Al Kahf lessons from four stories

Past few weeks old blog entries have been shared on Surah Al Kahf. Allah has given an opportunity in quarantine to write a fresh one as well. Before that it is pertinent to give reason for writing blog instead of Vlog. First thing Allah made was means of writing i.e. Pen. First word Allah swt communicated through Prophet PBUH to us was 'Read'. Experience suggests that reading has much better retention and positive impact than watching. So thankful to those who regularly suggested producing Vlog, however, writing shall remain preferred mode of communication, no matter how less people read and how less trendy it may look.

Like so many other rituals, every Friday recitation of Surah Al Kahf has been prescribed. Have you ever wondered why? Is this just another ritual like visiting graves on Thursdays etc? Or, has this Surah any relevance with our times? What's the benefit of reciting it weekly?

Lets find out:

First of all, some guidance from Ahadith:

Messenger of Allah (PBUH) mentioned many times that Friday is the preferred day of its recitation and the one who read and memorized verses of Surah Al Kahf would be protected from the trials of Dajjal!

So its not just a ritual rather our own protection. A practice that only requires you and the Book. So most religious 'contractors' wouldn't mention it because projecting this will strengthen your one-on-one relation with Allah making them irrelevant and 'penniless'. 

This is the most relevant Surah to our times: 

Did you notice mention of Dajjal? Dajjal means the deceiver. 

So what is the likely time of his arrival? Near the end of times. 

Are we close to the end of times? Yes, pretty much. 

What is the first step to deception? False information. 

How does that work? By confusing lies with truth. 

Do we not live in times of ultimate confusion? Hell yes.

 

'What is the relation between SURAH AL KAHF and DAJJAL??

Dajjal will appear before the day of judgement with 4 trials:

🔘 He will ask people to worship him and not Allah: Trial of faith!

🔘 He will be given powers to start/stop rain and tempt people with his wealth: Trial of wealth!

🔘 He will tempt people with "knowledge” and news he gives them: Trial of knowledge!

🔘 He will control huge parts of the Earth: Trial of power!

So what is in this Surah that gives us protection against Dajjal? Yes, you guessed it, 4 different but INTERESTING stories, each with lessons to withstand 4 trials of DAJJAL!

🔘"The people of the cave"

It’s the story of young men who lived in a disbelieving town, so they decided to migrate for the sake of Allah and took refuge in a cave. Allah rewarded them with mercy in the cave and protection from the elements of nature.

The lesson of this story - conduct under 'Trial of Faith'

Do we not live in disbelieving towns or in believing towns who follow all the rituals except truly disbelieving? Do we not need Allah's refuge to protect our IMAAN? Does the first Trial of Dajjal not look in full swing? So read and understand this story to protect basic pillar of IMAAN i.e. TAUHEED which is seriously under attack.  

🔘 "The owner of two gardens."

A story of a man whom Allah blessed with two beautiful gardens, but the man forgot to thank the One who blessed him with everything and he even dared to doubt afterlife. So his garden was destroyed – he regretted it, but was too late and his regret did not benefit him.

Lesson of this story - conduct under 'Trial of wealth'

Is there not abundance of everything? Too much seems too less. Do we not tend to forget afterlife when we get wealth? Is monster of materialism not controlling our lives? Does it not seem that second trial of Dajjal is already in motion? Is Dajjal already here among us or are we being perfectly conditioned for his arrival?

🔘 "Musa(AS) and Khidr (AS)"

When Musa (AS)was asked by his people “Who is the most knowledgeable of the people of Earth?” Musa (AS) said that it was him. But Allah revealed to him that there was someone who knew more than him about certain things. Musa (AS) traveled looking for him and learned how divine wisdom was hidden in matters which we perceive as bad.

Lesson of this story - 'Trial of knowledge'

Are we not under false impression that we know due to rectangular devices in our palms? Have we not mistaken information for knowledge? Stage seems set for Dajjal to execute his third trial of knowledge which would be damn easy i.e. confuse and then convince people of his false knowledge. Knowledge is only contained in the Book of Wisdom. Just need to connect with it.

And now to the FINAL one, its somewhat GLOBAL,

🔘 "Zul-Qarnain"

Allah mentioned the story of a great king who was given knowledge and power. He traveled the world helping people and spreading all that was good. He was able to overcome the problem of Yajooj-Majooj' (Gog Mgog) by building a massive dam with the help of people whose language he could not even understand.

Lesson of this story -'Trial of power'

Whether Dajjal is among us or he is about to appear, his final trial of power is awaited. How this story relates with it? When the world is captivated by Dajjal, just kings like Imam Mehdi AS and Jesus Christ (Isa Ibn Mariyam AS) will appear in tandem to take him down. They will then take on Gog Mgog. And, finally, Allah's deen will prevail before the Day if Judgement. 

'SUBHAN ALLAH'!!! HOW RELEVANT AND PERFECT IS THE WORD OF ALLAH? 

Only Allah knows the whole Truth.