Surat-ul-Kahf

This Surah relates three very important events to us that took place in the past:

  1. The story of a group of youngsters who had gone to hide in a Kahf (cave) to preserve their Deen and their Imaan. Due to this link, it has been named Surah Al-Kahf.

  2. The story of Hazrat Musa (Alaihis Salaam) when he had received the command to meet Hazrat Khidr (Alaihis Salaam).

  3. The story of Zul Qar'nain, who had travelled and was taken around the world.

This Surah was revealed to answer the questions that the Kaafir and the Mushrik of Makkah had asked our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), following the suggestion of the Jews of Madinah. The aim of it was to test whether Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) was a Nabi. When they asked these questions, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had promised to give them an answer the following day, hoping to get revelation. However, while making this promise, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not say INSHAA-ALLAH. So, there was no revelation the next day. It was only after 15 days that Wahi came down. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) was advised to say INSHA-ALLAH regarding something that he intended to do in the future.

There are huge benefits in reciting Surah Al-Kahf partially or entirely. According to a Hadith reported by Hazrat Abu Darda (Radiyallahu Anhu) that is found in Saheeh Muslim, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that the one who learns the first 10 verses of Surah Al-Kahf, will be protected from Dajjaal. According to another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that the one who recites the beginning and the end of Surah Al-Kahf, will get a Nur (light) that will cover him from head to toe. And the one, who recites it fully, will have a Nur from the earth to the sky.

According to a Hadith found in Al-Mustadrak of Al-Haakim, it is recommended to recite this Surah every Jummah. According to this Hadith, the one who recites it on the day of Jummah, will have a Nur that will shine in front of him till the next Jummah.

[English version of "Sourat-ul-Kahf" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.3]