The 18th chapter of the Quran, called ‘The Cave’ is from the early Meccan revelations during the early ministry of the Messenger Muhamamd. It is a chapter which we are encouraged to recite every Friday. There are four stories mentioned in this chapter that are not found elsewhere in the Quran. Each one of these stories speaks about a trial we may face in our lives. God says at the beginning of this chapter, “Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them as to which of them are best in deeds.” [18:7]
The first trial is the trial of persecution due to one’s beliefs and faith. This is found in the story of the People of the Cave, after whom the chapter is named. The story of the People of the Cave centers on a group of believing young men who lived in a society of disbelief and polytheism. These youth were persecuted for their beliefs. The king and people of the city were not willing to let the young men believe in the One True God.
The king was known for his tyranny and oppression. He would kill those who disagreed with him. The people of the city were also not fond of this newfound faith of the young men. They too were not willing to stand up for them or support their choice. Fearing oppression and possible imprisonment and death, the young men chose to leave their city and flee for the sake of their faith. God praises them for this choice.
It is not easy to sacrifice for your beliefs, especially when the price is your home, family and friends. When the young men had made their choice and chose to rest in a cave, God honoured them with a special miracle, one which is preserved in the Quran. They slept for three centuries, so that God could show them His mercy and favour. This is the outcome for those who choose God above others and sacrifice for His sake.
The second trial mentioned within this chapter is depicted through the story of the man who possessed two gardens. The story revolves around wealth and how it is a test. God had blessed this man with much wealth; gardens of fruit and rivers. Nothing was withheld from him. Additionally, he also enjoyed the blessing of children, servants and other supporters.
Yet all of the above only led him to arrogance and haughtiness. He belittled his less fortunate friend and ridiculed his advice to show gratitude to God for the blessings he had. He foolishly thought that his wealth and manpower was a sign of God’s love and acceptance. Why else would he receive such blessings?! Therefore, even if there was to be a resurrection, surely a God who loved him and showered him with such blessings in this life, would only increase him manifold in the next.
God destroyed the wealth of this man to show him and us that the wealth of this world is not a sign of God’s pleasure or displeasure, but rather a test through which God examines our belief, action and character. It is not about the wealth in and of itself, but how we earn and spend it.
The third unique story in this chapter is that of Moses and Khidr. It is a story where knowledge becomes a trial. This is perhaps a perplexing concept as we normally only associate knowledge with goodness and benefit. Yet just as with wealth, knowledge too can be used for good or misused. It can also lead to arrogance, pride and looking down upon others deemed less knowledgeable rather than the noble attributes it should nurture within us; modesty, humbleness, piety and a genuine concern for the wellbeing of others. How many times have we been guilty of possessing these ignoble traits as a result of some small measure of knowledge we acquired?
The Messengers of God are gifted with knowledge of scripture and the highest level of human knowledge. They are above sins and negative character traits. They are still human and depend on God for their knowledge and do not have complete knowledge, as that is an attribute exclusive to God. God wisely allows situations in the lives of the Messengers that become lessons for all mankind to demonstrate His ultimate knowledge and wisdom.
Moses, the great Messenger of God, who was gifted with many Divine favors throughout his life including the distinct honor of having been spoken to directly by Allah stood among his people and delivered a sermon. He was asked who was the most knowledgeable among humanity. He replied that he was based on what he knew. He forgot to attribute ultimate knowledge to God by saying, “God knows best.” God, in His wisdom, intended to teach Moses—and through him, all of us—a lesson in intellectual humility and the limitations of human knowledge even for those with a high degree of it. He instructed Moses to travel to the junction of the two seas where he would find a special devoted servant of God named Khidr. He was one endowed with more Divine knowledge than Moses in certain matters.
Moses, the noble Messenger of God, embarked on a journey with Khidr. During their time together, Moses witnessed three astonishing actions by Khidr: the scuttling of a ship, the killing of a young boy, and the repair of a crumbling wall in a town that had refused them hospitality. Moses, despite his status and wisdom, could not initially comprehend the reasoning behind these actions and questioned each one. At the end of their journey, Khidr explained the Divine wisdom behind each act, revealing that they were carried out according to God’s instructions and commands, not Khidr’s personal whims.
This story is rich with lessons and etiquettes, deserving of a dedicated article to explore them fully. Suffice it to say that Moses, one of the greatest Messengers of God, demonstrated humility, modesty, and a willingness to learn, when faced with knowledge beyond his own. It is a powerful reminder that true knowledge begins with recognizing the vastness of what we do not know and submitting humbly to the wisdom of God.
The fourth and final story concerns the king who conquered the East and West. The story of Thul-Qarnayn concerns the trial of power, authority and influence. When Thul-Qarnayn had conquered the West, God tested his immense power and how he would use it. Instead of going to either extreme of treating all his subjects harshly or with kindness, Thul-Qarnayn established justice.
This justice was the constitution of Thul-Qarnayn as he went to conquer the East and the lands between the East and West. His justice, compassion and goodness is further highlighted in the way he dealt with those people who requested his assistance against the oppression of Gog and Magog.
Although this story speaks about power at the highest level, it is the same concept of justice and compassion which helps us deal with power at any level and in any form. Parents hold a measure of power over their children, a husband likewise over his wife, an employer over employees and so on. It was this responsibility that the Messenger Muhammad was emphasising in the famous statement, “Indeed all of you are shepherds and each one of you is responsible for their flock.”