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Sura tul Kehf is the 18th Surah of the Quran e Majeed. We
recite this sura every Friday before zawaal; now let’s learn about the rewards accrued by
the recitor and read about the intriguing stories
narrated and metaphors woven.
Imam Ali Zain ul Abedeen (SA) pronounced that
the one who recites Al Kehf on Friday will be
shielded from fitnat for eight days (from one Friday
to the next) even if Dajjal himself attempts to persecute
him.
When one recites Sura tul Kehf on Friday, noor
emerges from beneath his feet and reaches the heavens. This
noor will illuminate his way on the Day of
Judgement.
When one recites Al Kehf
on Friday 70 angels will carry it to the heavens and 70 will receive it there.
On the day of Judgement the reciter will assemble with as many people as there can
be in the distance between Mecca and Medina.
Sura tul Kehf
contains three riwayats:
- As’haab ul Kehf (The companions of the Cave)-after which the
surah itself is named
- Musa (AS) and the ‘ Aalim
- Zul Qarnain
As’haab ul Kehf:
It is said that a pagan Roman emperor, imposed
idol worship upon the people of his land, threatening persecution if they
disobeyed. Some of the youths refused to give up their beliefs and the worship
of Allah. They fled from persecution into a secluded cave, taking their guard
dog with them. Here, by the miracle of Allah, they slept for three hundred
years and nine more.
As many decades passed, the evil ruler died and more tolerant, God-fearing ones replaced him. The companions arose from their slumber thinking that they had slept but one night or a couple of nights. When one of them went out in search of food, and handed out his age-old gold coin, the townsman
became suspicious and carried him to the ruler.
The companion related his tale to the ruler
who listened attentively. He then sent an army to bring back the rest of the
men from the cave. However as soon as the companion entered the cave a rock
fell and blocked the entrance. A masjid was built in
memory of the companions of the cave.
Musa (AS) and the ‘ Aalim
On one of his many travels Musa (AS) met
with an ‘Aalim (learned man) at a preordained
spot near the sea. Musa (AS) requested that he be allowed to accompany this ‘
Aalim so as to gain knowledge from him. The ‘
Aalim agreed on one condition: that
Musa (AS) would not question anything he saw, but instead
wait to be informed.
Musa (AS) agreed, however he failed to keep
his promise three times: once when the ‘Aalim damaged
a boat; then when he killed a young boy for no apparent reason and later when
he repaired a decrepit wall in a town whose people refused to give them food
and shelter.
Finally the ‘Aalim
explained the reasons behind his actions, but did not take Musa
(AS) along for the rest of the journey.
Zul Qarnain
Yajooj and Majooj were two evil tribes, who caused pain and suffering to men
around them. It is said they were ugly: very tall and very short, with long
sharp tongues. They wreaked havoc by uprooting trees and creating chaos wherever
they went.
The people of a city grew desperate and approached Zul Qarnain, the ruler of east and west, to help them overcome the evil of Yajooj and Majooj.
Zul Qarnain fortified the city with an iron rampart around it. Yajooj and Majooj tried to weaken the walls by scraping and boring holes with their sharp tongues, but as soon as the azaan was rendered the wall mended and the evil tribes remained vanquished on the
outside.
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