Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf Verse 27

Verse 27. And Recite what has been revealed to you of your Lord's scripture. None can change His words, and you will not find any refuge in other than Him.

The Qur'an should be followed concerning the People of the Cave as Allah's word cannot be changed and there is nothing further to be known after Allah's explanation.

Ibn Abbas after a battle reached the area where the people of the cave was located (During Muawiya's Caliphate). He was prevented by the verse “If you saw them, you have turned and fled” (18:18). Muawiya insisted and sent troops but when they entered, Allah sent a strong wing which blew them out of the cave. (Al Jaami li Ahkaam al Quran.Vol. 9-10 pg. 323).

The command to “recite”. Three statements addressed to the Messenger:

1.Specific to him. “Have I not opened your chest for you?” (94:1) also (93:6).

2.General address. “O Prophet! When you (all) divorce women...” (65:1)

3.To him alone or the community. This verse is in this category.

If none can change his word (scriptures) does it mean that the bible is not corrupted? No! Two kinds of Word of God:

1.Creational Words. This cannot be changed. When Allah says “Kun” (be) no one can change it.

2.Legal Words. It is not legally possible for anyone to change Allah's 'legal words'. (No one can say that alcohol is not haram anymore). But it is possible for somebody to distort Allah's word by re-writing Allah's scriptures with their own hands or interpreting them in a way different from what Allah has intended. (48:15). Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from Allah," to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby. (2:79 )

The Word of God or Speech of God. Concerning Allah's Names and attributes: Four Principles.

1.Rule Number One. What is obligatory regarding the texts of the Quran an Sunnah in relationship to Allah's attributes.

It is obligatory to keep the implications of names and attributes according to their obvious meanings without any change because Allah revealed the Quran in clear Arabic language and the Prophet spoke the Arabic language. Therefore it is obligatory to keep their implications to their linguistic meanings because changing them from their obvious meanings would be speaking about Allah without knowledge. (7:33)

2.Rule Number Two (four subcategories)

All of Allah's Names are Beautiful free from any deficiency in any respect (7:180)
Allah's Beautiful Names are not limited to any specific number. “O Allah, I ask you by every name belonging to You with which You named Yourself, or You revealed in Your scripture, or You taught one of Your creatures, or You kept with Yourself exclusively in the hidden knowledge. (Musnad Ahmad)

Allah's names are not to be decided upon by reason not by revelation. It is obligatory to limits Allah's names to what has been revealed.
Every one of Allah's names refers to Allah's essence (dhat), to the attribute it contains and to the effect resulting from it if it is transitive.
3. Rule Number Three (Four subcategories).

All of Allah''s attributes are transcendent, attributes of perfection and praise without any deficiency in any respect.

Allah's attributes may be divided into two categories:

1.affirmative / positive (Allah affirmed for himself knowledge, life etc.

2.negative (Allah negates from Himself oppression).

The Affirmative attributes may be divided into two categories: Personal (Dhaatiyyah) and Consequential [related to his will] (Fi'liyyah).

Three Questions about Allah's attributes:

1.Is the attribute to be understood literally and why? Yes because the basic principle for understanding speech is according to its literal meaning. The literal meaning should not be avoided [by considering the attribute metaphorical] except if there exists authentic evidence preventing that. We cannot possibly believe that Allah is inside our body by this verse: “Indeed, I have created humankind and I know what his soul whispers. And I am closer to him than his jugular vein.” (50:16) BECAUSE of this verse: “They fear their Lord who is above them and they do what they are commanded.” (16:50).

Further, the hadeeth that Prophet Muhammad also declared a woman a true believer on the basis of her answer to his question, “Where is Allah?” that He is above the heaves. (Sahih Muslim).

2.Is it possible to describe how it is and why? No not possible, not permissible. (20:110)

3.Does it resemble human characteristics and why? No, divine attributes do not resemble the attributes of creation. (42:11)

Tamtheel (resemblance) describes how an attribute is in relationship with something while Takyeef (asking how) describes how an attribute is without limiting it to something similar.

4. Rule Number Four. What is used to refute those who deny Allah's names and attributes. (Al Mu'attilah).

They contradict the obvious meanings of the texts.

The contradict the methodology of the Salaf.

They do not have any authentic evidence to support their claims.

In the case of some attributes there may be a fourth principle or more principles for refutation.

Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf verse 25-26

Verse 25-6. So they stayed in the cave for there hundred years and nine more. Say: “Allah knows best how long they stayed and with him is the knowledge of the secrets of the heavens an the earth.” How clearly He see, how finely He hears everything. They have no protector (guardian) other than Him nor does He share His decision with anyone whatsoever.

Ibn Uthaimeen: It is not possible for me to testify that Allah intended this (that 300 years is solar years and 9 is lunar years) because there is only one means of accounting with Allah, depending on the phases of the moon. (See 2:189 “They ask you concerning the new moon...”) [Previous tafseer scholars like Ibn Kathir, al Qurtubi, and Ash Shawqaani held this opinion (300 solar, 9 lunar) and attributed them to earlier scholars).

A Muslim must not be absent-minded (in remembering Allah). A Muslim must be aware that Allah sees and hears everything perfectly.

The Hukm of Allah. Two kinds:
1.Creational Decision (Hukm kawnee)
2.Legal Decision (Hukm Shar'ee)

No one shares with Allah in the creational decision. Is anyone able to cause rain to fall at will?

It is in the realm of legal decisions that different human opinions vie with those of Allah.

Ash-Ishraak fit Ta'ah (Shirk in Obedience) “...does He share His decision with anyone whatsoever.” indicates that those who follow the laws of others are idolaters, committing shirk with Allah. See (6:121) This does not mean that everyone disbelieves because all human beings disobey Allah, these are in fact pieces of disbelief, if they become many then true disbelief can take place.

Declaring Halal what Allah made Haram and vice verse: “They took their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah,” (9:31). (Saheeh Sunan At tirmidhee). (Hadeeth of Ibn Abi Hatim?)

See also (4:60)

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL SYSTEMS

There is nothing wrong with an administrative system which aims at organizing and implementing affairs in a way which does not contradict the Sharee'ah. 'Umar ibn al Khattab implemented many administrative laws which were non-existent in the time of the Prophet (like establishing Prisons etc.)

Legal systems that contradict the Sharee'ah: polygamy is oppressive, stone to death and cutting hands are savage and inhumane, unequal inheritance system etc. “Or do they have partners with Allah who have instituted for them a Deen which Allah has not ordained?” (42:21) (10:59) (16:116).

CLASH OF CIVILIZATION: This is the foundation of the current clash of civilization. The efforts to globalize the secular democratic foundations of Western Civilization are in direct conflict with Islamic Civilization's foundation of Divine Rule (Sharee'ah).

The 3 main principles of Secular Democracy

1.Equality. All humans have one common trait: the ability to reason. This is not in opposition to Islamic teachings. The emphasis on equality in Islam lies in the belief in God and one's responsibility before God.

2.Rational Empiricism. That is, the human mind has the ability to deduce from historical and personal experience what is in fact the best for human society. It is not so! The American Constitution states that the black men (slaves at the time) were to be counted as three-fifths of a white man. (Article 1, Section 2, The Three-Fifth Compromise). This is supposed to be written by the best and most trusted mind of the eighteenth century. One can find similar legal systems in Europe, Asia or Africa.

3.The Principle of Discussion and Consent. That is, no one possesses absolute truth, all sides to an argument must be given free expression; no truth is so certain that it may not be challenged. After hearing everyone's view, decisions are made by majority vote. Consequently, truth, falsehood, good and evil all become relative. The social consequence is removal of any foundations for stable morals in society. What was pornographic in the 50's is not porn today! Psychiatrists in that period considers homosexuality as a part of mental illness and suggests shock therapy as treatment. Thus, one who is against homosexuality today is called a homophobe and are sent to psychiatric couch for treatment. (Bilal Philips) :)

Consenting Adults. Both partners must have a consent for it not to be considered rape. This became the battlecry of the sexual revolution resulting in an upsurge of wife swapping parties, group sex, sadomasochism, topless bars etc. In Sweden, incest is decriminalized due to this principle! It is legal in Sweden to have sexual relations with one's mother, sister or daughter as long as they are consenting adults.

Islamic Civilization regards the laws revealed by God as absolute and unchangeable. What was immoral 1400 years ago is also immoral today. Without a solid moral foundation human society will become corrupt. “If the truth were according to their desires, the heavens and the earth and all within them would be corrupted.” (23:71)

Blame it on the Genes!!! Homosexuality is genetic? Some scientists claim now that robbery and murder are genetically based! If scientist also prove that pedophilia and rape are genetically based, will Western society decriminalize them? Humans are not robots incapable of going beyond their programming.

Limited Role of Democracy in Islam: “Their Affairs should be by mutual consultation” (42:38). A certain city decided to built a traffic light in a busy intersection. Later they may decide again to remove it and make an interchange (underpass, flyover, roundabout and traffic light combinations).

The reality is the West is more committed to Secularism than Democracy. They support Turkey Military dictatorship at the expense of freedom of religion (to wear Hijab in the Parliament).

This does not mean that there are no common grounds and that military conflict is a necessary constant. There remain many areas of good achieved by the West that Islamic Civilization can benefit from, as West benefited from the achievement of the Muslims in the past. (Bilal Philips).

Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf Verses 23-24

Verse 23-4. And do not say, “I will do something tomorrow,” without (saying) “Insha Allah. If Allah wills!” But remember your Lord when you forget and say, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to a way nearer to truth than this.”

Allah knows what was and what is yet to be and what is not to be, how it will be if it is to be. (Bilal Philips). :)

The story of Prophet Sulaiman intending to go to his seventy wives in a single night and thinking that they will all bear him a son to who fight fee sabeelillah and not saying Insha Allah. None of them gave birth except one who gave birth to a half-formed child. The Prophet then said “Had he said it (insha Allah), they would have fought in the way of Allah”. (Bukhari).

The Benefit of saying Insha Allah:

1.Allah will make his affair easy as long as he turns to Allah.
2.If he fails to do it, he does not break an oath.

If a person says, “I will do this” as a means of informing and not as a certainty about its occurrence, the addition of Insha Allah is not required. Example: your friend ask you. “Will you pass by my place tomorrow?” and you replied, “Yes” without saying “Insha Allah”, there is no harm. Because it is information about your intention and what is in your heart has been permitted by Allah; it has already occurred so there is no need to make it dependent on Allah's wish. However, if you intend that it would take place, it is something which has not occurred yet, so you must say “Insha Allah” as you do not know whether it will happen or not.

Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf verse 22

Verse 22. Some people will say that they were three, the dog being the fourth; others wil say they were five, the dog being the sixth. These are mere irrelevant guesses; there are still others who say they were seven, their dog being the eight. Say: “My lord knows their number and only a few others besides Him know.” So do not argue about them, except with clear proof. Nor ask anyone about them.

Allah confirms that their number was seven because after saying that they were three and five He goes on to say that these are mere guesses, but after mentioning the number seven He did not say that it was false which implies that this was the actual number.

Ibn Abbas “I am among the few who know the right number and they were seven.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

We should only discuss concerning the People of the Cave using what has been revealed or avoid arguing concerning the exact number which has no benefit.
Arguments should only be superficial; if the argument reaches the heart, he will become more argumentative, angry and his ego inflated and he will be affected. Scholars of Kalam's unnecessary rules and statements like “an infinite chain of incidents into the past and future” have volumes of writing affirming or negating this issue.

Concerning Taking from books of Jews and Christians for Da'wah purposes.

Hadeeth the prohibits: Umar wanting to read some sayings from the Torah...“By the One in whose Hand my soul lies! If Moses were to appear among you and you followed him and abandoned me, you would have gone astray. You are my portion of the nations and I am your portion of the prophets.” (Musnad Ahmad

Hadeeth that permits: The hadeeth concerning Jewish man and woman committing adultery and the verse of stoning in the Torah where a Rabi hid a verse by placing his hands over it. The prophet ordered them both to be stoned to death. (Bukhari).

Quranic Verses that permits: “Those who follow the Messenger, th Prophet who can neither read nor write whom they find written with them in the Torah (Deuteronomy 18:15) and the Gospel (John 14:16)” (7:156). See also (61:6).

Another Hadeeth that Permits: “Convey whatever you have learned from me, even if it is only a single verse. And you may speak about the People of Israel without any fear of sin.”(Bukhari).

RECONCILING THE APPARENT CONTRADICTION

Ibn Hajar al Asqalani: means there are no constraints in speaking about them.
Abrogation; previously discouraged then allowance was made. The prohibition occurred prior to the stabilization of Islamic laws and religious principles, for fear of confusion.

Ash Shafi'ee: It is known that the Prophet did not permit speaking lies. So, the meaning of “Speak about the People of Israel without fear of sin,” is that you may speak about them concerning what you do not know to be lies.

Commentator of Sunan at Tirmidhee: the conflict may be resolved by understanding that the intention of the prohibition here was the prohibition against taking laws from their scriptures, because all legal systems and religions were abrogated by our Prophet's legal system.

Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf Verse 21

Verse 21. I this way I caused them to be found, so that they would know that Allah's promise is true and the hour of resurrection is coming, without a doubt. When they were disputing among themselves about their case, some of them said: “Construct a building over them; their Lord knows best about them.” Those who prevailed in their case said: “Indeed we will build a place of worship over them.”

To prove to them the truth about resurrection

To save the believers from disbelievers (That the promise of Allah is true).
The bodies are also resurrected not only the soul. (Belief that only the spirit is resurrected is common amongst Christians).

Who “prevailed in their case”? Was it the believers or disbelievers?

1.Building places of worship is among the characteristics of the believers.
2.Putting Mosques over graves is an act of the cursed and not of the believers.

Mentioning of the building of a mosque over their grave here does not indicate its permissibility. It is among the paths leading to Shirk.

“May Allah's curse be on the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their prophets as places of worship”. The Prophet said this while he was dying. (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud).

Restrictions of Visiting Graves:

1.As a means of setting up a barrier against grave worship.

2.The Prophet prohited in praying purposefully praying the the direction of graves. (Muslim)

3.Recitation of the Qur'an in graveyards is not allowed. Aishah asked the Prophet what to say when visiting graveyards. He told her to give salams and supplicate (He didnt tell her to recite Quran). Also, the Prophet told us not to make our homes like graveyards. “Do not make your houses graveyards, for verily Satan flees from the house in which Soorah al Baqarahy is read” (Muslim).

4.The Prohibition of white-washing of graves, building structures over them (Muslim), writing on them (Sunan Abi Dawud) or raising them above the ground (Muslim).

5.Building Masjids over graves was specifically forbidden by the Prophet. Concerning a church in Ethiopia with pictures the Prophet said “Indeed if there is a righteous man among them and he dies, they build on his grave a mosque and make in it those pictures. They are the worst of creation in the sight of Allah on the day of Resurrection.” (Bukhari).

6.The Prophet forbade annual or seasonal gatherings even around his own grave. “Do not make your houses graveyards nor make my grave a (place of ) festivities. Instead, ask (Allah's) blessings for me wherever yo may be, for they will reach me.” (Sunan Abu Dawud).

7.Forbidden to set out on journey's to visit graves. “Do not travel except to three masjids, Masjid Haram, the Messenger's Masjid, and the Aqsa Masjid”. (Bukhari).

“Taking Graves as Places of Worship” may mean three things:

1.Praying towards graves. Forbidden.

2.Building Masjid over Grave or Putting a Grave in a Masjid.

3.Praying in a masjid containing a grave.

Masjid with Graves. Two Types:

1.Masjid built over a grave. (grave came first). Should be demolished because such place is originally a grave.

2.Masjid in which a grave has been put, some time after its construction. (masjid came first). The grave should be removed as it was originally a masjid.

THE PROPHET'S GRAVE

This cannot justify the building of masjid over grave or building grave over masjids:

1.The Prophet did not order that he buried in his masjid.

2.The companions did not put his grave into the masjid.

3.The room of Aishah was not originally a part of the masjid and the door leading to the masjid was permanently sealed off by the companions.

4.Two expansions during the time of Umar and Uthman cautiously avoided the inclusion of Aishah's house or that of any of the other wives of the Prophet.

5.With the death of ALL the Sahabah – Caliph al Waleed Abdil Malik included the house of Aishah inside the Masjid. A high circular wall was built around it so that it would not be visible at all from inside the masjid. Two additional walls in triangle built later to prevent anyone from facing the grave directly.

6.The dome over the Prophet's grave was built by Sultan Kalawoon as Salaahee in 1282 CE and painted green by Sultan Abdul Hameed in 1837,

7.These errors remains to be corrected. Walls should once again be placed to separate it from the masjid so that no one could pray in its direction nor visit it inside the masjid.

Salah in the Prophet's masjid is still desirable due to its exceptional nature just like salah is allowed for specific purpose (e.g. Janazah) even during the forbidden times (sun setting etc.)

Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf Verse 18

Verse 18. “And you would have thought them awake while they were asleep and I turned them on their right sides and on their left sides and their dog lay with its front legs stretched out at the entrance of the cave. Had you seen them you would have turned and fled filled with fear of them.”

They did not exhibit the normal signs of relaxation usually associated with sleep. Instead they appeared to be awake. [Ibn Uthaimeen].

No mention of turning them on their backs and on their stomachs. Sleeping on stomachs is harmful. “Allah's Messenger saw a man lying on his stomach and said, “Indeed, this is a way of lying not pleasing to Allah.” [Sunan At Tirmidhee].

“Poor sleep posture is a sure invitation to backaches. Use a firm mattress. Lie on the side a bend to the knees. Avoid lying on the belly, a position that increase the spine's lumbar curve, causing the familiar sagging called swayback” Time Magazine July 14, 1980.

Less incidence of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) when babies are lying on their backs.

It is probably worthy to note here that in bed ridden patients it is a standard nursing protocol to turn the patients every two hours to avoid pressure sores – a condition that leads to breakdown of the skin and can go as deep as the bone. [Abu Khalid]

Dogs as guards. “Whoever keeps a dog for other than farming, sheep herding or hunting, will have two qirats decreased from his good deeds daily.” (Bukhari). To protect one's home and one's person with a dog is even more reasonable.

The Youth's prayer were answered by Allah: they were protected. Qadar and Prayer. Islam teachers that prayer can change situations. It might seem difficult to comprehend how prayer can change everything, since Islam also teaches that everything which will happen has already been written. That is, if all things are already written, then what is the point in prayer? This is a question which boggles the mind of many. However, the reality is simply that what is written is what one does. It is not that one does it because it is written. It is written, because that is what we are going to do. For many, these two concepts are one and the same. F what one does is what was written, then he is forced to do it because it is written. However, the reality is that once one accepts that Allah know all things, that He is omniscient, then that writing is only an expression of His knowledge of all things, not that He forces things to take place in one's life. There are however, some situations in which Allah intervenes directly which have nothing directly to do with a person's choice. [Bilal Philips].

“Call on Allah in prayer confident that it will be answered. But know that Allah does not answer the prayer of the unmindful, inattentive heart.” (Saheeh Sunan At Tirmidhee)

Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf Verses 19-20

Verses 19-20. “And in that way, I raised them up again, so they questioned each other. One of them asked: “How long have you spent here?” The others answered: “We have spent a day or part of a day.” Then they declared: “Your Lord knows best how long you have spent. So send one of you with this silver money to the city to look for a place with the best food, so that he may bring something to eat. He should however be cautious and not let anyone become aware of you. 20 For if they succeed in overpowering you back to their belief and in that case you would never be successful ever.”


The relativity of time. Short for sleeping people (and the dead) long for those who are awake. Also, (23:112-3). Ultimately time in this world is very short and so they have to make the best of their time.

“There are two things about which many people are fooled; health and spare time”. (Al Bukhari).

The phrase “killing the time” and its derivatives should not be in Muslim's vocabulary. Spending time in worship of Allah. See (94:7-8).

Those who wait in the grave from the distant past will not be oppressed by having to wait until all humans die; unaware of the passage of time.

FIQH ISSUE: “So send one of you with this silver money to the city to look for a place with the best food”.

1.The Permissibility of engaging others as agents in purchasing and selling.

2.There is no harm in a person seeking the nicest food.

3.Weakness of some scholars' opinion that it is not permissible to sale something and saying “I'm selling you the best possible barley”. It should be judged according to local custom is the correct position.

The importance of choosing the right, halal and beneficial food. (Eating from food of people who earns haram unless you are advising them about their earning). Haram food can cause our supplication to be rejected. “Allah is pure and He only accepts what is pure”. (Muslim). The story of traveller on a long journey who supplicates to Allah but his food, drink and clothing was unlawful. So how could his prayers to be answered. See (Muslim). This man has combined many factors that normally assures that prayers are answered.

1.He was a traveler.

2.His rough appearance indicates that he was in difficulty.

3.He raised his hands to Allah who is shy to let his servant lower his hands empty.

4.He uses Allah's most powerful and comprehensive names (Ar-Rabb).

5.He repeated his prayer (more chance s of being accepted).

Yet his prayers were not answered.

EAT FROM HALAL EARNINGS ONLY.

“He should however be cautious...” If a person's life is threatened he may make false statements of disbelief or apostasy in order to preserve his life. This, according to some scholars, is unique to the Ummah of the Prophet. (16:106) Past nations cannot do this.

LESSONS ACCORDING TO SHAYKH AS-SA'DEE

1.The importance of knowledge (“in order that they may ask one another...”).

2.If one is unsure concerning an issue he must take it back to the one who has knowledge (“Your Lord knows best how long you have spent”).

3.The permissibility of eating good and tasty foods.

4.To be cautious and to stay away from situations that can cause fitna.

5.The great religious commitment showed by the youth.

6.The harm and corruption contained in evil should encourage one to detest and completely abandon it.

Study Notes on Soorah al Kahf 13-17

13. I will relate their true story to you. They were youths who believed in their Lord and I increased their level of guidance.

According to the Arabic idiom, whenever a single person refers to himself using a plural form, it indicates that he is great. Nothing is greater than Allah…Therefore the intent of every plural pronoun referring to Allah is praise. It's equivalent in English language is the "royal" we or "majestic" we.

"I will relate their true story to you"…there is a disagreements around the length of stay in the cave. This story is a legend according to Christian and Western historians except the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches believe it as a miracle. Circulated as oral tradition for centuries and eventually reduced to writing by a Syriac historian in 6th century.

These youths are the true followers of Jesus from the Unitarian tradition of James the first bishop of Jerusalem and not from the Greek and Roman Trinitarian tradition.

Whoever believes in His Lord and Obeys Him, He will increase his state of guidance because obedience is a cause for the increase of guidance and faith. [Ash-Shanqeeti]. See (47:17) (9:124).

Faith (Iman) increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience.

The Murji'ites (Murjiah) those who don't believe that faith increases or decreases.
Jahmite Murji'ism: Iman is merely knowledge alone. Attributed to Jahm Ibn Safwan. Implies that Pharaoh and his people were believers since they know that Moses and Aaron were true prophets; including Iblees who knew Allah well.

The Karramites: Iman is restricted to the profession on the tongue without including the [affirmation of the] heart. Therefore the hypocrites were perfect believers though they believe that the hypocrites will suffer the punishment that Allah promised them. They contradict themselves.

Murji'ite Legists: Iman is belief in the heart and profession on the tongue but not including the deeds. They regarded works parts of Iman in a figurative way, for a work is the fruit and requirement of Iman.

Similarity between the Murji'ites beliefs some Christians of today that nothing can affect faith. It is claim that once a person has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior, he is guaranteed paradise no matter what sins he may commit.
The Key to paradise is Lailaha illallah. But every key has teeth (ridges) for it to open locks. Similarly saying Lailaha illallah has to be accompanied by knowledge, certainty, sincerely, and truthfully.

Faith increases by patience. Patience comes from trust in Allah. Allah said that in every difficulty comes ease. We should not act irrationally during calamities.
Once we know that Faith may decrease then we should be vigilant because Satan is very busy trying to make us fall into sins. It is important to take account of one's self. Umar Ibn Al Khattab said “Take account of yourselves before your account is taken”.


Verse 14. And I strengthened their hearts when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heaven the earth. We will never call on any god besides Him; if we did, we would indeed have uttered an enormous deviance.”

Allah made their hearts steady, strengthened them and bound them because their people opposed them. [Ibn Uthaimeen].

So that they wold not panic and become fearful to openly declare the truth. [Ash-Shanqeetee].

Whoever is obedient to his Lord, He will strengthen his heart and make him steady to handle difficult times patiently. (8:11-12) (28:10)

“They stood up” means they stood up among their people and announced their Tawheed.

“And I strengthened their hearts when they stood up...” Is it possible to have additional understanding of this verse from its medical aspect being that when a person spent a long time in the supine lying position – his heart – and the whole cardiovascular system adapts to that position so that when a person suddenly stands up he would faint because his weak heart is not immediately able to pump blood to his brain? This phenomenon is called Orthostatic Hypotension. [Abu Khalid]

Affirmation of Tawheed Ruboobeeyah “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth”...and Tawheed Ulooheeyah/Ibaadah “We will never call on any god besides Him”. Worshiping God is the result of His Lordship. The right of worship only belongs to the Creator / Lord.

Whoever attributes another god as a partner to the Creator of the heavens and earth has come with something far deviated from the truth; something involving the ultimate in falsehood beyond acceptable bounds. Because the one who deserves worship is the One who brought creation into existence from non-existence, because one unable to create others besides itself is itself created and in need of a creator to create it, nourish it and run its affairs. (2;22) (16:17) (13:16) (7:191) (25:3).

TRUTH TO POWER – These young men boldly challenged the false beliefs of their people. “The greatest Jihad is speaking the truth in front of tyrant” (Sunan Abi Dawud). But if the harm is greater than the good, it should be hated in the hearts. Muslims must oppose the evil forces trying to eradicate the Sharee'ah but at the same time oppose excessive unislamic methods used by some Muslims in their resistance who claim to defend the Ummah.

Verse 15. “These people of ours have adopted other gods besides Him. Why do they not bring authority for what they have done? And who does a greater wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah.”

A challenge from Allah. A challenge to do the impossible – the challenge to produce evidence for their idolatry. (6:148) (46:4).

Reconciled with (2;114) [“And who are more wrong...”] Ibn Uthaimeen: this verse addresses the worst wrong in the category of prevention of remembrance of Allah's name while the previous verse refers to the worst wrong in Lying.

If one lied about someone it would be wrong, and if one lied about someone of greater stature it would be greater wrong. Thus, a lie about Allah becomes the greatest possible lie. [Ibn Uthaimeen].

Early Hindu scriptures rejects idol worship; Buddha's writing does not endorsed worshiping him; Christian worship of Jesus goes against Jesus' own teachings and practice. (Jesus worshiping God on a number of occasions, clearly indicating that he was not God).

Theory of Evolution by Charles Darwin is one of the biggest lie against Allah in the 19th century claiming that life in this world was not created but evolved. Removing God from human society removes the basis of morality and definition of right and wrong.

Verse 16. “And when you turn away from them and the things that they worship besides Allah, take yourselves to the cage. Your Lord will shower His mercies on you and dispose of your affairs in comfort and ease.”

Giving up something for the sake of Allah: The youth gave up everything and went into the cave. “Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, He will replace it with something better” (Hadeeth not referenced in the original text. No time to consult Maktabah ash-Shamilah – Abu Khalid). See also (4:100) (19:48-50).

HIJRAH – abandoning an idolatrous and oppressive society and hiding in order to practice the true religion. (4:97).

Hijrah to Madeenah was made obligatory during the Prophet's lifetime but once Makkah was liberated, migration to Madeenah was no longer obligatory. This is the context of this hadeeth: “There is no hijrah after Conquest of Makkah. Instead, there remains Jihad and intention. If you are called to arms, respond”. (Sahih Al Bukhari). Compare with hadeeth: “Hijrah will not end until repentance ends, and repentance will not end until the sun rises in the west”. (Sunan At Tirmidhee)

The essence of Hijrah is abandonment of evil in all its forms. Thus even if one lives with Muslims, the principle of Hijrah is still applicable. “The Muslim is one from who tonque and hand Muslims are sage, and the true emigrant is one who abandons what Allah has forbidden.” (Bukhari)

Instead of emigration from regions controlled by disbelievers, most Muslims have become immigrants to the lands of the disbelievers. Even more so, they choose to live scattered amongst the disbelievers instead of congregating in religious communities as other immigrants do based on ethnic consideration.
Allah concealed them in the cave just as He concealed Prophet Muhammad and his Companion Abu Bakr as Siddeeq in the Cave of Thawr. (9;40).

Verse 17. You could see the sun declining to the right of their cave when it rose and touching their left sides when it set, while they lay in the middle of the cave. That was among Allah's signs. Whoever Allah guides is rightly guided and whoever He sends astray will not find any guiding friend to lead him to the right path.

Allah has told us this because it is important to ponder upon its meanins. He did not inform us about the location of the Cave because there is no benefit in knowing that. “I have not left anything that will bring you closer to Paradise and keep you further away from Hell but I have certainly taught you about it.” (At Tabaraani – Silsilah al Ahaadeeth as Saheehah).

The obvious meaning of this verse is that it is the sun that revolves around the earth and bring about its rising and setting. However Ibn Uthaimeen said: If it becomes established for us by certain evidence that the changing of the night and day is a result of the earth's revolution, it then become obligatory on us to interpret the verse according to the meaning which agrees with reality. For others, Saudi Prince Salmaan's trip on the space shuttle and his observations were sufficient observable evidence that the sun does not rotate around the earth.

Church history is full of this quagmire and conflict between Science and Religion. The Copernican Revolution; Galileo rotting in prison and eventual triumphs of Galileo's ideas.

“Whoever Allah guides”. Allah divided the people into two groups: guided and astray. This is Allah's decree. You must be pleased with Allah's Destiny under all circumstances. It is obligatory on us, in spite of that , to strive to guide people.
Allah does not guide the rebellious disobedient people. (61:5).

“Whoever Allah allows to go astray none can guide” is a better translation.
This verse and others like it are proofs of the falsity of the Qadariyyah (Qadarite school) which claims that humans are independent in their god and evil actions. (Ash Shanqeetee).

From Tafseer Soorah al Kahf by Dr Bilal Philips