Part 4 Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave -Dr-Yasir-Qadhi

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Part 4.1 Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave -Dr-Yasir-Qadhi

In first 3 ayats( ayat 9 to ayat 11), Allah swt summarises the story, People Of The Cave. 

And, then ,Allah swt gives a detailed analysis of this story. 

★It is as if Allah swt answers the Quraish first with few lines and then he tells them much more that they did not ask for.★

Allah swt starts by asking question,

Al-Kahf : 9

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحٰبَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ ءَايٰتِنَا عَجَبًا

Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?

It is like Allah saying to all the Quraysh who were challenging Prophet Muhammad SAW by asking him about the People Of The Cave:

"Do you think that People Of The Cave and their story is the most amazing thing that we have done?"

"Rather, it is a trivial matter. There are so many signs/questions in grand scale of things. "

"You are so amazed by something that is so trivial. "

"Whereas the bigger signs/miracles are Prophet Muhammad's SAW character,conduct, the Quran rather than the People Of The Cave"

َّ أَصْحٰبَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ 

The people of the cave & the Raqim:

ِ الرَّقِيمِ 

Scholars have discussed about Raqim: 

1)Some say it is the mountain that the cave was in.

2l While, some have said that the Raqim is the inscribed tablet that was put on the entrance of the cave. And, later on when people discovered slippers, they inscribed something. And, then people call it as people of the cave & the inscription. 

-In any case, they refer to the same people. 

Part 4.2 Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave---Dr-Yasir-Qadhi

Al-Kahf : 9

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحٰبَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ ءَايٰتِنَا عَجَبًا

Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?

Allah swt begins the story by saying, "this is not the biggest sign. However, since you are asking about it, I will let you know about it".

*********************

Stories of Quran: 

1/3rd of Quran is stories, 1/3rd of Quran is theology & another 1/3rd of Quran contains laws. 

-Allah uses stories as the constant theme of Quran . 

Why?

-Every human being loves to hear stories. From child to man , all loves to hears stories. 

-It is ingrained on us, so Allah uses this. 

-Allah’s stories is unlike the stories of men. 

Allah’s stories are:

1) Truthful

-Every single story in Quran is truthful and they are no fables, legends.

2)Best of All Stories

-Allah says that they are best of all stories in Quran 

3)Wisdoms & Lessons

-In, those stories, they are wisdoms & lessons in it. Every story of Quran has morals in it. 

4) Quran stories are easier to comprehend

If, you listen & compare the stories of the Quran with other books that are claimed to be revealed by God:

-Even the layperson will be able to notice that stories of other books are so dry, with so many details , "Son of so and so" etc. And, they are so many details which you don't need. 

-While, stories of the Quran usually has no names, places, dates. It is simply the crux, overall of the story. It 

provides the content that will only benefit us. It doesn't not provide many unecessary information such as what clothes that they are wearing etc .

-While, for other scriptures that claim to be from God is very long with unnecessary information until you are lost while reading it. The unnecessary information makes you forget about the content of the story. 

Part 4.3 - Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave---Dr-Yasir-Qadhi-

Another amazing part of Quran stories is....

There is so much of details that is being implied that you can fix it together. 

For example:

Allah doesn’t says that King tried to kill the group of men but we understand it. We understand it when Allah says that the group of men seek refuge in the cave, believe in Allah and only worshipping him. And , we can understand that there was a Pagan king who wanted to persecute Muslims, and they are fleeing away from him. 

★This is the beauty of Quran whereby Allah conveys alot of information in few verses. ★

Who are the people of the cave?

-Scholars have different opinions for this.

The reason is that:

-Every culture of the Islamic world, swears that people of cave are from their community. 

-So, people from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco ETC, claim that the people of the cave are from their community.

However, Allahu A'alam (Allah knows best) as we do not know where they are from or who are this group of people. -We do not know which area that they are from.

Some have said, they were early Christians. And, it makes sense. 

-However, this view is problematic in one sense:

-If, they were early Christians, the Ya'hud( Jews) of Yathrib will not not be asking for early Christians.

While, some have said that they are from the group of Yahud who were living in Iran province. 

-And, at times the King of Iran persecuted them.

-So, it could be possible that they were from Yahud or Nasara.

In Summary:

Whoever, they were, they were believers of Allah swt and followed the true Prophet. 

Part 4.4 Surah-Al-Kahf-Part-4-Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave---Dr-Yasir-Qadhi--12th-July-2013

Continuation from Story (Group of men in the cave)

Their society was a pagan society,worshipping idols. In shorter version, which consist 2-3 ayats.

Al-Kahf : 10

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Al-Kahf : 10

الْفِتْيَةُ 

Fityatu :

-It means young men. They were in their prime youth, around this age 20, 24, 27 .

-These young seek refuge in the cave. 

-As, soon , they entered the cave, they made their dua.

*They were seeking Allah to give mercy directly from him

*And, they were making dua to make their affairs firm and straight. 

What does it show?

-It shows that they were fleeing away from a problem. 

-They were seeking refuge in the cave. 

-When, they entered the cave, the first thing they did was to make dua to Allah swt. 

There is a combination of two factors:

When you are in a problematic situations, you should do something in

1) Dunya

2) Spiritual. 

For example: when you are sick, go to the doctor and make dua. When you are jobless, submit your resume and make dua. If, you don't have education, go to college and make dua. 

★You need both factors together. 

-They went to the cave and made dua.

-They did not sit in their houses, and they said something like "We believe in Allah, Tawakul of Allah, Allah will pluck us from heaven and save us from this enemy".

-They flee for their lives, ran away from their community, find the cave & seek refuge. 

Our religion is a religion of ACTION , ACTIVITY. When you are in a trouble situation, you have to figure out something to come out of the situation. 

But, when you do something, do not neglect Allah & to make dua. Do not forget about it as that is the ultimate weapon for the believers!

Part 4.5 - Tafseer-Surah-Al-Kahf-Part-4-Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave---Dr-Yasir-Qadhi--12th-July-2013

(Al-Kahf : 10)

So, Allah says these young men said,

Rabana Atina mina ladunka Rahma

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً 

★"Our lord, give us mercy directly from you

Wahiya' lana min amrina rashada

وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

★"Make our affairs proper."

So, what Allah did?

(Al-Kahf : 11)

فَضَرَبْنَا عَلٰىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ 

Fadharna ala adhanihim:

-If,you literally translate, it means ,"We struck his ears."

★However, the real meaning is that they fell into a deep sleep. And,no matter, how loud is the sound around them, they will not wake up. 

◆What is the difference between light & heavy sleep?

Light sleep-If, anything happens( if you even hear light sound), you just wake up . 

Allah swt says ,

"We covered up their ears."

(So that they could not hear anything.)

-It is a expression to indicate deep sleep. 

How long is it?

سِنِينَ عَدَدًا

Siniyna adada

-Many years.

-It has double emphasise because both siniyna & adada is plural. 

Part 4.6 Tafseer-Surah-Al-Kahf-Part-4-Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave---Dr-Yasir-Qadhi--12th-July-2013

Al-Kahf : 12

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَىُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصٰى لِمَا لَبِثُوٓا أَمَدًا

Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time.

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ 

Thouma Ba'thnahum

-Then, we brought them back. 

Ba'thnahum

-Usually used for resurrection day. 

-Hence, it indicates that their sleep was almost like a death as they have been sleeping for a very long time. 

-And, our Prophet Muhammad SAW has said "Sleeping is the brother of dying."

Why?

-There is a similarity when we are sleeping & dying. 

★Both the times, our ruh leaves our body. 

☆The only difference is that when we are sleeping, the ru'uh is connected. 

★And, when we are dead, that connection is being cut off. 

-And, that is the reason for why most of the humanity die while they are sleeping. Allah swt takes their soul when they are sleeping and never returns it back . 

َ أَىُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصٰى لِمَا لَبِثُوٓا أَمَدًا

-So, we narrate the story to you in order to test which of the two parties is more accurate. (on how long they have remained in the cave)

★This is where the Ya'hud (Jews) differed. 

☆Allah swt is referring in this ayat about it. It is like Allah saying, 

"You are testing me about their knowledge when you don't even know the full details."

"You are trying to test whether Prophet Muhammad SAW is a true Prophet while you don't even the historical reality."

They were debating on how long they were sleeping. 

★Allah says by their ignorance , they are challenging Prophet Muhammad SAW for details.

☆And, Allah swt knows all the details. 

Part 4.7- Tafseer-Surah-Al-Kahf-Part-4-Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave---Dr-Yasir-Qadhi--12th-July-2013

Al-Kahf : 13

نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنٰهُمْ هُدًى

It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

"We are the ones who can tell their real stories with truth..."

It is like Allah saying to them...

"You did not know the numbers, or how many years that men were in the cave. Yet, you came and challenged Prophet Muhammad SAW. We will tell you this and more..."

"There were group of young men who broke away from their society. .."

-Generally speaking, the young members of the society will be willing to break away from their norms. Or , to stand up against their culture & to speak the truth. The moment that we grew up older, we become used to the culture and it becomes difficult to break away from the trends of the society. And, that is the reason for the people of Medinah to accept Islam because they were younger. The people of Mecca were elders & they rejected Islam. When, you are young, you will be more open-minded.And, that is the reason, till today, those who fight for social justice, speak against the government, are from the college crowd. And, this is happening around the globe. The young crowd want to challenge norms and to change the society. 

-However, these same young group of people can go to the bad side as well. And, Allah mentions this in Quran with the story of Thamud...

Part 4.8 Tafseer-Surah-Al-Kahf-Part-4-Introduction-to-People-of-the-Cave---Dr-Yasir-Qadhi--12th-July-2013

Young group of people can also be in the bad side. And, Allah explains this with Thamud (AS) story

There were 9 young mischievous men, who hamstrung the camel, causing Fasad. The same youngness can be used for bad things.

However, when it is used for good things...

The raw eeman from young men & woman is unparallel compared to others. And, that is the reason for Allah praising the young people. Prophet Muhammad SAW has praised young people for their eeman. 

Prophet Muhammad SAW has said,

"Allah swt is amazed at young men who has no turning left/right.( It means he his in straight path, Mustaqeem) And, he is amazed that he Is not going left/right.(not going astray)"

"There will be 7 groups of people who will be shaded by Allah when there is no shade on that day except from Allah. And, one of them will be young men/women ( Example :Teenager or someone who is young as 20) who is raising himself/herself in the Ibadah. "

And, Allah praises this young group of people in this ayat, 

Al-Kahf : 13

نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنٰهُمْ هُدًى

It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

There is something interesting in this ayat,

There was a cause and then the effect of the cause. They did something, and there was something done to them. 

"They were young group of men who believed in their lord. So, we gave them the guidance."

What does this show?

When , you take one step to Allah, Allah will take one hundred steps towards you. When, you are walking to Allah, Allah will run back to you. Every single step that you take towards Allah, the next step will be easier because Allah is coming closer to you. And, this is what Prophet Muhammad SAW has said 

"Whoever walks to Allah, Allah run back to them. Whoever, walks one step closer to Allah, Allah will take 100 steps closer to them". 

And, in this ayat it shows the same thing. Allah swt increases their guidance when they are taking steps to become closer to Allah. 

We have understand one of the fundamental belief in this ayat. Allah causes our Eeman to raise and it is possible, when you return to Allah. 

Imam Al Bukhari uses this ayat for theological debate on whether Eeman raises or not as Allah has said that he has increased their guidance. 

Conclusion: 

How do you increase your eeman?

-Turning back to Allah. 

-And, your every good deeds that you do , Allah will bless you more with it.

-The more eeman that you have, it is easier to get more eeman. 

-Every step that you take for the religion, Allah will make the next step easier. 

-This is a good news to the believers as your every good deed will enable you to do other good deeds easier by the permission of Allah.