Lessons of the Chapter of the Cave (Surah-tul-Kahf)

[All] praise is [due] to Allah , who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (Holy Quran 18: 1)

Introduction

There are so many sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) regarding the virtues of Surah-tul-Kahf. A few are mentioned below:

“Whoever reads Surat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” (Baihaiqi-Saheeh)

Hazrat Abu Darda (RA) related that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “One who memorized the first ten verses of Surat ul Kahf will be secure against the Dajjal (Anti-Christ). Another version says: “One who commits to his memory the last 10 verses of this Surah will remain immune from the Dajjal. [Muslim]

Emphasis has been laid on protection from the trials of Dajjal or the Anti-Christ as the Christians would call him.

We also believe that every chapter has a message for the Muslims of today. We shall try to find out the political messages of Surah Kahf in this blog. Social messages go side by side in this Surah which shall be discussed in a separate blog in sha Allah. The following interpretation is from the various books and video recordings of many scholars with some words of my own.

History of Surah-tul- Kahf‘

This Surah (chapter) was revealed in Makkah at a stage when the Quraish mainly resorted to ridiculing, scoffing, threatening, tempting, raising objections and making false propaganda against the Holy Prophet and his followers in order to suppress the Islamic Movement.
That is one of the reasons the story of “Ashaab-e-Kahf” (the Sleepers of the Cave) was revealed to give comfort and encourage the persecuted Muslims and to show them how the righteous people have been saving their Faith in the past.

This Surah was sent down in answer to the three questions which the disbelievers of Makkah, in consultation with the people of the Book, had put to the Holy Prophet in order to test him. These were: (1) Who were “the Sleepers of’ the Cave”? (2) What is the real story of Khidr? and (3) What do you know about Zul-Qarnain?

Ashab-i-Kahf
We are told that “the Sleepers of the Cave” believed in the same doctrine of Tawhid (Oneness of God) which was being put forward in the Quran and that their condition was similar to the condition of the persecuted Muslims of Makkah. On the other hand, the persecutors of the Sleepers of the Cave had behaved in the same way towards them as the disbelievers of the Quraish were behaving towards the Muslims. Besides this, the Muslims have been taught that even if a Believer is persecuted by a cruel society, he should not bow down before falsehood but emigrate from the place all alone, if need be and if possible, with trust in God.

[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.” (Surah Kahf:10)

Muslims around the world are facing the same situation as faced by the ‘Seven sleepers’ and the early Muslims at Makkah. Muslims in Kashmir, Palestine, Rohingya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and in relatively ‘peaceful’ places, Muslims continue to be severely persecuted because they are ‘Extremists, Fundamentalists, Terrorists, Islamists, Taliban, Al-Qaida’ etc and even because they are simply Muslims by name alone.

We have to be patient!

We only have to please Allah Almighty, no one else.

Alhamdulillah, Allah Almighty has given us so many talents of reading, writing, speaking etc and these are a trust gifted to us.

Paper Money?

وَ کَذٰلِکَ بَعَثۡنٰہُمۡ  لِیَتَسَآءَلُوۡا  بَیۡنَہُمۡ ؕ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ کَمۡ لَبِثۡتُمۡ ؕ قَالُوۡا لَبِثۡنَا یَوۡمًا اَوۡ بَعۡضَ یَوۡمٍ ؕ قَالُوۡا رَبُّکُمۡ  اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثۡتُمۡ ؕ فَابۡعَثُوۡۤا اَحَدَکُمۡ بِوَرِقِکُمۡ ہٰذِہٖۤ  اِلَی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ فَلۡیَنۡظُرۡ  اَیُّہَاۤ   اَزۡکٰی  طَعَامًا فَلۡیَاۡتِکُمۡ بِرِزۡقٍ مِّنۡہُ  وَ لۡـیَؔ‍‍‍تَلَطَّفۡ وَ لَا  یُشۡعِرَنَّ  بِکُمۡ  اَحَدًا ﴿۱۹﴾

And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another.

Said a speaker from among them, “How long have you remained [here]?”

They said, “We have remained a day or part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained.

So send one of you with this silver coins/money of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you”

(Holy Quran 18 : 19)

و ر ق

This is the root word of wa RI qa

Used in three other places in the Holy Quran as

Wa RA qa meaning leaves

Wa ri qa in surah kahf has been translated by many as silver coins and by some as simply money

و ر ق

literally means something flat, thin and light

This fits with today’s paper money

And a few translators have translated wa ri qa in surah kahf as paper money

They probably don’t mean same as today’s paper money but maybe something like it made from leaves or the like

But Allah Almighty knew that paper money would be used in times ahead…

By the time companions of the cave woke up, power was restored to good people/good Christians

And so when one of the companions of the cave went in to the city to buy bread, the shop keeper failed to recognise the coins or the (paper) money…

And similarly Imam Mehdi (his time is very near) will come and restore Gold and Silver and barter system of currency and do away with paper and digital currencies in sha Allah

Why Paper Money is Essentially Haram (Forbidden)

And Allah Almighty Knows best.

Time to go into Caves

A time may come when it may become extremely difficult NOT only to spread the Truth, but even to save one’s own Iman, as happened to companions of the cave (Kahf).

These are such tasking times of trials upon Muslims where they are being hunted i.e. Burma, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, many places in India, Africa and the west.

Scholars have differed upon the exact literal meaning of the word ‘cave’ i.e. in today’s world, when faced with ridicule, threats etc, should Muslims go in to caves? What if there are no caves miles near? What if it is not possible to go to a cave due to various reasons?

I believe the first preference would be a cave if it is possible; some scholars have advocated shifting to villages/jungles where there is minimum population. This maybe the best option when things start getting really bad. Some also say to just stay at one’s place (house) and keep quiet if there is no other option.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“There will be trials and tribulations wherein the one sitting is better than the one standing. The one standing will be better than the one walking. The one walking will be better than the one running. Whoever will expose himself to these afflictions, they will destroy him. So whoever can find a place or protection or refuge from them should take shelter in it.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

The ‘shelter’ in this Hadith may be parable of the cave of Ashaab-e-Kahf.

Hazrat Khizr
“And found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed mercy from Ourselves and unto whom We had imparted knowledge [issuing] from Ourselves.” [Surah Kahf:65]

Lessons from Surah tul Kahf

Hazrat Musa AS didn’t know the reasons for why Hazrat Khidr AS punctured a hole in the boat, or why he killed a child or why he built a falling wall in a city of people who had refused to host them.

This is because of the limited knowledge given to him by Allah Almighty.

The summary of this story is that God’s knowledge encompasses all knowledge. Hazrat Musa was unable to comprehend the immediate realities of what Hazrat Khizr had done. The realities had to be explained to him after.

It sheds light on other things, such as the limitless wisdom of Allah that is at work behind the decree that He establishes on earth; the difference between the initial human perception of apparent life events, and the deeper realities that form the reasons or causes behind their occurrence; the impatience and haste that is part of human nature, and last but not least, the etiquette of social relationships between people when they travel, live or hang out together in the path of Allah.

“One should have full faith in the wisdom of what is happening in the Divine Factory in accordance with the will of Allah. As the reality is hidden from you, you are at a loss to understand the wisdom of what is happening, and sometimes if it appears that things are going against you, you cry out, ‘How and why has this happened’. The fact is that if the curtain be removed from the “unseen”, you would yourselves come to know that what is happening here is for the best. Even if sometimes it appears that something is going against you, you will see that in the end it also produces some good results for you.”

Allah describes the fact that He had granted special knowledge to Hazrat Khizr (AS) as a special mercy from Himself towards him. I find this very interesting, the fact that knowledge from Allah is actually a manifestation of His special mercy. This is because, in the current age at least, we tend to staunchly believe that education and knowledge (of any kind, even practical training) is restricted inside schools, institutes, colleges and universities.

Which makes us wonder — could it be that, the special kind of knowledge that embodies the manifestation of Allah’s mercy on a believer, is acquired via experiencing life events, pondering upon their backdrops and causes, and reflecting upon their long-term effects on the lives of the people they touch?

The same is happening in today’s world. We are unable to perceive the truth amidst rumors, controversies, propaganda of the modern media. There are so many ‘conspiracy theories’, so many false flag operations, so many unsolved mystery cases against Muslims worldwide who seem to be caught in a web due to their own disobedience to God. No matter how hard people try to find out the whole truth they fail to do so or fail to comprehend it.

Only those people who have been given the God-gifted wisdom of Hazrat Khizr (AS) will be able to comprehend the truth and no matter how hard they try to convince people of the truth and its coming consequences, they won’t understand because they are looking only at the immediate future and its benefits.
A point comes when the righteous with the God-given vision of Hazrat Khizr (AS) just have to keep silent and enter their caves and pray for the best. God will give them peace and tranquility as He gave the people of the cave!
And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners. (Holy Quran 8:30)

More Interpretations of Interaction between Hazrat Musa AS with Hazrat Khizr AS

The Sinking of the Boat

The direct and indirect taxation and other means of consfication of wealth by the governments in End of Times indicated here….

The Killing of the Boy

The destruction of todays youth by drugs, pornography, gambling, horrible company etc is indicated here…

The Building of the Wall

The uselessness of paper money and digital currency in End of Times…

And Allah knows best!

Be Good for Your Childrens’ Sake

“And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous.

So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord.

And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.”

(Holy Quran 18 : 82)

One should be pious not only for one’s own good in this life and the hereafter,

But also for the betterment of one’s children.

One always wishes and prays the best for one’s children, even more than oneself.

In this verse, Allah Almighty gives us the lesson that if you are good, He will not only reward you but He will also reward your children

He will remove difficulties and hardships in their life and make life easier for them in sha Allah.

Thus we should be as righteous as possible, not only for ourselves but for the sake of our children.

For RIGHTEOUS parents’ prayers are heard by Him

For they say many times in their prayers :

سمع الله لمن حمده

(Allah listens to one praises Him)

Thus, Allah Almighty listens to his prayers, including for his children

Remember to Say In Sha Allah

urat No 18 : سورة الكهف – Ayat No 23

وَ لَا تَقُوۡلَنَّ لِشَایۡءٍ  اِنِّیۡ  فَاعِلٌ ذٰلِکَ غَدًا ﴿ۙ۲۳﴾

And never say of anything, “Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,”

Surat No 18 : سورة الكهف – Ayat No 24

اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یَّشَآءَ اللّٰہُ ۫ وَ اذۡکُرۡ رَّبَّکَ اِذَا نَسِیۡتَ وَ قُلۡ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّہۡدِیَنِ رَبِّیۡ لِاَقۡرَبَ مِنۡ ہٰذَا  رَشَدًا ﴿۲۴﴾

Except [when adding], If Allah wills.” And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct.”

Surat No 18 : سورة الكهف – Ayat No 69

قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِیۡۤ  اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ صَابِرًا وَّ لَاۤ اَعۡصِیۡ  لَکَ  اَمۡرًا ﴿۶۹﴾

[Musa AS] said, “You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order.”

The words In Sha Allah meaning If Allah wills occur twice in surah tul Kahf

In verses 23, 24 Allah reminds us to say In Sha Allah when we plan or wish for something in the future

In verse 69 Hazrat Musa AS does say In sha Allah, but his wish is not fulfilled as we read in the verses ahead

So although we should say In sha Allah, (more likely our wish or plan will be fulfilled) it is still not necessary that this will happen,

Because the phrase is IF Allah wills, meaning if He does not Will it, it will not occur

For Allah Almighty also says:

Surat No 81 : سورة التكوير – Ayat No 29

وَ مَا تَشَآءُوۡنَ  اِلَّاۤ  اَنۡ یَّشَآءَ اللّٰہُ  رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۹﴾

And you do not will except that Allah wills – Lord of the worlds.

Zul-Qarnain & Gog & Magog (Yajuj wa Majuj)
The last story is that of Dhul-Qarnain, the just king who spread truth, justice and goodness on earth. He had also the material means (scientific and technological) needed to achieve success and progress in life.
Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as,
“Verily, We established him in the earth, and We gave him the means of everything” (Holy Quran, Surah Kahf:84).

Hazrat Khizr traveled eastwards and westwards to spread guidance on earth and fill it with justice and righteousness. He was successful every time until he reached a certain destination. On one of his journeys, he reached a nation whose people could scarcely understand his speech. They said to him,
“O Dhul-Qarnain! Verily Ya’juj and Ma’juj (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?” (Holy Quran, Surah Kahf :94).

Zul-Qarnain established justice wherever he went but in front of Gog and Magog, he could only build a barrier between them and the oppressed people. This may mean the Gog & Magog were more advanced than Zul-Qarnain in warfare. So he helped to build such a big barrier so that they could not be harmed from the oppression of Gog and Magog for the time being.

Who are the Gog and Magog of today? Who is spreading mischief all over the lands? Who is asking help from these Gog and Magog? Some have stated that the Gog and Magog may probably mean the Anglosaxons or the powers that are controlling the military might of these nations and ultimately destroying the peace of the world.

Some state they may be USA (Yajuj) & Russia (Majuj) who are surely running havoc in Syria, who have almost no place where to go. People of Syria are caught between the devil (ISIS, Saudia Arabia, Turkey backed by USA-Yajuj?) and the deep sea (Bashar ul Assad, Iran backed by Russia-Majuj?). And Allah knows best.

There is no doubt of the huge advancement in science & technology of these nations and there is no doubt about the mischief they are spreading through this technology.
GMO, HAARP, Big Pharma, Chemtrails, Monsanto, Defense shields etc are technological terms we never heard before and things which even the most educated of people cannot comprehend. This is besides the vast stores of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Many Muslims & Christians agree that a destruction and widespread human depopulation maybe brought about by the collective powers of the Gog and Magog under the control of Zionists and Corporate Bankers of the Federal Reserve. So it will not be a matter of any religion, but a matter of survival of most of humanity.

Muslims thus have to recognize their ultimate enemies, not their local enemies in their countries. They have to find out and explore who among their leaders are in collaboration with the Gog and Magog of our times; who is working for them, who is on their pay-roll etc. And for this Muslims and even peace-loving Christians will have to unite and shed their party differences to face this common enemy of humanity.

Much more detail on Gog and Magog in these blogs:

Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) of Yesterday and Today

The Corruption of the Modern Day Gog and Magog

The expected Malhama or Great war mentioned in Ahadith or Armageddon is expected between Gog and Magog in the near future.

Scholars believe that present-day Muslim or other leaders don’t possess the ability or the aptitude or will to counter the plans of Gog and Magog of today. As per Quranic interpretation of this Surah, for this another Zul-Qarnain will need to arise.

An attack on Masjid Haraam in Makkah is also planned in the future, but God Almighty Himself will be sufficient for that, as He took care of Ashaab-e-Feel (the people of the elephant) in the past.

The coming of Imam Mehdi and Hazrat Isa AS (Jesus Christ)
And that present day ‘Zul Qarnain’ most probably is expected and now awaited by many scholars to be Imam Mehdi. But even he, like Zul-Qarnain, will not be able to finish the Gog and Magog off. And the Gog and Magog will also attain the help of the Anti-Christ-Dajjal.

So to fight the Gog & Magog with Dajjal heading their forces, Imam Mehdi (present day Zul-Qarnain) will need some more divine help from God. And that is expected to be in the form of Jesus Christ (Hazrat Isa-AS) who, both Muslims and Christians, believe will return as a SAVIOR.

Muslims have been told to pray for protection against the trials of Dajjal for several reasons. Many Muslims may turn astray, there may be persecution, trials, blood shed etc until total world peace is restored by Imam Mehdi and Jesus (Hazrat Isa-AS).

This is when paper currency will be abolished and coins (gold & silver dinars) will be used for business transactions.
This will be verified when the people who had gone into their ‘caves’ come out of their ‘caves’ with their paper currency but find it useless just as happened with Ashaab-e-Kahf! When Ashaab-e-Kahf sent their currency to town, they found it was useless because the currency had been changed:

“So send one of you with this ‘paper’ of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you.” (Holy Quran Surah Kahf: 19)
The word used in the Quran is ‘Waraqa’ which has two meanings, a light thing and a paper’ and amazingly the present paper currencies fit both these characteristics. This possibly may indicate the presence of some sort of paper currency at the time. Present currency is of paper and is lighter than a coin.

Why Paper Money is Essentially Haram (Forbidden)

This indicates that Zionists induced paper currency that promotes capitalism, interest and other economical woes will be abolished with the abolition of the FEDERAL RESERVE, interest based banking and capitalism, which are the roots of world’s problems.

Another Lesson from Surah tul Kahf

After close insight, we note that Zul Qarnain in his last travail, with the people who were fed up with Gog and Magog and their corruption,

Never asked the people:

1. For any reward, for any money etc in exchange for his help

2. Didn’t enquire about their faith

3. Didn’t tell them to first set their own house in order

4. Or any other demands etc

بے لوث خدمت

Conclusion

We can hereby conclude that the coming Zul Qarnain II (Imam Mehdi AS),

Will be coming as a saviour for all humanity, irrespective of their religion

Who are all fed up with the corruption of the modern day Gog and Magog

We see that the whole world is being affected by the economic fasaad, health fasaad (Covid-19 etc), agricultural fasaad, genocidal fasaad, world depopulation plan, etc etc, of the modern Yajuj and Majuj

And we also see that there are good Christians, good Hindus, good Sikhs and even good Orthodox Jews who oppose Israel’s atrocities on Palestine, etc.

And perhaps by helping humanity, Imam Mehdi AS will convince many of them to revert to Islam

This is a summary of the political messages of Surah Al-Kahf. In the meantime I prepare myself to descend into my cave and not wait, but pray for the coming of Imam Mehdi and Hazrat Isa (AS) as I believe only they can save humanity now, with the will of God Almighty.

Right now, as I mentioned above, and as a wise man mentioned yesterday, its a time of Fitnah, time of Dajjal, time to stay in your homes and do lots of astaghfar (Forgiveness).

And Allah Almighty Knows best