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Sura 18, “The Cave,” another Meccan sura, occupies a unique place in Muslim piety. Muhammad said that one who memorized the first ten verses of this chapter (or, in some versions, the last ten) would “be secure against the Dajjal” – the Islamic version of the anti-Christ. Another ahadith has him saying that if a Muslim recites Sura 18 on Friday, “it will illuminate him with light from one Friday to the next.” Another version says that one who does this will be “immune for 8 days from all fitnah [upheaval, sedition] that will happen.” It also contains, as we shall see, some key material for Islamic folklore and Sufi mysticism.
According to Ibn Ishaq, this chapter was revealed after the pagan Quraysh sent an emissary to the Jewish rabbis of Medina, asking them about Muhammad’s prophetic claims. The rabbis responded: “Ask him about three things which we will tell you to ask, and if he answers them then he is a Prophet who has been sent (by Allah); if he does not, then he is saying things that are not true, in which case how you will deal with him will be up to you. Ask him about some young men in ancient times, what was their story. For theirs is a strange and wondrous tale.” That story is in verses 9-26.
The rabbis continued: “Ask him about a man who travelled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth. What was his story?” That story is in verses 83-98. “And ask him about the Ruh (soul or spirit) — what is it? If he tells you about these things, then he is a Prophet, so follow him, but if he does not tell you, then he is a man who is making things up, so deal with him as you see fit.” So this sura is offered, at least in this view, as a validation of Muhammad’s claim to be a prophet.
Verses 1-8 serve as an introduction, praising the Qur’an, in which there is no “crookedness” (v. 1). Maulana Bulandshahri comments: “This means that there are neither iniquities nor muddling of words in the Qur’an. There is also no shortage of eloquence in it, nor any discrepancies.” Allah has made it clear in order to warn the unbelievers of his impending terrible punishment (v. 2), as well as to warn those who say Allah has begotten a Son (v. 4) – that is, the Christians, as well as the Jews who, according to 9:30, claimed that Ezra was the son of God.
Allah consoles Muhammad for his grief over the unbelievers’ obstinacy (v. 6), and reminds him that the attractions of this life are merely a test (v. 7).
Then verses 9-26 tell the story of the “companions of the Cave and of the Inscription” (Al-Kahf and Ar-Raqim, v. 9). Al-Kahf is the cave in which the young men slept for 300 or 309 years (v. 25, with the difference being the discrepancy between the solar and lunar calendars), miraculously protected by Allah. There is no agreement on the meaning of Al-Raqim; some say it refers to a nearby valley or mountain, while Anas and Sha‘bi contend it was the name of their dog, who was with them and is mentioned in verses 18 and 22. Sa‘id bin Jubayr said it was “a tablet of stone on which they wrote the story of the people of the Cave, then they placed it at the entrance to the Cave” – hence, “the Inscription.”
These were, according to Ibn Kathir, “boys or young men” who were “more accepting of the truth and more guided than the elders who had become stubbornly set in their ways and clung to the religion of falsehood.” They acknowledge the oneness of Allah and reject the idols of their people; Allah protects them from the idolaters by sheltering them in the cave (vv. 14-16).
Although the young men remained in the cave for three centuries, when they were asked how long they had been there, they answered: “We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day” (v. 19). Allah “turned them on their right and on their left sides” (v. 18) – presumably to preserve their bodies from decay while they slept, for, says Ibn Abbas, “If they did not turn over, the earth would have consumed them.” Their dog, meanwhile, was “stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold” (v. 18) – in other words, he wasn’t precisely inside the cave, so that he wouldn’t keep angels from entering it. “He was sitting outside the door,” explains Ibn Kathir, “because the angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog, as was reported in As-Sahih, nor do they enter a house in which there is an image, a person in a state of ritual impurity or a disbeliever, as was narrated in the Hasan Hadith.” Bukhari records that tradition, in which Muhammad says: “Angels do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature.” Nevertheless, continues Ibn Kathir: “The blessing they enjoyed extended to their dog, so the sleep that overtook them overtook him too. This is the benefit of accompanying good people, and so this dog attained fame and stature. It was said that he was the hunting dog of one of the people which is the more appropriate view, or that he was the dog of the king’s cook, who shared their religious views, and brought his dog with him.”
This is an adaptation of the Christian story of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus (although the Qur’an is less sure of their number – see v. 22), who are revered as saints in Byzantine Christianity. These are young men who sought refuge in a cave from the pagans in the pre-Christian Roman Empire, were miraculously protected, and who woke up after the Empire had been Christianized. (Ibn Kathir, however, thinks the story is pre-Christian, since the Jewish rabbis know of it and ask Muhammad about it as one of their tests of his prophethood.)
In verses 27-44, after a brief invocation of the gardens of Paradise (vv. 27-31), there comes an extended parable about a man who valued the things of this world more than obedience to Allah. The message is the same as that of Luke 12:15-21: “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
Then verses 45-59 repeat warnings of the impending Day of Judgment (v. 49). Satan’s refusal to bow down to Adam is recalled again, and Allah warns people not to follow Satan in his disobedience (v. 50). Here Satan is identified as one of the jinns, as opposed to his identification as an angel elsewhere – see the discussion of 7:11-25. Those whom the unbelievers have associated as partners with Allah will be of no avail on that Day (v. 52). Allah has sent messengers, but the unbelievers scoff at them (v. 56). They will be destroyed (v. 59).
Next week: The astonishing story of Moses and Al-Khidr, “The Green Man.”
(Here you can find links to all the earlier "Blogging the Qur'an" segments. Here is a good Arabic Qur’an, with English translations available; here are two popular Muslim translations, those of Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, along with a third by M. H. Shakir. Here is another popular translation, that of Muhammad Asad. And here is an omnibus of ten Qur’an translations.)
Posted by Robert at March 10, 2008 2:10 PM
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What if some of us think that mohammed was the anti-Christ? I sometimes think this, but then I realize that there are many like mohammed - Hitler, Stalin, Ivan the Terrible, Mao, Kim Jong Il, Che, etc. They just didn't make a religion around their illness. But some still practice their ways as if it were a religion.
Posted by: R_not![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 10, 2008 2:27 PM
Does the Koran actually use the term “Rabbi”?
Several months ago, I noticed a report that Iraqis refer to US soldiers as “Jews”. That got me to wondering if the “Jews” in the Koran were really Jewish. None of the usual accoutrements of Judaica are described. There are no prayer shawls, menorahs, side-curls, stars of David etc…
Recently an Iranian production about Muhammad cited on JW featured many of these attributes, but I question whether they are truly Koranic.
Is it possible that the “Jews” in the Koran were a reviled social class that had nothing to do with Judaism as we understand it? Of course, the KSA will never allow the archaeology required for a clear view of seventh century Arabia. We have only Muhammad’s word, which is always questionable.
at March 10, 2008 5:05 PM
Let us discuss Chapter-18, Al-Kahf, The Cave in the right context!
Date of Revelation and Context
According to most of the renowned commentators like Ibn ‘Abbas and Ibn Zubair the whole of this Surah was revealed at Mecca in the fourth or fifth year of the call of Prophet Muhammad, (peace and blessings be upon him). As previously discussed in chapter-16, Al-Nahl (The Bee) the prophecy that the Holy Prophet would meet with severe opposition from the Jews and Christians; it had been dealt with in the Surah at some good length. This subject is seen further elaborated in Chapter- 17, Surah Bani Isra’il (The Night Journey) in which it is stated that he would be taken to regions where he would live among the Jews and would establish new contacts with them and later meet with oppositions from both the Jews and the Christians; but in the end would conquer them. The Surah Bani Isra’il (The Night Journey) also mentions, a Vision of the Holy Prophet, which also embodied a prophecy that he would conquer the Holy Land of the Jews, and alluded to two revolts of the Jews foretold in the Book of Deuteronomy. The first revolt took place after the time of David as a consequence of which the Jews were expelled from their native land. They repented of their sins and their homeland was restored to them. But they again relapsed into the iniquitous practices, defied God’s commandments and revolted for the second time in the time of Jesus. This second defiance brought upon them severer punishment. Their holy places were destroyed and they were exiled from their beloved Land of Promise . These prophecies had also mentioned the conditions and circumstances under which the first part of the Israelites – the Jews – had to pass. A description of their condition, however, have rise to two obvious questions:
(a) If Christians, who form the second part of the Mosaic Dispensation, have been spared the punishment with which the Jews who were its first part were afflicted, does it not follow that Christians are heirs to the Divine blessings and favours promised to the Jews?
(b) Why are Muslims’ warned to be on their guard lest they incur Divine displeasure by following in the footsteps of the Jews, and what does this warning portend and what has the future in store for them?
Subject-Matter
Both these very natural and pertinent questions have been answered in the present Chapter and some light has also been shed on the vicissitudes through which Christianity – second branch of the Mosaic Dispensation – was to pass. Mention had also been made of how Muslims would behave and make themselves the object of Divine wrath by imitating the iniquitous ways of the Jews. An answer has also been supplied to yet another question, viz., what connection is there between these matters and the story of the Dwellers of the Cave, and of Dhu’l Qarnain and Gog and Moses and the parable of ‘Two Gardens’ and the Isra’ (Spiritual Journey) of Moses? The answer which this Surah gives to this question is that these parables describe in metaphorical language the rise and fall of Christian nations and also the hardships and tribulations which the Muslims were to suffer from them on account of their own iniquities.
In order to expand the subject and give it more clarity, the Isra’ (Spiritual Journey) of Moses has been mentioned after the parable of the ‘ Two Gardens ’. This Spiritual Journey of Moses describes in metaphorical language the great material and moral progress which his followers were to make. Just as the phenomenal progress of the followers of the Holy Prophet has been described in his own Isra’, mentioned in Chapter Bani Isra’il( The Night Journey). The Isra of Moses describes in detail when and how this great advancement would commence and where it would stop and when the Israelites would become deprived of Divine favours which would be transferred to the House of Ishmael. After his we are told that the Ishmaelites, after having inherited God’s favours, would, in their turn, incur His displeasure b defying His commandments and would be punished by Gog and Magog who would , at one time, spread over and dominate the entire world. Towards the end of the Surah mention Is made of one – Dhu’l Qarnain, who stood in the way of the domination of the whole world by Gog and Magog. Thus light is thrown on the material and spiritual conditions of Christians both in the early stages of their Faith and in the Latter Days. The Dwellers of the Cave symbolize early Christians in the period of their weakness, and Gog and Magog represent them in the heyday of their glory in the Latter Days. The Surah closes with an assurance to the followers of Islam that God would break and shatter the forces of irreligiousness unleashed by Gog and Magog, and would bring about the deliverances of Muslims by means of a second Dhu’l Qarnian. This second Dhu’l Qarnian is claimed to be the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement who is a follower of the Holy Prophet by Ahmadiyya sect in Islam.
To be continued……
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Love for all, Hatred for None
at March 10, 2008 8:07 PM
skevin:
The Quranic verbiage for Jewish Rabies is “Ahbar al-yahood”, or Jewish clerics. The Jews of Arabia were mostly Arab converts to Judaism mixed in with migrant Jews as such they practiced a Judaism heavily influenced by Arab culture.
at March 10, 2008 11:37 PM
skevin:
The Quranic verbiage for Jewish Rabies is “Ahbar al-yahood”, or Jewish clerics. The Jews of Arabia were mostly Arab converts to Judaism mixed in with migrant Jews as such they practiced a Judaism heavily influenced by Arab culture.
at March 10, 2008 11:38 PM
Can I ask a question without you biting my head off?
I may be able to help you with your question.
Are you saying that the Jews who are spoken of in the Qu'ran are not common Jews? So the Qu'ran is not speaking of you?
Simple test to find out.
Do you accept Jesus Christ as a prophet of God.
...........
Do you accept Prophet Muhammed pbuh, who was foretold to you in your books as the Messenger of God?
...............
Do you recognise the Quran as a divine revelation from God?
The answer to all three is a unanimous no. So yes the Quran is talking about you.
at March 10, 2008 11:59 PM
Plagiarism at its worst. That is all anything of story is in the book. If you took out all of the stolen stories form the bible and Jewish legend as this is. The rest would be how allah wants the believers to treat the infidels, how allah him self will treat them in the next life and the rewards he will give to those who do what allah says to do to the infidels. NOT MUCH ELSE. No redeeming value at all.
I would suggest hiring some Hollywood writers to fill in this missing parts but they are off strike now, darn! Of course like me they would get throughly discussed and depressed after read the edited version.
Robert, I'm glad you did not quot much of it because it does get depressing reading it after a while. To counter it I like to read a part of the Word of God, does wonders.
PS @thesaracen The koran is not and never has been the "revelation from God". The Bible is a close revelation nothing more need be added.
Rev 22:18-19
And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words of this prophetic book, God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.
مراجعة 22:18-19
وأعلن رسميا الى كل من يستمع النبويه كلمات هذا الكتاب : اذا كان احد يضيف شيئا الى ما هو مكتوب هنا ، وسوف تضاف الى الله ان يصيب الشخص الموصوف في هذا الكتاب. وإذا كان أي شخص يزيل اي من الكلمات النبويه من هذا الكتاب ، والله سيزيل أن حصة الشخص في شجرة الحياة وفي المدينة المقدسة التي يرد وصفها في هذا الكتاب.
at March 11, 2008 12:22 AM
Simple test to find out.thesaracen
Do you accept Jesus Christ as a prophet of God. ...........
Do you accept Prophet Muhammed pbuh, who was foretold to you in your books as the Messenger of God? ...............
Do you recognise the Quran as a divine revelation from God?
The answer to all three is a unanimous no. So yes the Quran is talking about you.
Posted by: thesaracen
That sounds like a description of me as well - even though I'm not a Jew. Speaking of the region in question - 7th century Arabia, it also describes the pagans: they too would pass the 3 tests you outline above.
Your negative questions don't lead anywhere. The Qur'an states in surah 9 that the Jews worship Ezra as a son of God, even thought they don't. End result - people who happen to match the Jews in the absense of certain non-Islamic traits are then branded Jews.
Posted by: Infidel Pride at March 11, 2008 1:03 AM
The bible talks about Jesus, who you deny. You won't admit it, because you don't want to offend your Christian buddies. But you can tell me, I can keep a secret.
I know nothing about your secretive cult anyway. The Qu'ran is a copy is it hahahahaha, yeah, sure it is.
You might like to share with me some of these stolen stories? How can they be stolen when they are God's words?
How arrogant you are. All I can do is feel sorry for you.
I'll tell you why The Qu'ran came, because both your Torah and the bible where tampered with; as certain people have grudgingly admitted on this website.
I don't see how you accept Christianity, because it didn't come out nowhere. They succeeded you, after you rejected Jesus. So keep believing you're the chosen people.
You heard of Jews for Allah. Google it. It may be of use to you.
Posted by: thesaracen at March 11, 2008 1:10 AM
Ezra is not the son of god?????? You probably didn't ask a Jew.
The pagans worshiped idols not one God as the Qu'ran orders. Nor did they accept Prophet Muhammed pbuh as the Messenger of God, so no, they would not have passed the test.
Neither would a Jew, which is exactly the same Jew described in the Qu'ran. It's not a conventional test by the way, it's just a few questions I want to ask.
What are you saying infidel pride. That the Jews in the Qu'ran are not common Jews? Well I think you'll find they are. They know it themselves, thats why they hate Muslims.
Posted by: thesaracen at March 11, 2008 1:19 AM
9:30 is hilarious...the classic Ezra mistake by Muhammad.
"The Moslem tradition is that Ezra, after being dead 100 years, was raised to life, and dictated from memory the whole of the Jewish Scriptures which had been lost during the captivity, and that the Jews said he could not have done this unless he had been the son of God. There is no Jewish tradition whatever in support of this accusation of Mohammed's, which probably was entirely due to his own invention or to misinformation." Edward Henry Palmer
Posted by: Silly Allah at March 11, 2008 4:36 AM
Dear Friends,
Uzair or Ezra lived in the fifth century B.C. He was a descendent of Seraiah, the high priest and being himself a member of the priestly order was known as Ezra, the Priest. He was one of the most important personages of his day and exercised a far reaching influence on the development of Judaism. He was especially honoured among the Prophets of Israel. The Jews of Medina and a Jewish sect in Hadralmout believed him to be the son of God. The Rabbis associate his name with several important institutions. Renan has remarked in the preface to his ‘History of the People of Israel’ that the definite constitution of Judaism may be dated only from the time of Ezra. In the Rabbinical literature he was considered worthy of being the vehicle of the Law, had it not been already given through Moses? He worked in collaboration with Nehemiah and died at the age of 120 in Babylonia( Jews. Enc& Enc. Bib)
In Holy Quran Chapter 9: Verse 30 God says: “ And the Jews say, 'Ezra is the son of Allah,' and the Christians say, 'the Messiah is the son of Allah;' that is what they say with their mouths. They only imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before them. Allah's curse be on them! How they are turned away.”
We know that in the wider perspective of western political arena and its periphery, Jews and Christians are seen grinding their axes for their ulterior motives, in a complete unison in worldly affairs. But for last 2000 years Christians have not been able to convince Jews that, the prophet Jesus, the Christian picked up and follow, was actually prophet of Jews and their own reformer which Israelite failed to recognise. Jesus was out rightly rejected by Israelite. He was put on the cross to die a humiliating death. How unfortunate it is, that Israelites (Jews); were the chosen people of God but they could only earn His wrath for the times to come and nothing else.
In Holy Quran God says in Chapter 4: Verse 161: ‘So, because of the transgression of the Jews, We forbade them pure things which had been allowed to them, and also because of their hindering many men from Allah's way.’
But our God is a Gracious and Almighty God and knows His people well. He loves us being his subjects and He always leaves a passage for us and allows a respite to stay at least on the right tracks. God says in Holy Quran Chapter 2 : Verse 63: ‘Surely, those who believe and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians - whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.’
-----------------------------------
Love for all, Hatred for None
at March 11, 2008 6:30 AM
Holy theological argument, Batman!
Why is Islam different than any other religion on the planet?
Fear of the other.
Islam divides people into two groups - believers and kuffir.
Believers go to Paradise, kuffirs go to hell.
Not only do kuffirs go to hell, but believers are supposed to get them there ASAP. Kuffirs have no rights. They can be killed, raped, sold into slavery, robbed, lied to and abused.
Not only does Islam divide the world's population, it also divides Muslims into two groups. Male and female. Women are the property of men. They are Musims, but they have no human rights.
Is this a religion or a political party practicing genocide?
Consider the bloody history of Islam before you answer.
at March 11, 2008 10:59 AM
Islam divides people into two groups - believers and kuffar.
So does Christianity and Judaism. You either follow it or you don't.
Believers go to Paradise, kufar go to hell.
It's up to God who from among the believers goes to paradise. He is the ultimate decision maker since He knows what we don't know about ourselves. If you don't even believe in Him, His messenger and His Book, then you got no chance.
The Qu'ran is a warning to you to correct your ways. To me also since I'm not perfect.
Accept Islam for your salvation.
Not only do kuffirs go to hell, but believers are supposed to get them there ASAP. Kuffirs have no rights. They can be killed, raped, sold into slavery, robbed, lied to and abused.
My friend you need to read the Qu'ran and the Hadiths and see if thats what it says. These are all lies. If we do any of these things have we not commited a sin?
Not only does Islam divide the world's population, it also divides Muslims into two groups. Male and female. Women are the property of men. They are Musims, but they have no human rights.
Woman are given rights in the Qu'ran.
God created them with different characteristics but they are the equal of men. There's no division between the two in Islam. Woman are not the property of men. That was precisely one of the things Prophet Muhammed pbuh saw among the
Quraysh.
Is this a religion or a political party practicing genocide?
It's a religion, a beautiful one at that.
Consider the bloody history of Islam before you answer.
A history of discovery and guidance to humanity. Islam wasn't spread by violent means, as Indonesia and Malaysia can testify to.
Posted by: thesaracen at March 11, 2008 12:13 PM
The first four words of the koran should be:
"Once upon a time ..."
tanstaafl; you're right on target.
Posted by: undaunted at March 11, 2008 1:51 PM
And as for A Khokar and thesaracen;
Every infidel here knows you're permitted and commanded to lie to us, to pretend you’re friends with us in order to bring us under submission. We know the “peace” you wish for “all” is only your version of peace wished for us as long as we believe in your delusion.
You write with such disgusting smugness and condescension, as though we just don’t get it, as though we’re the ones with reprobate minds.
Your religion is worse than a fairy tale because fairy tales have happy endings. Islam has nothing but misery as a beginning, middle, and end. Your historically preposterous assertions that Islam profoundly and positively effected civilization is nothing more than you and your brothers overcompensating for thousands of years of sitting on your smelly asses in the sand, masturbating furiously, as you do with your writing here.
We reject your ‘wisdom’, your ‘truth’, your ‘friendship’, your ‘peace’, and your damned delusional deity.
Posted by: undaunted at March 11, 2008 2:31 PM
Barbarians.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3517726,00.html
Posted by: undaunted at March 11, 2008 2:52 PM
“Once upon a times”
Yes ‘Undaunted’ you are very right and 100% correct!
‘Once upon a time’ happens to be the subject and sole concern of Holy Quran!
The entire matter discussed and the commandments ordained for the Muslims, in particular, and for the mankind as whole is that they are very vehemently admonished to stay away from the practices of olds; that ‘once upon a time’ there used to be the old denominations like Judaic and Christian; God granted them with all His possible favours that they could think of. But His blessings and favour; they took it granted; exceeded the limits and became the worst transgressors. Quran says that it earned them only one thing; the displeasure and wrath of God.
They are destined to stay as defunct till they repent and go down on there knees and come to the terms and seek His forgiveness in the light of the lastest commandments in Islam.
Muslims are admonished with these parables of ‘Once Upon A Time’; to stay warned… and be advised; lest they end up facing the same old tunes.
----------------------------------
Love for all, Hatred for None
at March 11, 2008 2:57 PM
Yadda, yadda, yadda.
Posted by: undaunted at March 11, 2008 3:07 PM
Now run get another tissue.
Posted by: undaunted at March 11, 2008 3:15 PM
Once upon a time there was no such thing as kafir. Approximately 1,400 years and 270,000,000+ dead kafir later the grim fairy tale continues.
Posted by: butterfly at March 11, 2008 9:53 PM
You muslim commenters sound sooooo insecure in your beliefs. Why must you constantly try to convert us when anything that is worth its weight can usually stand on its own. Sorry, Guys, but I don't Think I'm buying your sales pitch. Please guys you're wasting your time.
P. S. I think that muslims are the infidels, not the rest of us.
at March 11, 2008 11:08 PM
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