you the same way you invite others to share from a feast!" A person asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Is that because we are small in our numbers?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) answered: "No! You will be many, like the foam on the sea, but you will be rubbish, like the rubbish carried down by the flood water. And certainly Allah will remove from the bosoms of your enemies the fear of you and into your bosoms He will cast enervation." A person asked: "What is enervation?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "It is love of life and fear of death." (Abu Dawud)

Then the muslims will see around them all kinds of trouble that the ummah is going through, and say: if we are the chosen ummah, the ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), why are we going through all these problems? Why all this injustice? We are going to be really frustrated about injustice and we are going to write angry literature about it, yell and scream from stages about how wrong things are and how injustice shouldn't stand. " They are doing this, They are doing that" . But we do not understand that this is part of a larger plan of Allah. What story is that? The story of Musa and khidr. Musa kept complaining about what seemed like apparent injustice and khidr shows him that it was part of a bigger plan of Allah. You have to be patient.

Eventually, after all those tribulations, the rule of Allah will be brought to the east and the west. Like the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Verily, Allah folded the earth for me, so much so that I saw its East and its West: The kingdom of my Ummah will reach as far as the earth was folded for me. ........... (muslim)

The last story of the surah is that of Dhul qarnayn, he goes east and west and establishes justice whereever he goes.

As you see, there is a parallel between the four stories and the timeline of the Ummah. Very remarkable insight from the scholar (rahimullah).


Well this is just a teaser for this truly incredible surah....

subhannah!There are many great lessons in this surah that are oblivious to me.jazaakallah khayr 4 dis

^just a tip of the ice berg!

tbaba1234: ^just a tip of the ice berg!

wow!Need to re-enrol to a good makaranta(ilekeu).

the quran is an ancient book that always amazes the reader whenever it is read, you would think it was just revealed yesterday. but whatelse should we expect from the speech of the Omnicient?

Saifullah01: the quran is an ancient book that always amazes the reader whenever it is read, you would think it was just revealed yesterday. but whatelse should we expect from the speech of the Omnicient?

Indeed!

═✦════✦SECRETS OF SURAH AL-KAHF✦════✦═

Ever wondered why Prophet Muhammad(SAW) asked us to recite Surat Al-Kahf every Friday?
Let’s find out today inshaAllah…
This Surah has Four stories in it,having some morals,lets see them and understand what they are saying to us:

1) The People Of The Cave
Its the story of young men who lived in a disbelieving town, so they decided to migrate for the sake of Allah and run away. -Allah rewards them with mercy in the cave and protection from the sun - They woke up and found the entire village believers.
MORAL:TRIAL OF FAITH.

2) The Owner Of Two Gardens
A story of a man whom Allah blessed with two beautiful gardens, but the man forgot to thank the One who blessed him with everything and he even dared to doubt Allah regarding the afterlife. So His garden was destroyed - He regretted, but was too late and his regret did not benefit him .
MORAL:TRIAL OF WEALTH.

3) Musa(AS) and Khidr(AS)
When Musa(AS) was asked-“Who’s the most knowledgeable of the people of earth?”” Musa(AS) said:Me…, but Allah revealed to him that there’s someone who Knows more than him. Musa(AS) traveled to the man and learnt how the Divine Wisdom can sometimes be hidden in matters which we perceive as bad.
MORAL:TRIAL OF KNOWLEDGE.

4) Dhul-Qarnayn
Its a story of the great King that was given knowledge and power and was going around the world, helping people and spreading all that’s good. He was able to overcome the problem of Yajooj-Majooj and build a massive dam with the help of people whom he could not even understand.
MORAL:TRIAL OF POWER.

In the middle Allah mentions Iblees as the one who stirs these trials:
Behold! We said to the angels “Bow down to Adam”: they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers!


Now let us see what’s the relationship between Surat Al-Kahf and the Dajjal (Anti-Christ)?

Dajjal will appear before Day of Judgement with the 4 trials:

***He’ll ask people to worship him and not Allah:
Trial of Faith .

***He’ll be given powers to start/stop rain and tempt people with his wealth:
Trial of with his Wealth. .

***He’ll try people with the “knowledge” and news he gives them:
Trial of Knowledge .

***He’ll control huge parts of the Earth.
Trial of Power.



How to survive these trials? The answers are in Surat Al-Kahf


Survival Kit 1: Good companionship.
“And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; no obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.” (Surat Al-Kahf, verse 28)

Survival Kit 2: Knowing the Truth of this World .
“Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: It is like the rain which we send down from the skies: the earth’s vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over all things” (Surat Al-Kahf, verse 45)

Survival Kit 3: Humbleness.
“Moses said: “Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught.””(Surat Al-Kahf, verse 69)

Survival Kit 4: Sincerity.
“Say: “I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah. whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.” (Surat Al- Kahf, verse 110)

Survival Kit 5: Calling to Allah .
“And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him.” (Surat Al-Kahf, verse 27)

Survival Kit 6: Remembering the HereAfter .
“ One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks, (with the announcement), “Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!”: And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say, “Ah! woe to us! what a Book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great,but takes account thereof !” They will find all that they did, placed before them: And not one will thy Lord treat with injustice.” (Surat Al-Kahf, verses 47-49)




Abu Darda' ~ may Allah be pleased with him ~ related that the Holy Prophet :saw: said,
" One who memorized the first ten verses of Suratul Kahf will be secure against the Dajjal.
Another version says: "One who commits to his memory the last 10 verses of this surah will remain immune from the Dajjal.
[Muslim]