Lessons from Surah al-Kahf

<li>Publicize to religious/Muslim interest publications online and in print <li>Reach out to Alumni magazines of Yale the university that awarded him his PhD. <li>Seek reviews from major Muslim academics scholars and community leaders <li>Giveaways on LibraryThing and Goodreads <li>Numerous prepublication reviews will be sought from Kube's direct consumers <li>Reviews sought in trade magazines particularly Publishers Weekly <li>Social Media campaign <li>Ebook will be published simultaneously with the print edition <li>Featured blog by the commentary author on the Kube site <li>Yasir Qadhi is one of America's most well-known and influential Muslims. He regularly delivers talks at major Muslim events and is sought after as a speaker by Muslim organisations throughout the world.<li>yasir Qadhi has nearly a MILLION Facebook followers and he has over 150k YouTube subscribers - with some videos featuring him with close to a MILLION views.<li>This book represents the first mainstream book he has produced in a number of years. Recently his focus has been on writing scholarly articles as he finished (and received) his PhD from Yale University.<li>The content of this book will help Muslims understand a particular chapter in the Qur'an titled Surah Kahf. It is an oft read chapter and one that Muslims are familiar with.<li>What marks this book out as different is that the author combines an Eastern and Western education and he appreciates the challenges of a modern Western Muslim trying to balance social cultural and spiritual demands.. <li>Many religious books for Muslims continue to concentrate on tradition rather than provide reasoned positions. This book focuses on the latter offering knowledge that will appeal to young critical Muslim readers. Yet the author is also recognised for his steadfast Islamic positions which has endeared him to a wide spectrum of Muslims. <p>The Qur’an is full of parables. Each one when its meaning is unpacked and understood offers wisdom and guidance. Surah Kahf chapter 18 from the Qur’an is particularly thought provoking and Muslims are advised to read it at least once a week.</p><p>But why? And what can we gain from it?</p><p>In this book Yasir Qadhi leads us through Surah Kahf unfolding the lines stories and symbols that have inspired people for over a thousand years: the people of the cave Prophet Musa’s momentous encounter with Khidr the two men and their gardens and Gog and Magog.</p><p><em>And surely We have explained matters to people in the Qur’an in diverse ways using all manners of parables.</em> (Qur’an 18:54)</p><p>Through Yasir Qadhi’s unmistakeable voice modern Muslims may glimpse some of the Qur’an’s profound meaning.</p><p><em>Say: “If the sea were to become ink to record the Words of my Lord indeed the sea would all be used up before the Words of my Lord are exhausted…” </em>(Qur’an 18:109)</p> Bringing modern Muslims closer to the Qur'an. An explanation of Surah Kahf The People of the Cave by one of America's most respected Muslims. <p><strong>The Virtues of Surah <em>al-Kahf</em></strong></p><p>Surah <em>al-Kahf</em> is among the earliest revelations received by our Prophet (<em>s</em><em>allall</em><em>a</em><em>hu </em><em>‘</em><em>alayhi wa sallam</em>). In a hadith narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud the Prophet (<em>s</em><em>allall</em><em>a</em><em>hu </em><em>‘</em><em>alayhi wa sallam</em>) states: ‘Surah <em>Ban</em><em>i</em><em> Isr</em><em>a</em><em>’</em><em>i</em><em>l</em> <em>al-Kahf</em> <em>Maryam</em> <em>T</em><em>a</em><em> H</em><em>a</em> and <em>al-Anbiy</em><em>a</em><em>’</em> are amongst my first earnings and my old property and (in fact) they are my old property.’</p><p>The surah summarizes for us the gist of Islam; its main theme is that Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>) will protect us from all trials. Told through a series of stories that illustrate specific trials it teaches that Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>) will protect the believer at times of severity. Here we will focus on four stories detailed in <em>al-Kahf</em> that represent the crux of the surah:</p><ol><li>The People of the Cave</li></ol><p>The first of the stories is that of the young men who sought refuge in the cave and it is from this story that Surah <em>al-Kahf</em> derives its name. The trial illustrated in this surah is that of the <em>fitnah</em> (trial or testing) of religion; when people persecute others because of their belief in Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>). The people of the cave were one such group of young men who believed in Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>) for which the king of the land wanted to kill them. As a result they fled and sought protection in a cave and Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>) protected them.</p><ol start=2><li>The Man with Two Gardens</li></ol><p>This second story illustrates the <em>fitnah</em> of money and the consequences of being mentally consumed by it. The story explores what happens when money causes one to become arrogant and the solution presented for this trial is to realize that the <em>duny</em><em>a</em> is temporary that Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>) gives and we do not give and that all we have will eventually be taken away.</p><ol start=3><li>Musa and Khidr</li></ol><p>The third story is the famous account of Musa (<em>‘</em><em>alayhi s-sal</em><em>a</em><em>m</em>) and Khidr (<em>‘</em><em>alayhi s-sal</em><em>a</em><em>m</em>). The main <em>fitnah</em> here is that of false knowledge. If knowledge does not lead to humility then it too can become a <em>fitnah</em>. Knowledge can lead to arrogance if it is misused or abused. Of course Musa (<em>‘</em><em>alayhi s-sal</em><em>a</em><em>m</em>) overcomes this <em>fitnah</em> and in his humility and humbleness he learns from somebody other than himself and rises because of it.   </p><ol start=4><li>Dhu al-Qarnayn</li></ol><p>The final story is that of Dhu al-Qarnayn and in this story is illustrated the <em>fitnah</em> of power including the <em>fitnah</em> of kingship and the control of people. Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>) mentions that He tested Dhu al-Qarnayn with this <em>fitnah</em> who overcame it by being aware that Allah (<em>sub</em><em>ha</em><em>nahu wa ta</em><em>’a</em><em>l</em><em>a</em>) is Malik al-Mulk; the One who is the ultimate king.</p><p>It is these four major <em>fitnahs</em> detailed through the four major stories in Surah <em>al-Kahf</em> that we will study and learn from.</p> <p>The Qur’an is full of parables. Each one when its meaning is unpacked and understood offers wisdom and guidance. Surah Kahf chapter 18 from the Qur’an is particularly thought provoking and Muslims are advised to read it at least once a week.</p><p>But why? And what can we gain from it?</p><p>In this book Yasir Qadhi leads us through Surah Kahf unfolding the lines stories and symbols that have inspired people for over a thousand years: the people of the cave Prophet Musa’s momentous encounter with Khidr the two men and their gardens and Gog and Magog.</p><p><em>And surely We have explained matters to people in the Qur’an in diverse ways using all manners of parables.</em> (Qur’an 18:54)</p><p>Through Yasir Qadhi’s unmistakeable voice modern Muslims may glimpse some of the Qur’an’s profound meaning.</p><p><em>Say: “If the sea were to become ink to record the Words of my Lord indeed the sea would all be used up before the Words of my Lord are exhausted…” </em>(Qur’an 18:109)</p>