SURATUL KAHF:“THE CAVE”

Briefly Summarized Tafsir (Commentary)

Presented by: Mona Salem

VERSES 32 - 4132) And put forward to them the example of two men: unto one of them We had given two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date palms; and had put between them green crops (cultivated fields). 33) Each of those two gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein, and We caused a river to gush forth in the midst of both. 34) And he had fruits, and he said to his companion in the course of discussion: “I am greater than you in wealth and have a mightier entourage.” 35) And he went into his garden while having been unjust to himself. He said: “I do not think that this will ever perish.” 36) “And I do not think the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, I surely, shall find better than this when I return to Him.” 37) His companion said to him during his discussion: “Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust, then out of the sperm drop, then fashioned you into a man?” 38) “But as for my part, I believe that He is Allah, my Lord, and none shall I associate as partner with my Lord.” 39) “It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: “that which Allah wills! There is no power but with Allah!” If you see me less than you in wealth, and children,” 40) “It may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and will send on it storms from the sky, then it will be as a barren slippery earth.” 41) “Or the water thereof becomes buried into the earth, so that you will never be able to seek it.”

THE PARALLEL OF ARROGANCE This is the second major story in the Surah,

the 1st story was about the youth of the cave The Arab tribe of Quraysh were very arrogant

and they would not want to sit with those who were poor – like Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) and others. But the Prophet (sws) refused to leave them behind in order to impress the rich people or make any special accommodations for the noble and rich.

In this story, one man is grateful for his gifts and the other becomes arrogant because of what Allah has blessed him with

LESSON #1: TRUE BELIEF IS POWER The lesson we learn from the first man is that his

belief in Allah makes him free He doesn’t care about wealth, strength, or his

reputation among people – he is free of that because he only cares about Allah’s pleasure with him

He shows this by speaking openly without hesitation to his companion – not fearing that this mighty, wealthy man will be angry with him, only wanting Allah’s happiness

He is aware that whatever comes to him, comes to him from Allah, and whatever bad befalls him it is a test from Allah… and Allah gives and He takes as He wills.

#2: NOTHING LASTS FOREVER The righteous man reminds his

companion of the ways in which Allah could take away his blessings

He mentions just a couple of examples:A rainstorm making the earth completely

muddy and unable to sustain plantsWater receding to where it is no longer

available for crops

#3: OUR ATTITUDE IS A CHOICE The story of the two men of the gardens

shows us that we can either be thankful to Allah in our words and actions, or we can become arrogant

Arrogance leads to disbelief – as we see in the case of the second man of the garden. He began to doubt if there would be any accountability for his actions.

He even became “entitled” believing that even if there was a reckoning in the Hereafter, Allah would continue to bless him as he was blessed in this world, even though his behavior did not justify it.

#4: GRATEFULNESS IS THE BASIS OF OBEDIENCE Why do we believe in and obey Allah? We do so because we realize who He is –

our Creator. The second man says: “Do you

disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust, then from a sperm drop, then fashioned you into a man?”

He then advises the other man, you should say, Masha Allah – or “That which Allah wills” and “La hawla wa la quwata ila billah” meaning “there is no power but with Allah!”

#5: A MUSLIM IS NOT JEALOUS! When others seem to be more blessed than us, we

must remain hopeful… and not be bitter The righteous man of the garden said, “It may be

that my Lord will give me something better than your garden”

We must realize that wealth is a test for the people for Allah to see how they use their wealth and whether or not they are truly grateful to Allah

Jealousy has no place for the Muslim because everything is from Allah (SWT)

When we are hopeful, patient, thankful, and righteous, insha Allah we will be rewarded – if not in this world, then in the Hereafter

WHAT OTHER LESSONS?

What did you learn from this story that Allah blessed us with in His Quran?