Friday Sermon: The lessons of Al Kahf

Friday's sermon highlights the merits and lessons of the Quranic chapter Al Kahf (the cave), which was named after the incident of the young men who fled to a cave with their dog.

Watching the words of one’s mouth, dedication in seeking knowledge and the risks of following what is wrong are portrayed in surat Al Kahf, which Muslims are advised to read and reflect upon every Friday.

“It includes abundant admonitions, benefits, meanings and unmatched guidelines that people need to remember and implement,” says the sermon.

The surah also highlights the importance of words of the mouth and their consequential results.

“Uttering words without validating their truth or considering their consequences will certainly bring sufferings and troubles to those who said them, as well as chaos to their societies.”

An example of the need for patience when seeking knowledge and learning is portrayed through the story of Prophet Moses and Al Khidr.

“Moses said to him, ‘may I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgment?” says verses from the surah.

“Moses said ‘you will find me if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in any order’.”

The surah also urges people to keep a balance between pursuing their own interests in this world and seeking Allah’s pleasure in the hereafter.

It describes the story of two men, “and present to them an example of two men: We granted one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [field of] crops,” says verses of the surah.

The man who was granted these benefits was overwhelmed by them and doubted the day of judgment will occur. While the other man had strong belief in his lord, and said: “But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone.”

He then advised his friend saying: “And why did you, when you entered your garden not say, ‘What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah?’”