تدبر سورة الكهف 3

Allah guided the youth to the best cave. It was located towards the North, so the rising and setting of the sun (in the east and west) wouldn't hurt them.

Allah is able to protect them from the sun without any means, but this is the way of life - Allah protected them through means as a test. Will you attach your heart to the means or Allah? 

This is why attaching yourself to the means is Minor Shirk.

But in Jannah you'll get everything without means. You wish for something and it'll appear right in front of you.

"و هم في فجوة منه"

The cave was open and vast, not narrow. It was round and had the perfect amount of air circulation. 

"ذالك من ءايات الله" 

Do not be impressed by them, but look at the One who was behind it all. These group of young boys didn't know where to go, but they made دعاء, and it was Allah who guided them to the best cave. This teaches us to never belittle making دعاء. They prayed for their religion to be protected, but Allah gave them much more. He protected their bodies as well.

The most valuable thing we have is our religion, and we need to ask Allah to protect it for us.

"من يهد الله"

Some people will be guided by the ءايات of Allah, whereas others will be misguided. This is one of the impacts of Allah's name المؤمن, He shows us the truth through universal signs.

"و من يضلل"

Notice that the name "الله" isn't mentioned here. If the person is taking the means for misguidance and not taking the means of guidance, he will be misguided. 

"فلن تجد له وليا مرشدا" 

The one who is misguided will find no one to support him. So take heed of the ayat of Allah, before you learn the hard way.

"و تحسبهم أيقاظا و هم رقود" 

Their eyes were open, so you would have thought them awake, when they were in fact asleep. According to the Tafseer, this was a greater means of protection for them, than if their eyes were closed.

"و نقبلهم ذات اليمين و ذات الشمال" 

In addition, Allah turned them on their right and left. We need to be turned when we are asleep. Allah is القيوم, He turns us even when we are asleep. He is in charge of everything.

"و كلبهم باسط ذراعيه بالوصيد" 

Even the dog fell asleep along with them. It wasn't inside the cave with them, but at the entrance. 

The dog is mentioned along with them in the story, and we can extract a lesson from this. Scholars said that when you accompany the people of good, even if you don't do as many good deeds as they do, you will be considered amongst them and praiseworthy as well.

We should note that we're only allowed to have dogs as guard dogs, not pets. If we do so we lose a huge amount of good deeds everyday, and Angels don't enter a house which has a dog inside.

"لو اطلعت عليهم"

If anyone were to look at them or try to come near them, what would happen? 

1) "لوليت منهم فرارا"

2) "و لملئت منهم رعبا"

This was a protection for them from people or animals trying to harm them. They would see them, panic, feel fear, and run away.

It is said that these boys belonged to rich families, and lived lives of luxury. But they gave up everything to protect their religion.

And Allah honoured them and subjected everything for them. He guided them to the best cave, and arranged all the conditions to suit them in the best way.

"و كذالك بعثناهم"

They were asleep, which is minor death; when the soul leaves the body. That's why Allah described their waking up as resurrection.

"ليتسآءلوا بينهم"

They woke up confused as to how long they had slept. One of them asked the question and the rest of the 7 guessed that they had slept for no longer a day or part of a day. 

Then they said:

"ربكم أعلم بما لبثتم"

This shows their reliance and belief in Allah. Whenever you are confused or in a dispute about anything, return to Allah and leave the matter. There's no need to discuss on and on.

They used the name of Allah الرب; The Nurturer, Reformer, Disposer of Affairs. He is the One taking care of them and knows the time frame more than anyone else.

Then they turned their attention to more important issues:

"فابعثوا أحدكم" 

They had to get food, and decided to send one of them out, while the rest of them stayed back, so there was less danger of them being discovered.

When you delegate tasks, do so to only a few, because the more people involved the more corruption there will be. 

"بورقكم هاذه"

They had money in the form of paper currency, which shows us that they belonged to an advanced civilization.

"إلى المدينة" 

They mentioned city, not village, indicating that there was a city market near the cave, when they lived 309 years ago.

"فلينظر أيها أزكى طعاما"

They specifically wanted food which was أزكى - most delicious and lawful. This type of food satisfies the hunger even if it is little in quantity, as all the nutrients are in it. 

They cared about getting the best type of food, despite the situation they were in. Allah mentions eating lawful and good food in the Qur'an many times, because it affects our acts of worship. 

"فليأتيكم برزق منه"

This is complete reliance on Allah. They knew Allah would provide for them, but they also knew that they had to strive and take the means.

"وليتلطف و لا يشعرن بكم أحدا"

They were extremely hungry, but they showed deliberation. They didn't ask the boy to run to the marketplace, snatch the food and come back. They told him to go, quietly, calmly, buy the best food available to him, and come back. 

This verse teaches us all about توكل:- taking the means whilst relying on Allah.