The Review of Religions is honoured to present the first full English translation of Sūrah al-Kahf, chapter 18 of the Holy Qur’ān, from Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad’s (ra) magnum opus, Al-Tafsīr Al-Kabīr or our readers.
In this edition, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) mentions his own understanding of the relationship between this chapter and the preceding one.
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The Connection of this Chapter to the Previous Chapter Based on the Knowledge Bestowed by Allah Almighty
Now, I shall explain what Allah the Almighty has taught me in this regard, and accordingly, how Sūrah al-Kahf is linked to the preceding chapter, and how the events narrated in it relate to Sūrah Banī Isrā’īl. It should be borne in mind that, as has been established in Sūrah al-Naḥl, a prophecy was made about the confrontation with the Jews and Christians, and in Surah al-Isrā’, it was further elaborated that Allah the Almighty would take the Holy Prophet Muḥammad (sa) to an area where he would come into contact with the Jews and Christians. They too would oppose him, but would face defeat. Along with this, a vision was mentioned, foretelling that the Holy Prophet (sa) would gain control over the lands promised to the Jews. It was also decreed for the Jews that they would twice rebel. One rebellion would occur after [the time of] David (as), resulting in their expulsion from their land. However, after this, they would repent and be given the opportunity to return to their country.
They would commit the second rebellion during the time of the Messiah, as a result of which their temples would once again be destroyed, and they would be expelled from their promised homeland. These prophecies described the circumstances of the first link in the [chain of] Mosaic dispensation. Now, one question remained: which is that the second link of the Mosaic dispensation – the Jews [who came after the time of David (as)] – still exists, who did not share the fate of the first link in these punishments. So why should it not be understood that after the destruction of those Jews, it would be the latter who would become the fulfilment of those prophecies, which have already been stated in the earlier books regarding the progress of the Mosaic dispensation? And the second question that remained concerned the Muslims, who have been warned not to follow in the footsteps of the Jews, lest they subject themselves to the same two punishments as them; what will become of them in the future?
The answers to both these questions have been provided in Sūrah al-Kahf, where the circumstances of the second link in the Mosaic dispensation have been described. It also explains what will happen to those Muslims who follow in the footsteps of the Jews and how it will happen. The question remains as to how the mention of the People of the Cave, and the parable of the two gardens, and then the incident of Moses’ (as) journey, and the mention of Dhū al-Qarnain and Gog and Magog relate to these matters. The answer is that these events describe the beginning and the end of the Christian nation. Additionally, they mention the difficulties that Muslims would face, because of their irreligiousness, from Christian nations.
The People of the Cave are those early Christians who endured great hardships for the sake of their faith, and were ultimately recompensed for their sacrifices from Allah the Almighty. And Allah the Almighty bestowed His grace upon them and granted them both spiritual and worldly progress. These events had occurred before the era of the Holy Prophet Muḥammad (sa), because at the time of his advent, the Christians had also strayed from the right path. The mention of these events alludes to the fact that when the Jews incurred the displeasure of Allah Almighty, He chose the People of the Cave – or in other words, the early Christians who were steadfast in righteousness – as the recipients of His favours.
After this, the discourse should have shifted to explaining why divine grace was then withdrawn from them. The answer to this is given through the parable of the two gardens. We [Allah] had given two gardens to the Mosaic dispensation: one garden representing the progress of the Jews, and the other representing the progress of the nation of the Messiah. One of these was mentioned in Sūrah al- Isrā’, while the other was alluded to in the account of the People of the Cave. It is then explained that this nation rejected ownership of these two gardens, forgot Allah the Almighty, and began to look down upon their brethren, the Children of Ishmael (as). They came to believe that these favours were being bestowed upon them due to some inherent right. It was then that Allah the Almighty heard the cries of the oppressed and those who had been considered contemptible. Thus, He set ablaze the gardens of the Mosaic dispensation. In other words, He shattered the glory and grandeur of both nations, and bestowed His grace upon the Ishmaelites, who had once been considered insignificant, granting them even better gardens.
After this parable, to further clarify the subject, mention is made of a night journey (Isrā’) [seen in a vision] of Moses (as), wherein he was shown the progress of the Mosaic dispensation in the same manner as the Holy Prophet Muḥammad (sa) was shown the progress of his dispensation, during the night journey [also a vision] described in Sūrah al-Isrā’. Through the mention of this journey, it was explicitly explained how the progress of the Mosaic dispensation, which had been shown in the form of this night journey, would unfold and at what point that progress would halt, with blessings then transferring to the Ishmaelites.
After explaining this matter, the discourse begins by stating that after the heavenly blessings were transferred to the Ishmaelites, Allah the Almighty would punish those from the dispensation of Muḥammad (sa) – who would become disobedient and heedless of religion – at the hands of the corrupted second link of the Mosaic dispensation. This punishment would come by way of Gog and Magog, who would follow the Christian faith and would one day spread over the entire world. And to explain that these nations existed even then, but that Allah the Almighty’s perfect wisdom had prevented them from spreading and progressing at that time. The reasons which were then holding back these nations were explained, and the reason Gog and Magog remained separated from the rest of the world for a period was attributed to a figure whose name is stated as Dhū al-Qarnain.
Thus, the events of both groups of the Christian nation were narrated. One who manifested as the People of the Cave, who were true Christians. And the other, who would accept Christianity only once the spirit of the People of the Cave had been extinguished, and who would only outwardly follow the Christian faith; in reality, they would be completely ignorant of the essence of this religion.
In the end, it was stated that Allah the Almighty would ultimately send His punishment and crush the trial of Gog and Magog, and through the manifestation of a second Dhū al-Qarnain, He would create the means for the deliverance of the Muslims.
Summary of the Chapter’s Content
In summary, this chapter mentions two eras of Christianity: one that was a period of righteousness, and another that was a period of evil. It explains that between these two eras, the establishment of the dispensation of Muḥammad (sa) is destined, and for the punishment of the disobedient Muslims, Allah the Almighty has kept the irreligious people of Christianity hidden. One day, they will emerge and shatter the glory of Islām, but then Allah the Almighty will bestow His grace and protect Islām from this trial. This is the summary. The remaining details will be explained alongside the various sections of the chapter.
Serialisation of Sūrah al-Kahf will continue in the next edition.
Translated by Murtaza Ahmed.
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