the four tests of life ,
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Surah Kahf and the 4 StoriesWa salaam,
Considering it is Friday, and reciting Surah Kahf on Friday is a well-known tradition among Muslims, I just thought I’d make a few comments on the surah itself. The primary theme of Surah Kahf seems to be expressed in the following verse:
That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct.
While the theme binds the overall surah, I always wondered how exactly do the 4 different stories that comprise the majority of the chapter relate to the theme. The stories that make up the surah are:
- The Seven Sleepers
- The Owners of the Gardens
- Moses and Khidr
- Dhul-Qarnain and his Conquests
The Quran does not repeat itself unnecessarily, so it only seemed logical that the Quran would be expounding this reality from different angles. After some reflection, I came to a certain realization. Each of these stories summarize the totality of man’s existence into the pursuit of 4 main objectives. All his striving, all his pursuits in the world are meant for achieving these 4 basic needs. It is only by understanding this limitation in fulfillment of these ends does man realize that all his pursuits in the earth have to be for higher ends. If man deceives himself in the pursuit of the ‘glittering show’ he will ultimately lose sight of his very purpose in this world
The first story of this surah revoles around TIME. It doesn’t take too much reflection to understand that the length of a man’s life is his first priority. Man’s first goal is to achieve sustenance to continue his existence on earth. God himself, through the incident of the 7 sleepers, showed how time, and ultimately life, is in the hands of God. It is interesting that God Almighty chose 7 youths to convey this reality. If their physical appearance showed signs of age, this reality would not have made such an impact on those who came across them. It further conveys the idea that a long life isn’t really worth living if one does not possess the freshness and vigors of youth.
In interesting angle the Quran also takes in regards to the uncertainity of time is when it expounds upon how men argued about how many men were in the cave. The Quran talks about how man doesn’t even have control over his own past, and the past, in a particular sense, is uncertain for man. After expounding upon the past, the Quran then tells Muhammad (S) not say he will do something in the future, unless followed by the statement that it can only happen by the will of God. Not only is this uncertainty in life and time reflected in the people of the city as well as through the directive of God to the Prophet (S) and the Muslims regarding the future, but it is also reflected in the words of the Sleepers themselves:
And thus did We rouse them that they might question each other. A speaker among them said: How long have you tarried? They said: We have tarried for a day or a part of a day. (Others) said: Your Lord knows best how long you have tarried.
Even the seven youth weren’t fully conscious of the time they spent sleeping. The Quran in the mostbeautiful of ways expounds upon the uncertainty of life from the angle of time, and time as a whole, which includes the past, present, and future. It is God alone that can keep man from the viscitudes of time.
The next story is that of the Owners of the garden. The primary angle from which this surah expounds on the theme is that of WEALTH. The Quran speaks about how men become so competitive over attaining wealth that they forget who granted them wealth in the first place. Further, they become so deluded into thinking that the wealth they receive is a sign that they are superior, to the extent that even if God and accountabilty existed, it would only show that God had a certain preference for them, i.e. it was their birth-right. This is how they justify their own actions in light of the call of their own moral conscience. The Quran also speaks about God’s will, just as it did earlier in the surah when saying to the Prophet (S):
And do not say of anything: Surely I will do it tomorrow,
Unless Allah pleases; and remember your Lord when you forget and say: Maybe my Lord will guide me to a nearer course to the right than this.
The only exception is the words chosen:
And wherefore did you not say when you entered your garden: It is as Allah willed, there is no power save in Allah? If you consider me to be inferior to you in wealth and children
The next story, that of Moses and Khidr, discusses another aspect that man desires so heavily, and that is KNOWLEDGE. Moses (AS) boasted that nobody could compete with him (AS) in this respect, so God Almighty, to teach Musa (AS) certain lessons, told him to proceed to Khidr (AS) and follow him for a certain period. An interesting point in this surah is regarding the fish. WHile Musa (AS) boasted about his knowledge, it was only when he told his servant to bring them some food, and the attendant brought light to the fact that the fish disappeared, did Moses (AS) remember the fish. This is actually an irony, considering Musa (AS) was boasting about his superior knowledge, but he forgot to remember a significant fact regarding the journey. This fact itself was a sign of God that was necessary to the journey in the first place. The Quran also speaks about knowledge from the dimension of patience. Knowledge and Patience go hand in hand. To possess absolute knowledge of the workins behind reality would essentially nullify the purpose of the test. It further prevent mans from cultivating his own moral character.
This is the significance of that with which you could not have patience.
The final story is that of Dhul-Qarnain. The final dimension spoken about:
Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends.
The Quran refers to POWER and dominion. This story speaks about the limitations man can achieve in dominion. DHul-Qarnain, despite being a noble and pious person and being blessed by God in his dominion, was also limited in the extent of his conquests. In one conquest, he was halted by a geographical limitation, that of the sea. In another conquest, he came across a people who could not understand the communciations of the King nor could they speak to him. Hhis dominion in this area was essentially useless, despite him having power over the people. As far as Gog and Magog, Dhul-Qarnain could only establish a barrier to prevent the assaults of Dhul-Qarnain, i.e. he could not maintain an army in that regions, and that barrier too, as Dhul-Qarnain pointed out, would ultimately collapse despite being built with the most formidable of materials. When humanity, including Gog and Magog. will be called forth by God, even the barrier that was sent to keep Gog and Magog from passing through the mountains will collapse as the people will spill forth into the regions like waves. Even the strongest of limitations in this world are subject to the will of God. Another interesting aside to this story is that Dhul-Qarnain, despite being an able-king, had to employ the services of the people he was to protect. His army alone could not sufficiently do the job.
So there it is, in summary. The Quran beuatifully summarizes the totality of man’s existence from 4 different angles:
TIME, WEALTH, KNOWLEDGE, POWER
Say: I am only a mortal like you; it is revealed to me that your god is one Allah, therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join any one in the service of his Lord
