Surat al Kahf, the 18th surah found in the exact middle  the Qur’an, contains 110 ayaat rich with stories and parables that are constantly engaging the reader. It is a Meccan surah that is full of deep insights and tackles serious subjects that concern us both in this life and the hereafter. The surah gives us a perspective to examine life differently in pursuit of finding its reality.  Surat Al-Kahf pertains to everyone, no matter his/her situation. If one is poor, weak, and oppressed, he will find the whole surah addressing his problems, giving him support, and suggesting solutions. If one is wealthy, healthy, and powerful, she will find it primarily speaking to her as well.

It was reported by the Prophet (pbuh) that “whoever reads Surat Al-Kahf on Friday, it lightens what is between the two Fridays.#” How can we best understand this light? This light is a guiding light throughout the week. Since we all face challenges that are both large and small, and we can very easily get confused as to how best to address our issues, we need a frequent reminder of the right perspective.  Surat al-Kahf gives us a criterion to make decisions and form opinions. It helps us understand challenges and gives us the ability to deal with them, whether they involve our finances, our personal relationships, or our pursuit to seek knowledge.  There is no doubt that this surah will, time and time again, be an indispensable gem in our lives if we use it in accordance with the sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).

This episode is an invitation for the reader to instill within himself the habit of reading Surat Al-Kahf every Friday, reflect deeply on the wealth of lessons and ideas, and more importantly, recall these lessons throughout the week. It is our hope that you, the reader, will enrich this episode with your own reflections and commentary by engaging with the material and discussing the ideas brought forth with your fellow MAS members, family, and friends, insha’Allah.

Utilizing the Lens: An Analogy

We would like the reader to consider Surat Al-Kahf as a “life lens” that one acquires by reading the surah every Friday. This lens will help us see things differently; it will help us see things without illusions. Consistently reading the surah will polish the lens and allow us to see life’s reality more clearly.

As we go through our week equipped with this lens, we will be able to overcome challenges, gain a better understanding of life, and in the process make better decisions. This episode is a step in creating your lens of Surat Al-Kahf, but before we begin, there are some special characteristics that one should know about this lens.  

1. Our belief system is the fundamental component of this lens. Believing in Allah, His Messengers, His Books, and the Day of Judgement will change our perspective. This belief is summarized in the first few ayaat of the surah, [v.1-3]. Taking this belief with us throughout the surah will help us understand the points the surah wants to make.

2. You can watch movies with this lens. Stories are a key component when it comes to learning and reflection, and we can extract numerous lessons from them. Surat al-Kahf is comprised of three major stories and mini-stories as well (i.e. the two gardeners).

3. WARNING: The lens can become dusty and blur your vision. The believer, like any other human being, is forgetful. However, when the believers are reminded, they will remember, [v.51:55]. Reading the Qur’an frequently helps remind us of our beliefs and values. It is not a surprise that the Prophet (pbuh) recommends reading this Surah every Friday. Reading Surat al Kahf consistently will allow us to wipe off the dust that accumulates throughout the week and polish our hearts, but it must be done on a consistent basis.  

4. Not everyone has the same lens. While you see wealth as a test from Allah and strive towards prohibiting greed from entering your heart, others will see it as a final objective they work hard to achieve. It is dangerous to assume that everyone has the same perspective as yourself.

5. This lens allows you to peer into the future! Surat al Kahf allows you to understand the Sunnah (law) of Allah in this universe. Figuring out this sunnah helps you anticipate the future and prepare for a successful one, insha’Allah [v.110].

Reflection Exercise

Now that you have some understanding as to the type of lens the Lighthouse team has in mind, we invite you to reflect on Surat al-Kahf by yourself as well as with your peers. To help our brothers and sisters have some guided discussion, the Lighthouse team has offered a few examples of core topics that Surat Al-Kahf focuses on. Keep in mind, however, that the readers should not limit themselves to these examples. Rather, they should use them to develop a methodology of reflection and a way to approach Surat Al-Kahf in particular and the whole Qur’an in general.

In this exercise, we ask the reader to reflect on the examples below. Each example is a fundamental area that Surat Al-Kahf focuses on or remind us of as we read it. For each example, we provide a short description, a list of focus verses, and a few discussion questions to stimulate ideas and reflections. Remember, you can do this discussion alone as well as in a group.

Please do not limit yourself to the examples below. Think of other areas that Surat Al-Kahf addresses and reflect on those as well. The Lighthouse team intentionally did not address very important topics to give the readers a chance to reflect on these themes on their own. As you read Surat Al-Kahf every Friday, remember these areas and recall any experiences related to them that you faced throughout the week. Try to find out how Surat Al-Kahf helped you overcome any challenges and bring about more understanding.

Examples

1. The Reality of This Life

Description

In this area, Surat al-Kahf guides us to understand one of the most difficult things: this life. It helps us understand the reality of this life and our role in it. It helps us give it its due value and understand how Allah wants us to live.

Focus Verses

[7-8, 28, 32-44, 45, 46, 110]

Discussion

• How does Surat Al-Kahf concisely describe this life and what is in it?

• How does [7-8] summarize the reality of this life, define our role in it, and describe its end?

• How is misunderstanding this life according to Surat Al-Kahf create problems for people? [28, 36]

• How does Surat Al-Kahf help us set our priorities when it comes to this life? [37, 46]

• Think about the parables that Allah used to describe this life, how can these parables help you live this life? [7, 45]

• Compare how the surah describes the joy of this life to the real joy in Paradise. Enumerate the differences and remember them.

• Suicidal thoughts come to people during prosperity and during poverty. How does Surat Al-Kahf create an immunity from such bad thoughts?

• Can you describe the current recession wave as you view it through the lens of Surat Al-Kahf?

2. Worshiping the One True God

Description

People seek refuge, support, and protection through powerful entities. Wealth, political powers, and influential groups are examples of these things. Surat Al-Kahf guides us to the only real power that is deserving of our reliance- Allah (swt). The surah illustrates the reality of these false powers that people depend on (and hence worship) instead of Allah (swt). The surah also refutes the fallacy that the believers are weak by relying on Allah (swt) and edifies the believers with  strong confidence when they rely on the highest power.

Focus Verses

[10, 14, 16, 26-27, 39-40, 51-52, 84, 95]

Discussion:

• Go through the surah, try to find examples of things that people rely on to gain power and support. Make a list of these things and see if they exist in your very life.

• How does the story of the people of the cave give the impression that the believers are weak?

• How does careful analysis of the cave story illustrate the complete opposite: reliance on Allah gives you the ultimate power?

• Search the focus verses for a few phrases that serve as a reminder that “Allah is the utmost power to rely on.” Make a list of these and memorize them!

• How do the good believers in the stories continuously relate all the power they have to Allah (swt)? How is that an important aspect of our belief system? Compare that to those who relate their power to their own effort- what are the consequences of this wrongful attribution?

3. The Victory of Allah is Near, Very Near

Description:

Allah promised His victory and support to His messengers and to the believers. “When is the victory of Allah?” is a question that we often ask given our hasty nature. Going through Surat Al-Kahf helps us see this reality and comforts our hearts.

Focus Verses:

[3, 11, 19, 21, 45, 58-59]

Discussion:

• How does v.3 help us understand this concept?

• How does reading the story of the cave help us feel that the victory of Allah is near?

• Aren’t three hundred and nine years a long time? Isn’t that the time it took to show the people of the cave Allah’s victory? How about people who won’t live for three hundred years?

• Can you list 5 reasons for Allah not to send his support at the times we expect? Use what you read from the surah and other surahs as well.

• Look at Surat Al-Kahf on a global scale. Do you feel that the victory of Allah is near?

4. Choosing Your Company

Description:

We have been created to live in groups and societies. Being with the right group is essential to living a successful life. However, it is not always easy to understand what the right group is, and even more difficult to associate with them. Surat Al-Kahf touches upon the importance of choosing the right company. It also explains the distractions and the pressure that may take us away from being with them.

Focus Verses:

[10, 14, 16, 28, 37-41, 43, 65-66]

Discussion:

• How is the story of the people of the cave a strong reminder of the importance of the good company?

• What other options [in terms of company] do the individuals of the people of the cave have other than the cave group? Why are these options more appealing than the cave group?

• The people of the cave made several good decisions. What are those decisions? How did good company help them in making these decisions?

• Why did the people of the cave desert their society? Do we have to do the same and live amongst good company? How can we “retreat” to “the cave” without leaving our society?

• What are the distractions that take us away from good company? Where are they found in the verses? Do you see these distractions in your life?

• “Bad company, the company that is not related to Allah, is useless.” Don’t you agree? How do you come to that conclusion while reading Surat Al-Kahf?

• Why do you think verses 37-41 are listed in the focus verses of this section?

• Make a list of 10 qualities of good company as you understand them from Surat Al-Kahf.

5. Wealth and Power, Is It a Blessing or a Curse?

Description:

People spend so much effort to gain wealth and power. Some succeed. Some are even given wealth and power without much effort. It is always a difficult question to answer. Is it good to have wealth and power? Is it really a blessing from Allah? Should one seek them or stay away from them? Surat Al-Kahf helps us strike the right balance and shows us how to make our wealth and power a blessing.

Focus Verses:

[31-44, 46, 83-98]

Discussion:

• How do we understand the value of wealth and power in light of understanding our role in this life (example 1)?

• How is wealth clearly a distraction and a source of problems in the story of the two men [31-44]? Compare the two perspectives of wealth and power.

• Should one just run away from wealth and power? Do we have to acquire them?

• If we do strive to acquire wealth and power, what would be our intention while acquiring them?

• Does Surat Al-Kahf show examples of people who gained wealth and power and succeeded in utilizing them?

• Write a short paragraph describing how wealth and power can get you closer to Allah. You can make a list as well

6. The Danger of False Arguments

Description:

False arguments are the primary source of misguidance. We live in a world full of false arguments. When mixed with lies, those arguments appear strong and tend to make sense. However, through careful examination,  and sometimes through simple examination, those arguments collapse. Surat Al-Kahf is a strong reminder, warning us against falling prey to false arguments.

Focus Verses:

[1, 5, 14-15, 35-36, 54, 56]

Discussion:

• What do you think the primary source of reasoning would be? Primary = 1 :-)

• An argument without knowledge is the severest problem. Where do you find that in Surat Al-Kahf? How do people misguide themselves and others through that?

• What line of thought do the people of the cave use to arrive at the right conclusion? How did they figure out the false  arguments of their people? What tools did they use?

• What kind of false assumptions and beliefs did the rich man (in the story of the two men) have? How did these wrong assumptions lead him astray? Do you have these wrong assumptions? Be careful!

• The other man (in the two men story) had it right! Right?

7. Knowledge Belongs to Allah, Ask Him for More!

Description:

Knowledge is like an ocean. Humanity as a whole just knows a little bit of this ocean. No matter how knowledgeable, our knowledge is very limited. However, knowledge is deceiving. It tends to instill arrogance in our hearts and distract us from its source, Allah (swt). Surat Al-Kahf reminds us of the vastness of knowledge and the importance of seeking it. It also reminds us that it all belongs to Allah and we should relate it to Him and ask Him alone for it. As our knowledge increases, our humility should.

Focus Verses:

[1, 23-24, 25, 39, 60-82, 109]

Discussion:

• How is Surat Al-Kahf a strong reminder about the vastness of Allah’s knowledge?

• Do you agree that knowledge can cause distraction and arrogance?

• Read the story of Moses (pbuh) and the righteous knowledgeable man. Read the details of the story from Sahih Al-Bukhari [see resources]. Why do you think Moses (pbuh) went on this journey? What mistake did he make when he was asked the question, “Who is the most knowledgeable person on earth?”

• What kind of knowledge did Moses (pbuh) learn by being next to the righteous man? Can you make a list of things Moses (and you) learned?

• Write a paragraph to describe the right attitude dealing with knowledge

8. You May Like Something and It is Bad for You

Description:

We cannot  see the future. We do not even know enough of the past. We tend to want things and wish that they happen in a particular way. When they don’t, we get upset and feel bad. We grieve when bad happens and we celebrate when good happens. Although a human tendency, it is not necessarily right. We may like something and it is bad for us; and we may dislike something and it is good for us. Surat Al-Kahf strongly instills this belief in our heart. As we go through events throughout the week, we have to have this belief ready to help us.

Focus Verses:

[71-82]

Discussion:

• Does this belief mean we should be indifferent to events happening around us?

• How can this belief help us overcome challenges and make good decisions?

• Apart from breaching the agreement with the righteous man, was Moses wrong in making such judgments in the three events he went through with the righteous man?

• If you want to have another word for this man and what he does, what would be this word?

• Can we behave like this righteous man? When can we? WHEN MUST WE NOT?

9. Always Measure Your Actions Against the Guidance of Allah

Description

We tend to like what we do. Our decisions are the best since we are the ones who made them. Our actions are the best since they are ours. Our mistakes always have excuses. However, Surat Al-Kahf loudly reminds us to question our ideas, re-examine our thoughts, and measure our actions. All of this should be done in accordance to a criterion, our belief in Allah.

Focus Verses

[103-106]

Discussion

• How did this concept help the people of the cave?

• Could this have helped the rich man (in the story of the two men)?

• What is the danger of being heedless about one’s deeds in accordance with Allah’s guidance?

• Doesn’t this concept make us always hesitate and lose confidence in what we do? How can we be confident in what we do while not becoming vulnerable to mistakes.

• List 5 things you can do to make sure you are on the right track. You can get them from Surat Al-Kahf

10. The Name of the Surah: “Al-Kahf” - BONUS READ

Note: Please do not read until you finish the whole exercise

It is important to reflect on the name (or the different) names of the suras in the Qur’an. These names are selected by Allah and taught to His messenger. There is a lot that we can learn while trying to understand the name, the reason it was chosen, and the theme it tries to convey.

Going through the examples above, as well as the ones you will be able to create, we can find that the story of the people of the cave has a component of what the Surah wants to say. These concepts are demonstrated in the story and helped the people of the cave make the right decision.

• The people of the cave realized the value of this life in comparison to the hereafter.  They chose to retreat in a cave free of the “adornment” of this life to protect their faith.

• They refused to obey and rely on an oppressive ruler and completely relied on Allah (swt). Everyone else sought support by the strong political power they lived under and ended up abandoning their faith and worshiping false gods.

• The story of the cave tells us that although they remained three hundred and nine years in their cave, this time is nothing in the age of nations. It felt to them like a day or so. Allah resurrected them in order that they (and us) know that “the promise of Allah is true” and His victory is near.

• The people of the cave were able to stick together, think together, support one another, and join together in doing the right actions. They were able to overcome the pressure of the evil and oppressive society by being together. They demonstrated to us the value of good company.

• Coming from wealthy and powerful ranks, their wealth and power did not distract them from making the right decisions. Their wealth and power were only in their hands. Their hearts were full of Allah and His deen.

• Their people made many false arguments claiming gods other than Allah. They were able to overcome those false arguments by stronger and clearer arguments.

• Throughout the story, we see that it is Allah who guides, it is He who teaches, He is the one who spreads mercy and grants success. They asked Allah for guidance [10]; Allah increased them in guidance, [13]; they fled to the cave seeking Allah’s guidance [16]; they always attribute knowledge and guidance to Allah [19]. Even the knowledge of how many they were or how long they stayed in the cave is attributed to Allah [21, 22, 26]

• The cave itself is a great symbol. A dark, cold, and scary cave is not something good. Palaces are nicer places to stay. The story shows us that the cave was a much better place [16]. The cave is sure to be disliked but “you may dislike something and it is good for you.”

• What saved these people from the evil environment they were in is a few moments of truth: “Are we right? Let us examine our beliefs. How dare we worship other than Allah. Are our people wrong? Are we wrong?” Those moments are essential to our survival. Otherwise we can be from the people “Whose effort is lost in worldly life and they think they are doing well”

Resources

• Musa and the Righteous Man in Hadith. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 74
• Suhaibwebb.com: Tafsir of Surat al-Kahf Part I
• Suhaibwebb.com: Tafsir of Surat al-Kahf Part II
• Suhaibwebb.com: Tafsir of Surat al-Kahf Part III

The Lighthouse team would like to thank Raef Haggag the author of www.creativejuce.org for sharing his doodle. For more interesting and creative doodles, feel free to visit his site.