Raiyan Pal, Student, Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada
The world as we know it today is at a crossroads; millions are struggling to find their identity, materialism is encapsulating all aspects of our lives like an ever-growing shadow, and oppression and corruption are creeping their way into every social and political sphere of life.
The crisis that presents itself in this day and age is one led solely by the machinations of Satan and his comrades. But just as darkness cannot exist without light, surely there must be a solution that addresses the darkness of evil surrounding us; that remedy lies in the 18th chapter of the Holy Quran, Surah al-Kahf: a solution to global challenges.
People of the Cave
The first lesson of Surah al-Kahf lies in the story of the People of the Cave, believers in the Unity of God from early Christianity who were persecuted for their faith at the hands of the idolatrous Roman emperors. Instead of bending to the will of those seeking to overpower them, they chose to separate themselves and stay true to their faith. (Five-Volume Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 1846, under Ch.18: V.10)
In the modern-day era of societal pressures and expectations that do not necessarily conform to the religious principles of morality and faith that Islam presents, it can be difficult to stand as the “odd one out,” but this story serves to remind us to not only find our identity but also act in accordance with it.
It is then that God will bestow His blessings upon us, as He did upon the People of the Cave in the following words:
وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ
“And We increased them in guidance. And We strengthened their hearts.” (Surah al-Kahf, Ch.18: V.14-15)
This lesson is especially pertinent to those Ahmadis around the globe who are constantly persecuted for their mere profession of belief in the Promised Messiahas. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa shed light on this, stating:
“These so-called scholars and opponents believe that they will annihilate the Jamaat of the Promised Messiahas with their breath, as it were. However, they do not know that they are, in fact, challenging God. And if they oppose Allah the Almighty, it is they who will be destroyed, because Allah the Almighty supports and assists His servants.” (Friday Sermon, 19 May 2023)
Two gardens and no garden
If one fails to steer clear of the forces of materialism, it inevitably leads to arrogance and a sense of forgetfulness of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and this is the most apparent takeaway from the second story presented in Surah al-Kahf: the man with the two gardens.
God bestowed immense wealth and riches on one man in the form of two gardens, while the other, although not enjoying an extravagant life, turned to his Lord and found evermore contentment in this. Over time, the black stain of pride grew on the arrogant man’s heart to the point where he unashamedly uttered:
مَا أَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبِيدَ هَذِهِ أَبَدًا
“I do not think this will ever perish.” (Surah al-Kahf, Ch.18: V.36)
Just a few verses later, the consequences of his pride became apparent when God the Almighty decreed this man’s fate in the following words:
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى مَا أَنْفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَا
“And his fruit was actually destroyed, and he began to wring his hands for what he had spent on it, and it had all fallen down on its trellises.” (Surah al-Kahf, Ch.18: V.43)
Ponder how suddenly all the wealth and riches that he once enjoyed were snatched away from him in the blink of an eye.
Another important principle that can be deduced from this account of the Holy Quran is the juxtaposition between the love of the world and the love of God. Expounding upon this, the Promised Messiahas states:
“The purpose of religion is that people should recognize the True God Who created the world, love Him so much that every other love should grow cold in their hearts, be kind and compassionate towards His creatures, and strive to attain the utmost purity.” (Lecture Lahore, p. 4)
The tale of Khidr
It is clear that God the Almighty desires to bring His servant under the lamp of humility and away from the engulfing darkness of the self-reliant, frail human ego, and this is more so emphasised in the third account of this chapter of the Holy Quran, which is the story of Prophet Mosesas and Khidr.
Both of these individuals embarked on a journey, during which Moses’as companion committed three seemingly unjust acts – damaging a boat, killing a boy and repairing a broken wall. It was later revealed to Prophet Mosesas that these acts were carried out under divine command, i.e. something that transcended the limited scope of the human realm.
This account speaks directly to the idea or notion that has held sway in the minds of many modern-day philosophers and atheists, which is that human knowledge is more than sufficient and capable of leading an individual to their desired goal. In other words, science and human rationale are seen as the ultimate sources of truth.
However, the Promised Messiahas has challenged this viewpoint in the following beautiful Persian couplets:
عقل کاں با کبر میدارند خلق ہست حُمق و عقل پندارند خلق
کبر شہرِ عقل را ویراں کند عاقلان را گم ره و ناداں کند
“People’s intellect adulterated with arrogance, is mere foolishness which they think is intelligence. Pride lays to waste the city of reason, and turns the wise into misguided fools.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III [English], p. 65)
Relying on human reasoning without divine guidance is like a lantern without a flame – although meticulously and beautifully crafted, it remains utterly useless in the dark. It is only when that lantern is illuminated with a radiant flame that one may utilise it in its proper fashion. In the same way, human intellect must be coupled with the Divine flame of revelation to lead one to the ultimate truth.
The account of Dhul Qarnain
The final account in Surah al-Kahf is that of Dhul Qarnain, a just leader who upheld moral principles and prioritised divine will, and who inevitably faced the evil forces of Gog and Magog, who sought to create disorder in the land. In the modern world, the crux of all global issues boils down to corruption found rampant amongst foreign leaders, who consolidate power for their own benefit; this is, in essence, the manifestation of Gog and Magog.
True leadership, as we see from this account of Surah al-Kahf, is about giving the people a voice, supporting social welfare and fighting the dark forces that lurk throughout all spheres of politics.
Additionally, this form of leadership just does not cater to the wealthy political figures of the upper class; rather, anyone who bears the burden of responsibility, no matter on how small a scale, is addressed in this account. As the Holy Prophetsa has stated:
كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ
“Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-ahkam, Bab atiʿu Allaha wa atiʿu ar-rasula, Hadith 7138)
The implications of the lessons derived from the story of Dhul Qarnain are as prevalent as ever, and this further lends a hand to the truthfulness of the Holy Quran, being a source of guidance for all times.
Final thoughts
When analysing these four accounts from Surah al-Kahf as a whole, a central theme emerges that can be better understood through a saying of the Holy Prophetsa:
مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشَرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُوْرَةِ الكَهْفِ عَصِمَ نِنَ الدَّجَّلِ
“Whoever commits to memory the first 10 verses of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from (the trial of) ad-Dajjal (Antichrist).” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab salat al-musafirin wa qasruha, Bab fadli surah al-kahf, Hadith 311)
In essence, Surah al-Kahf gives a comprehensive description of the cunning nature of the dajjal and how its forces penetrate all aspects of our lives in this day and age. But at the same time, the solution is also clear: whether one is struggling with discovering one’s identity, or clashing between forces of arrogance and humbleness in the mind, or experiencing difficulty with relying on divine wisdom, or seeing emerging patterns of corruptness in political leadership – Surah al-Kahf serves, and will always continue to serve, as a solution to all global challenges we face in this day and age.