Al-Kahf 9: (Oh My Messenger!) Or did you think that there are lessons only in the people of the Cave (Kahf) and the Inscription (Rakeem)?

A. Metin Saruhan · 2 March 2018 · Al-Kahf

Translation

(Oh My Messenger!) Or did you think that there are lessons only in the people of the Cave (Kahf) and the Inscription (Rakeem)?

Tafsir

Allah (swt) has so many miracles and events that are worthy of admiration, and the people of Kahf and Rakhim are some of them. Allah's miracles and events do not end. One of these events is the event of Ashab-ı Kehf.

Allah (swt) is telling the people about the miraculous events of Ashab al-Kahf to make them obedient to Him, to know Allah as the only One, and to be away from those who associate partners with Him. It is to show people what Allah (swt) is capable of, and to make Himself known. It is also to ensure that His servants do not rebel against their Creator and that they are spared from a painful punishment in the Hereafter. Allah is exempt from imperfect attributes. Allah shows His miracles in every event so that people may learn from them and be saved. In order that Allah (swt) may not be questioned, Allah (swt) creates various events that every human being can understand and presents them to people as clear proofs.

This is how clearly and openly Allah declares His Essence to mankind. Kahf in this verse means a large cave in a mountain. As for Rakim, there are various opinions about it. In one narration, a group of three people took shelter in a cave in a rainy weather outside Ashab-ı Kehf. A large boulder falls into the mouth of the cave and they are trapped in the cave.

These three people make a supplication to Allah (swt) to get out of the cave. They present their case to Allah (swt) because of the good deeds and behaviors they had done in the past. When one of these three people mentions the good deeds he has done, the rock opens a little. When the second person talked about his good deeds and behaviors, the boulder opened a little more, and when the third person told about a good deed he had done, the boulder opened a little more and the group of three escaped from the cave.

According to one narration, Rakim is the name of the mountain or valley. Or it is the inscription of Ashab-ı Kehf. The strongest narration among these is the inscription of Ashab al-Kahf. Allah and His Messenger know best.

What is said in the video

We have come to the 9th verse of Surah Al-Kahf. "My Messenger, or did you think that, of Our signs, only the People of the Cave and of Ar-Raqim are worthy of being a lesson?" it says. Yes. Allah Almighty has so many miracles and events worthy of being a lesson that the People of the Cave and of Ar-Raqim are only some of them. The miracles and events of Allah Almighty never end. One of these events is the event of the People of the Cave. Yes. Allah Almighty has created many miracles. For example, it must be a prophet — I don't quite remember the prophet's name right now. Anyway, one of them, while passing through a city, sees that it is in ruins.

A beautiful city he used to pass through in the past. He sees that it is in ruins. How will this place ever become beautiful again, he says. Right then Allah Almighty causes him to die. After keeping him lying for a hundred years, He revives him. Look, He says, your (?) there, your donkey's skin has rotted, only its bones remain, and your food has not spoiled, He says. Sir, a hundred years have passed, the city has been rebuilt. My Allah, You have power over everything, he says. And He shows how his donkey will be given back to him as a mount, and He revives his donkey too. This is not hard for Allah.

By telling of the event of the People of the Cave, Allah Almighty — their being obedient to Him, their knowing Allah as One, their keeping away from those who associate partners with Him — what is it to make their miraculous states known to people? States within human power, states beyond human power. It is so that Allah Almighty, by showing people what He has power over, wills His being to be known. It is also so that His servants do not rebel against their Creator, and that they are saved from a painful punishment they would meet in the realm of the hereafter. Allah is free of deficient attributes.

Allah, so that people take lessons from every event and attain salvation, shows His miracles to people. So that Allah Almighty is not questioned and called to account, Allah Almighty, by creating various events every person can understand, presents them before people as clear proofs. What does He say? We, We, drawing a comparison with a mosquito or (?) We never give up. What does this mean? In a way every person can understand, Allah Almighty in the Holy Quran has given examples. So this is how clearly and openly Allah declares His being to people. Kahf, mentioned in this verse, Kahf in a mountain, means a wide cave located in a mountain. As for Ar-Raqim, there are various views about it.

According to one narration, apart from the People of the Cave, in rainy weather a group of three people take shelter in a cave. A wide, large piece of rock falls over the mouth of the cave and they are trapped in the cave. These three people pray to Allah Almighty to get out of the cave. On account of good deeds and conduct they had once done, they lay before Allah Almighty their situation. When one of these three speaks of the good he had done, the rock opens a little. When the second person also speaks of the good deeds and conduct he had done, the rock moves aside a little more. When the third person tells of a good deed he did, the rock moves aside a little more, and this group of three escapes from the cave.

This is a story, of course, but the People of the Cave are still in the cave. According to one narration, Ar-Raqim is the name of the mountain or the valley, or the inscription on which the People of the Cave are written. Among these, the strongest narration is the inscription on which the People of the Cave are written. Allah and His Messenger know best the truth of everything.