CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 1.  PART XV

IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD

1  TO GOD IS DUE ALL PRAISES
WHO REVEALED THE BOOK TO HIS SERVANT IN TRUTHFULNESS
AND HAS ALLOWED IN IT NO CROOKEDNESS

2  HE HAS MADE IT STRAIGHT AND CLEAR 
IN ORDER THAT HE MAY WARN THE DISBELIEVERS
OF A PUNISHMENT FROM HIM THAT WILL BE SEVERE
AND THAT HE MAY GIVE GOOD NEWS TO THE BELIEVERS 
THAT THEY WILL HAVE A GOOD REWARD FROM THEIR MAKER

3  WHERE THEIR REMAINING
WILL BE EVERLASTING

4  AND TO THOSE WHO SAY, GOD HAS BEGOTTEN A SON
TO WARN THEM OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE

5  SURELY NO KNOWLEDGE HAVE THEY OF SUCH A THING
NOR HAD THEIR FATHERS AND IT IS A GRIEVOUS THING
THAT ISSUES FROM THEIR MOUTHS AS A SAYING
AND THIS IS A LIE THAT THEY ARE SPEAKING

6  MAYBE YOU WOULD GRIEVE YOURSELF TO DEATH FOR THEM
IF THEY BELIEVE NOT IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO THEM

7  THAT WHICH IS ON THE EARTH 
WE HAVE MADE AS A GLITTERING SHOW IN ORDER 
THAT WE MAY TEST WHICH OF THEM ARE BEST IN MANNER

8  WHAT IS ON EARTH WE WILL MAKE IT
AS DUST AND DRY SOIL WITHOUT GROWTH ON IT

9  OR DO YOU REFLECT THAT THE CAVE'S COMPANIONS 
AND THE INSCRIPTION WERE WONDERS OF OUR REVELATIONS?

10  WHEN THE YOUTHS SOUGHT REFUGE IN THE CAVE
THEY SAID, OUR LORD, GUIDE US ON THE RIGHT WAY

11  THEN WE DREW A VEIL OVER THEIR EARS 
IN THE CAVE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
SO THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR

12  AND THEN WE RAISED THEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF TESTING
WHICH OF THE TWO PARTIES WAS BEST AT CALCULATING 
THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF THEIR STAYING

269
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 2.  PART XV

13  WE RELATE TO YOU THEIR STORY  
THEY WERE YOUTHS WHO BELIEVED TRULY
WE ADVANCED THEM AND GUIDED THEM RIGHTLY

14  WE GAVE STRENGTH TO THEIR HEARTS AND THEY UTTERED
OUR LORD IS THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH AND NEVER 
WILL WE CALL UPON BESIDES HIM ANY OTHER 
IF WE DID AN ENORMITY WOULD WE UTTER

15  OUR PEOPLE WORSHIP BESIDES GOD OTHER DEITIES
FOR WHAT THEY DO WHY DO THEY NOT BRING AN AUTHORITY  
AND WHO DOES MORE WRONG THAN HE WHO LIES AGAINST GOD FALSELY?

16  TURN FROM THEM AND WHAT THEY WORSHIP AS DIETIES 
BETAKE TO THE CAVE AND GOD WILL SHOWER ON YOU HIS MERCIES 
AND DISPOSE OF YOUR AFFAIR FOR YOU TOWARDS COMFORT AND EASE

17  YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE SUN WHEN IT ROSE IN THE DAY 
DECLINING TO THE RIGHT FROM THEIR CAVE 
AND WHEN IT SET TO THE LEFT OF THEM TURNING AWAY 
WHILE IN THE OPENING THEY LAID IN THE MIDST OF THE CAVE
AND THESE ARE THE SIGNS OF YOUR LORD,  AND THEY 
WHOM GOD GUIDES IS GUIDED TO THE RIGHT WAY
BUT HE WHOM GOD ALLOWS TO GO ASTRAY 
NO ONE CAN LEAD HIM TO THE RIGHT WAY

270
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 3.  PART XV

18  YOU WOULD HAVE DEEMED THEM AWAKE WHILE THEY WERE SLEEPING 
WE TURNED THEM RIGHT AND LEFT, THEIR DOG STRETCHING 
FORTH HIS TWO FORE-LEGS ON THE THRESHOLDING

IF YOU HAD COME UP ON THEM  
YOU WOULD HAVE TURNED BACK IN FLIGHT FROM THEM  
AND YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH TERROR OF THEM  

19  SUCH BEING THEIR STATE, FROM SLEEP WE RAISED THEM 
SO THEY MIGHT QUESTION EACH OTHER AND SAID ONE OF THEM 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU STAYED?
THEY SAID, WE HAVE PERHAPS STAYED 
A DAY OR PART OF A DAY AND THEY SAID, NAY
GOD ALONE KNOWS BEST HOW LONG YOU HAVE STAYED 

NOW SEND ONE OF YOU WITH THIS MONEY OF YOURS TO THE TOWN  
LET HIM FIND OUT WHICH IS THE BEST FOOD TO BE FOUND

AND BRING SOME TO YOU THAT YOU MAY SATISFY YOUR HUNGER 
AND LET HIM BEHAVE TOO WITH EXTREME CAUTION AND CARE
AND LET HIM NOT INFORM ANY ONE ABOUT YOU THERE

20  IF THEY CAME UPON YOU THEY WOULD STONE YOU FOR SURE
OR FORCE YOU TO HAVE TO RETURN TO THEIR CULTURE
AND IN THAT CASE  NEVER WOULD YOU PROSPER

21  SO DID WE MAKE THEIR CASE AWARE 
TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY MIGHT MAKE CLEAR
THAT THE PROMISE OF THE CREATOR IS TRUE AND SURE
THAT THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT ABOUT THE JUDGMENT HOUR
AND YET THEY DISPUTE AMONG THEMSELVES AS TO THEIR AFFAIR

SOME SAID, CONSTRUCT A BUILDING OVER THEM 
BUT THEIR LORD SURELY KNOWS BEST ABOUT THEM 
SAID THOSE WHO PREVAILED OVER THE AFFAIRS OF THEM
LET US BUILD A PLACE OF WORSHIP OVER THEM 

22  SOME SAY THEY WERE THREE, THE DOG BEING 
THE FOURTH, OTHERS SAY THEY WERE FIVE, THE DOG BEING 
THE SIXTH, DOUBTFULLY AND UNKNOWINGLY GUESSING 
YET OTHERS SAY THEY WERE SEVEN, THE DOG BEING 

THE EIGHTH BUT SAY, GOD KNOWS BEST THEIR NUMBER 
IT IS BUT FEW THAT KNOW THEIR REAL CASE, SO DO NOT ENTER 
INTO CONTROVERSIES CONCERNING THEM EXCEPT ON A CLEAR MATTER 
NOR CONSULT ANY OF THEM ABOUT THE SLEEPERS

271
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 4.  PART XV

23  NOR SAY OF ANYTHING, I WILL BE SURE
TO DO SO AND SO TOMORROW FOR SURE

24  WITHOUT ADDING UNLESS IT IS IN GOD'S WAY 
AND REMEMBER GOD WHEN YOU FORGET AND SAY
I HOPE THAT GOD MAY GUIDE ME CLOSER TO THE RIGHT WAY 

25  SO THEY STAYED IN THEIR CAVE THREE HUNDRED YEARS 
AND SOME ADD TO IT NINE MORE YEARS

26  SAY, OF HOW LONG THEY STAYED GOD IS THE BEST KNOWER
OF THE SECRETS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH HE IS THE KNOWER 
HE HEARS EVERYTHING AND SEES EVERYTHING CLEAR 
AND OTHER THAN HIM THEY HAVE NO PROTECTOR 
NOR DOES HE SHARE HIS COMMAND WITH ANYONE WHATSOEVER

27  RECITE AND TEACH YOUR LORD'S REVELATIONS
YOUR LORD'S WORDS CANNOT BE CHANGED BY ANYONE
AND AS A REFUGE OTHER THAN HIM YOU WILL FIND NO ONE

28  AND KEEP YOUR SOUL AGREEING
WITH THOSE WHO CALL ON GOD MORNING AND EVENING 
AND DO NOT LET YOUR EYES PASS BEYOND THEM IN SEEKING 

OF THIS LIFE, THE POMP AND GLITTER 
NOR OBEY ANY WHO OF US NEGLECTS TO REMEMBER 
NAMELY ONE WHO FOLLOWS HIS OWN DESIRES 
AND WHOSE CASE HAS GONE BEYOND ALL BARRIERS 

29  SAY, THE TRUTH IS FROM GOD LET HIM WHO WILL BE A BELIEVER
AND LET HIM WHO SO WILLS BE A DISBELIEVER
FOR THE WRONG DOERS WE HAVE PREPARED A FIRE 
WHICH LIKE THE WALLS OF A TENT WILL HEM THEM IN ITS BORDERS 
WHEN THEY ASK FOR RELIEF THEY WILL BE GRANTED WATER 
LIKE MELTED BRASS THAT WILL SCALD THEIR FACES OVER
AND THE DRINK WILL INDEED BE MOST BITTER
AND A COUCH TO RECLINE ON OF TERROR 

30  AND AS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND ACT RIGHTEOUSLY
WE WILL NOT SUFFER TO PERISH THE REWARD OF ANY 
WHO DO A SINGLE RIGHTEOUS DEED

31  FOR THEM WILL BE GARDENS OF ETERNITY
AND THEY WILL HAVE RIVERS FLOWING BENEATH 
ADORNED WITH BRACELETS OF GOLD THEY WILL BE 
WITH GARMENTS OF SILK AND BROCADE THAT WILL BE HEAVY 

AND THEY THEREIN ON RAISED THRONES WILL RECLINE 
HOW GOOD THE REWARD AND HOW BEAUTIFUL AND HOW FINE
A COUCH ON WHICH TO RECLINE 

]

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CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 5.  PART XV

32  SET FORTH TO THEM
THE PARABLE OF TWO MEN, FOR ONE OF THEM 
WE GAVE TWO GARDENS OF GRAPE VINES SURROUNDING THEM 
WITH DATE PALMS AND IN ADDITION TO THEM
WE PLACED CORN FIELDS IN BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM

33  EACH OF THOSE GARDENS BROUGHT FORTH FRUIT IN IT 
AND THEY DID NOT FAIL IN THE LEAST IN IT 
WE CAUSED A RIVER TO FLOW IN IT

34  AND THE PRODUCE THIS MAN HAD WAS ABUNDANT
HE SAID TO HIS COMPANION IN THE COURSE OF AN ARGUMENT 
I HAVE MORE WEALTH THAN YOU AND PROVISION
AND MORE POWER IN MY FOLLOWING OF MEN 

35  HE WENT INTO HIS GARDEN 
IN A STATE OF MIND UNJUST TO HIS PERSON
HE SAID, I DEEM THAT THIS WILL NEVER MEET WITH DESTRUCTION

36  NOR DO I THINK EVER WILL COME THE HOUR OF JUDGMENT
AND EVEN IF BACK TO MY LORD I AM SENT
IT TOO WILL BE TO MY BETTERMENT

37  HIS COMPANION SAID TO HIM WHILE ARGUING
DO YOU DISBELIEVE IN HIM WHO CREATED YOUR BEING 
FROM DUST TO A SPERM DROP THEN INTO A HUMAN BEING?

38  BUT I THINK FOR MY PART THAT HE IS GOD, MY LORD 
AND NONE WILL I ASSOCIATE WITH MY LORD

39  WHY DID YOU NOT AS YOU WENT INTO YOUR GARDEN
SAY, 
LET GOD'S WILL BE DONE?  
THERE IS NO POWER BUT WITH GOD IN HIS CREATION
AND IF YOU SEE ME LESS THAN YOU IN WEALTH AND SONS

40  MAYBE MY LORD WILL GIVE ME BETTER THAN YOUR GARDEN 
AND HE MIGHT SEND THUNDERBOLTS ON YOUR GARDEN 
BY WAY OF RECKONING FROM HEAVEN
MAKING IT BUT SLIPPERY SAND

41  OR THE WATER OF THE GARDEN WILL RUN OFF OF IT
UNDERGROUND SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND IT

42  SO HIS FRUITS AND ENJOYMENT 
WERE ENCOMPASSED WITH RUIN AND ABASEMENT 

AND HE THEN REMAINED TWISTING AND TURNING HIS HANDS OVER 
WHAT HE HAD SPENT ON HIS PROPERTY THAT TUMBLED OVER
HE SAID, WOULD I HAD NEVER ASCRIBED PARTNERS 
TO MY LORD AND CHERISHER

43  NOR HAD HE ANYONE AGAINST GOD AS A HELPER
NOR WAS HE ABLE TO BE HIS OWN DELIVERER 

44  PROTECTION COMES FROM GOD, THE TRUE ONE ONLY
AND HE IS THE BEST TO REWARD AND TO GIVE SUCCESS AMPLY

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CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 6.  PART XV

45  SET FORTH TO THEM THE PARABLE OF THIS WORD'S LIFE 
IT IS LIKE THE RAIN WHICH WE SEND DOWN FROM THE SKY 
THE EARTH'S VEGETATION ABSORBS IT AND IT BECOMES DRY 
AS STUBBLE WHICH THE WINDS SCATTER FAR AND WIDE
IT IS ONLY GOD WHO PREVAILS OVER ALL THINGS IN LIFE

46  WEALTH AND SONS ARE THINGS THAT ALLURE
IN THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD BUT THE THINGS THAT ENDURE 
ARE GOOD DEEDS THAT ARE BEST IN THE SIGHT OF YOUR LORD 
AND BEST AS FOUNDATIONS FOR HOPES AND REWARDS

47  ONE DAY WE WILL REMOVE THE MOUNTAINS
AND YOU WILL SEE THE EARTH AS A LEVEL PLAIN 

AND WE WILL GATHER ALL OF THEM 
NOR WILL WE LEAVE OUT ANY ONE OF THEM

48  AND THEY WILL BE MARSHALED BEFORE THE THRONE
NOW HAVE YOU COME BEFORE US BARE AND ALONE 

AS WE CREATED YOU BEFORE AND IT WAS THOUGHT BY YOU 
THAT WE WOULD NOT FULFILL THE APPOINTMENT MADE TO YOU 

49  AND BEFORE YOU WILL BE PLACED THE BOOK OF DEEDS
AND YOU WILL SEE THE SINFUL IN GREAT ANXIETY 
BECAUSE OF WHAT IS RECORDED THERE TO SEE
THEY WILL SAY, WOE TO US WHAT A BOOK IS THIS INDEED
NOTHING SMALL OR GREAT DOES IT LEAVE
BUT IT RECORDS IT ALL ACCURATELY
THEY WILL FIND ALL THAT THEY DID PLACED BEFORE THEM CLEARLY
AND YOUR LORD WILL TREAT NOT ONE OF THEM UNJUSTLY

274
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                     SECTION 7.  PART XV

50  WE SAID TO THE ANGELS, BOW DOWN TO ADAM
AND THEY BOWED DOWN ALL EXCEPT SATAN
FOR HE WAS SURELY ONE OF THE DEMONS

AND HE BROKE HIS LORD'S DECREE 
WILL YOU TAKE HIM AND HIS PROGENY 
AS PROTECTORS FOR YOU RATHER THAN ME 
AND THEY ARE TO YOU YOUR AVOWED ENEMIES?  
THE EXCHANGE FOR YOU WOULD BE EVIL INDEED

51  I CALLED THEM NOT TO WITNESS THE CREATION 
OF NEITHER THE EARTH NOR THE HEAVENS 
NOR EVEN THEIR OWN CREATION 
NOR IS IT FOR ME TO HAVE AS PATRONS
THOSE WHO DELIBERATELY LEAD MEN TO PERDITION

52   ONE DAY HE WILL SAY TO THEM
THOSE WHO YOU THOUGHT WERE MY PARTNERS, CALL ON THEM
AND THEY WILL CALL ON THEM 
BUT THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO THEM 
AND WE WILL CAUSE A SEPARATION BETWEEN THEM

53  THE SINFUL WILL SEE THE FIRE AND KNOW THAT THEY 
HAVE TO FALL IN IT AND KNOW THAT THEY 
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN AWAY 

275
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 8.  PART XV

54  WE HAVE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL IN THIS QURAN EVERY KIND
OF PARABLE OR SIMILITUDE FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANKIND 
BUT CONTENTIOUS IN MOST THINGS IS MANKIND

55  AND WHAT IS THERE TO KEEP BACK MEN FROM AMONG THEM 
FROM BELIEVING NOW THAT GUIDANCE HAS COME TO THEM
OR FROM PRAYING FOR GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR THEM?  
THEY ASK THAT THE ANCIENT'S WAYS BEFORE THEM
TO BE AGAIN REPEATED WITH THEM 
OR GOD'S WRATH BE BROUGHT FACE TO FACE TO THEM 

56  WE ONLY SEND THE MESSENGERS TO GIVE GOOD NEWS
AND AS WARNERS, BUT THE DISBELIEVERS DISPUTE 
WITH VAIN ARGUMENTS TO WEAKEN THE TRUTH 

AND THEY TREAT MY SIGNS AS A MOCKERY 
ALSO THE WARNING THEY DO NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY

57  WHO DOES MORE WRONG THAN THEY WHO RECEIVE REMINDERS 
OF THE SIGNS OF THEIR LORD AND THEN ARE REJECTORS 
FORGETTING THE DEEDS THAT THEY HAVE SENT PRIOR
AND WE HAVE SET VEILS OVER THEIR HEARTS AS A COVER
SO THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND DEAFNESS IN THEIR EARS 
AND IF YOU CALL THEM TO GUIDANCE CLEAR
EVEN THEN THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT GUIDANCE EVER

58  BUT YOUR LORD IS FULL OF FORGIVENESS AND MERCY 
IF HE WERE TO CALL THEM TO ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY
FOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE EARNED JUSTLY
THEN HE WOULD HAVE HASTENED THEIR PENALTY 

BUT AN APPOINTED TIME HAVE THEY
BEYOND WHICH THEY HAVE NO STAY

59  THESE WERE THE POPULATIONS 
WE DESTROYED FOR THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS
WE FIXED AN APPOINTED TIME FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION

276
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                    SECTION 9.  PART XV

60  MOSES SAID TO HIS ATTENDANT, I WILL NOT GIVE UP UNTIL 
I REACH THE JUNCTION OF THE TWO SEAS OR UNTIL 
I SPEND YEARS AND YEARS IN TRAVEL

61  BUT WHEN THEY REACHED THE JUNCTION
THEY FORGOT ABOUT THEIR FISH WHICH TOOK DIRECTION
THROUGH THE SEA AS IN A TUNNEL IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION

62  WHEN THEY HAD PASSED ON SOME DISTANCE 
MOSES SAID TO HIS ATTENDANT 

BRING US OUR EARLY MEAL FOR WE HAVE SURELY 
SUFFERED MUCH FATIGUE AT THIS STAGE OF OUR JOURNEY

63  HE REPLIED, DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE 
BETOOK OURSELVES TO THE ROCK?  I INDEED 
FORGOT ABOUT THE FISH AND NONE BUT SATAN MADE ME 
FORGET TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT IMMEDIATELY
AND IN A MARVELOUS WAY IT TOOK ITS WAY THROUGH THE SEA

64  THEN MOSES SAID, THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE SEEKING 
SO THEY WENT BACK ON THEIR FOOTSTEPS FOLLOWING 
THE PATH ON WHICH THEY HAD BEEN TRAVELING

65  THEY FOUND ONE OF OUR SERVANTS ON WHOM WE 
HAD FROM OURSELVES BESTOWED MERCY 
AND WHOM WE HAD TAUGHT KNOWLEDGE CLEARLY

66  MOSES SAID TO HIM, MAY I FOLLOW YOU SO THAT YOU 
MAY TEACH ME THE TRUTH WHICH HAS BEEN TAUGHT TO YOU? 

67  THE OTHER SAID, YOU WILL NOT BE 
ABLE TO HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME  

68  AND HOW CAN YOU HAVE PATIENCE ABOUT THINGS 
ABOUT WHICH YOU HAVE NOT A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING? 

69  MOSES SAID, IF GOD SO WILLS YOU WILL FIND ME 
TRULY PATIENT AND ACTING OBEDIENTLY

70  THE OTHER SAID, IF YOU FOLLOW ME 
THEN ASK NO QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING OF ME 
UNTIL I MYSELF SPEAK TO YOU CONCERNING IT VOLUNTARILY

277
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                  SECTION 10.  PART XV

71  SO THEY BOTH PROCEEDED
UNTIL WHEN THEY CAME TO A BOAT AND HE SCUTTLED IT
AND MOSES SAID, HAVE YOU SCUTTLED IT
IN ORDER TO DROWN THOSE WHO USE IT?  
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, STRANGE IS IT

72  HE ANSWERED, DID I NOT TELL YOU THAT INDEED
YOU CANNOT HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME?

73  MOSES SAID, DO NOT REBUKE ME FOR REMEMBERING NOT
 BY RAISING DIFFICULTIES IN MY CASE AND GRIEVE ME NOT

74  THEY PROCEEDED UNTIL WHEN HE MET A MAN WHO WAS YOUNG 
AND HE KILLED HIM AND MOSES SAID, HAVE YOU SLAIN ONE 
WHO IS INNOCENT AND WHO HAS KILLED NO ONE? 
A FOUL UNHEARD OF THING HAVE YOU DONE

PART  XVI

75  HE SAID, DID I NOT SAY TO YOU CLEARLY
THAT YOU COULD NOT HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME?

76  MOSES SAID, IF I ASK YOU ABOUT ANYTHING AFTER THIS 
THEN DO NOT KEEP ME IN YOUR COMPANY AFTER THIS
THEN WOULD YOU HAVE FROM ME AMPLE EXCUSES 

77  AND THEN THEY DID PROCEED UNTIL WHEN THEY CAME TO A TOWN
THEY ASKED THE PEOPLE FOR FOOD BUT THEY TURNED THEM DOWN 
THEY FOUND THERE A WALL ON THE POINT OF FALLING DOWN

BUT HE SET IT UP STRAIGHT AND MOSES SAID, IF YOU HAD PLEASED  
YOU COULD HAVE EXACTED SOME RECOMPENSE FOR IT INDEED

78  HE SAID, THIS IS THE PARTING BETWEEN YOU AND ME
NOW I WILL TELL THE INTERPRETATION TO YOU CLEARLY
OF THOSE THINGS OF WHICH YOU COULD NOT BEAR PATIENTLY

79  AS FOR THE BOAT IT BELONGED TO POOR PEOPLE
WHO WORKED ON THE WATER AND I MADE IT UNSERVICEABLE 

FOR THERE WAS AFTER THEM A KING WHO SEIZED
EVERY BOAT ON THE WATER FORCIBLY

80  AS FOR THE YOUTH, HIS PARENTS WERE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED
AND WE FEARED THAT HE WOULD GRIEVE THEM SHAMEFULLY
BY ACTING REBELLIOUS AND UNGRATEFULLY 

81  SO WE DESIRED THAT THEIR LORD WOULD GIVE THEM A SON 
BETTER IN PURITY OF CONDUCT AND CLOSER IN AFFECTION

278
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                               SECTION 10 (CONT'D). PART  XVI

82  AS FOR THE WALL IN THE TOWN
IT BELONGED TO TWO ORPHAN YOUTHS IN THE TOWN 

THERE WAS BENEATH IT A BURIED TREASURE 
AND TO WHICH THEY WERE TO BE THE INHERITORS 
FOR THEIR FATHER HAD BEEN A RIGHTEOUS BELIEVER
SO YOUR LORD HAS DESIRED THAT THEY SHOULD MATURE 
TO THEIR AGE OF FULL STRENGTH AND GET OUT THEIR TREASURE 
A MERCY FROM YOUR LORD AND A FAVOR 

SO I DID IT NOT OF MY OWN DOING
THIS IS THE INTERPRETATION OF THOSE THINGS 
OF WHICH YOU WERE UNABLE TO HOLD PATIENCE IN ASKING

279
 CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                SECTION 11.  PART  XVI

83  CONCERNING ZUL-QARNAIN, THEY ASK YOU
SAY, I WILL RECITE SOME OF HIS STORY TO YOU

84  WE GAVE ESTABLISHED POWER ON THE EARTH TO HIM
AND GAVE THE WAYS AND  MEANS TO ALL THINGS TO HIM

85  SO A COURSE WAS FOLLOWED BY HIM

86  WHEN HE REACHED THE SETTING OF THE SUN IN HIS JOURNEY 
HE FOUND IT SET IN A SPRING OF WATER THAT WAS MURKY 
AND THERE HE FOUND A PEOPLE AND WE DECREED
OH ZUL-QARNAIN, YOU HAVE AUTHORITY 
EITHER TO PUNISH THEM OR SHOW THEM MERCY

87  HE SAID, WHOEVER DOES WRONG WE WILL PUNISH HIM SEVERELY
THEN WILL HE BE SENT BACK TO HIS LORD AND HE ADDITIONALLY
WILL PUNISH HIM WITH AN EXEMPLARY PENALTY

88  BUT WHOEVER BELIEVES AND ACTS RIGHTEOUSLY
WILL BE REWARDED AND HIS TASK WILL BE EASY  
AS WE WILL ORDER IT AT OUR DECREE 

89  THEN FOLLOWED ANOTHER WAY DID HE

90  UNTIL WHEN HE CAME TO THE SUN'S RISING AND HE FOUND IT 
RISING ON A PEOPLE WHOM WE HAD GIVEN NO COVER FROM IT

91  HE LEFT THEM AS THEY WERE AND WE CERTAINLY
UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS BEFORE HIM COMPLETELY

92  THEN FOLLOWED ANOTHER WAY DID HE

93  UNTIL HE REACHED BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS A VALLEY
AND HE FOUND BENEATH THEM A PEOPLE WHO SCARCELY
COULD UNDERSTAND A WORD HARDLY

94  THEY SAID, OH ZUL-QARNAIN, THE GOG AND MAGOG PEOPLE                      
DO GREAT MISCHIEF ON EARTH AND MUCH EVIL

SHALL WE RENDER TO YOU A TRIBUTE FROM US
IN ORDER THAT YOU MIGHT ERECT FOR US 
A BARRIER BETWEEN THEM AND US? 

95  HE SAID, THE POWER IN WHICH MY LORD HAS ESTABLISHED ME 
IS BETTER THAN ANY TRIBUTE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE TO ME
THEREFORE WITH YOUR STRENGTH AND LABOR HELP ME
I WILL ERECT BETWEEN US A BARRIER STRONGLY

96  BRING FOR ME BLOCKS OF IRON
WHEN HE HAD FILLED UP THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO MOUNTAINS 

HE SAID, BLOW WITH YOUR BELLOWS, THEN WHEN IT WAS RED  
HE SAID, BRING ME THAT I MAY POUR OVER IT MOLTEN LEAD

97  SO WERE THEY MADE POWERLESS TO SCALE IT 
NOR WERE THEY ABLE TO DIG THROUGH IT

CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                              SECTION 11 (CONT'D).  PART  XVI

98  HE SAID, THIS IS A MERCY FROM GOD 
BUT WHEN COMES TO PASS THE PROMISE OF GOD 

THEN HE WILL MAKE IT INTO DUST
THE PROMISE OF GOD IS TRUE AND JUST

99  ON THAT DAY WE WILL LEAVE THEM TOGETHER
AND THEY WILL SURGE LIKE WAVES ON ONE ANOTHER 
WHEN THE TRUMPET IS BLOWN WE WILL GATHER THEM TOGETHER

100  WE WILL PRESENT HELL THAT DAY TO THE DISBELIEVERS 

101  DISBELIEVERS WHOSE EYES HAD BEEN UNDER A COVER
FROM REMEMBRANCE OF ME AND HAD BEEN UNABLE  TO HEAR

280
CHAPTER 18.  THE CAVE                                                                SECTION 12.  PART  XVI

102  DO THE DISBELIEVERS THINK THAN THEY CAN REALLY  
TAKE MY SERVANTS AS PROTECTORS BESIDES ME?  

SURELY WE HAVE PREPARED HELL AS THE PUNISHMENT 
FOR THE DISBELIEVERS FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT

103  SAY, SHALL WE TELL YOU OF THOSE WHO LOSE 
MOST IN RESPECT OF THEIR DEEDS AMONG YOU?

104  THOSE WHOSE EFFORTS IN THIS WORLD HAVE BEEN WASTED 
THINKING THEY WERE ACQUIRING GOOD BY THE WORK THEY DID  

105  THEY ARE THOSE WHO DENY THE SIGNS OF THEIR LORD 
AND THE FACT OF THEIR HAVING TO MEET THEIR LORD 

AND VAIN WILL BE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NOR WILL WE GIVE THEM WEIGHT ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

106  THEIR REWARD IS HELL BECAUSE THEY REJECTED FAITH IN ME 
AND TOOK MY SIGNS AND MY MESSENGERS BY WAY OF MOCKERY

107  AS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND WORK RIGHTEOUS DEEDS
THEY HAVE FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT GARDENS OF ETERNITY

108  THEY WILL DWELL FOREVER IN THEM
NO CHANGE WILL THEY WISH FOR FROM THEM

109  SAY, IF THE OCEAN 
WERE INK FOR THE WORDS OF MY LORD TO BE WRITTEN 
THEN ASSUREDLY EXHAUSTED WOULD BE THE OCEAN
BEFORE THE WORDS OF GOD COULD BE WRITTEN 
EVEN IF WE ADDED TO IT ANOTHER OCEAN 

110  SAY, I AM BUT A MAN LIKE YOU 
BUT INSPIRATION HAS COME TO ME FOR YOU

THAT YOUR GOD IS ONE GOD 
WHOEVER EXPECTS TO MEET HIS GOD
LET HIM WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS AND IN HIS WORSHIP OF GOD
ADMIT NO ONE AS A PARTNER WITH GOD

281