296 Page Notes

18  Surah Al-Kahf (continued)

Page 296 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 296 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 296 of the Quran encompasses Surah Al-Kahf, verses 21 through 27. This specific section addresses the aftermath of the discovery of the People of the Cave, the dispute over building a place of worship over them, the debate regarding their exact number, the strict command to say "Inshallah" (If Allah wills), the total duration of their sleep, and the final instruction to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to adhere strictly to the revealed Book.

Classical Islamic exegesis (Tafsir), particularly by Ibn Kathir, links these verses to historical context (Asbab al-Nuzul), legal rulings, and multiple authentic Hadith and Sunnah narratives (Lumah, n.d.).

1. Speculation on Numbers and Avoiding Futile Debates (Verse 22)

"They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], 'My Lord is most knowing of their number...'" — Surah Al-Kahf 18:22

A. Ibn Abbas on the True Number

While the verse states that few know their exact number, classical Hadith literature records the statement of the Prophet’s companion and the master of Quranic exegesis, Abdullah ibn Abbas.

• The Narration: Ibn Abbas stated: "I am among the few whom Allah has excepted. They were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog." He derived this because Allah categorized the first two guesses (three and five) with the phrase "guessing at the unseen," but did not attach that phrase to the third guess (seven), indicating its factual correctness.

• Source: Recorded in Tafsir Ibn Kathir under the commentary of Verse 22; also transmitted through authentic chains by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari.

B. The Sunnah of Leaving Disputation (Miraa')

The conclusion of Verse 22 states: "...So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone." This establishes a foundational Sunnah: avoiding stubborn arguments in matters where detailed knowledge brings no practical or spiritual benefit.

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: "I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for one who leaves arguments even if he is right..."

• Source: Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 43, Hadith 4800; graded Sahih by Al-Albani.

2. The Obligation of Saying Inshallah (Verses 23–24)

"And never say of anything, 'Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,' Except [when adding], 'If Allah wills.' And remember your Lord when you forget..." — Surah Al-Kahf 18:23-24

A. The Reason for Revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul)

These verses contain a direct, loving correction to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. When the rabbis of Madinah prompted the pagan Quraysh to test the Prophet with three riddles (including the story of the young men), the Prophet ﷺ told them, "I will inform you tomorrow," expecting revelation but forgetting to say "Inshallah" (Philips, n.d.). As a lesson, divine revelation was withheld for 15 days, causing great anxiety until these verses descended (Philips, n.d.).

• The Hadith Connection: The Prophet ﷺ routinely taught his companions the power of this phrase by referencing past prophets who also faced setbacks when omitting it. He narrated: "Solomon (Sulaiman), the son of David, said: 'Tonight I will surely intimately visit seventy women (wives), each of whom will give birth to a knight fighting in Allah's Cause.' His companion said to him, 'Say: If Allah wills (Inshallah),' but he did not say it... None of them gave birth except one who gave birth to a half-formed child." The Prophet ﷺ added: "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if he had said 'Inshallah', he would not have failed and his desire would have been fulfilled."

• Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 67, Hadith 5242; Sahih Muslim, Book 27, Hadith 27.

B. The Sunnah of Expiating Forgetfulness

Verse 24 states: "And remember your Lord when you forget..." The Sunnah establishes that making mention of Allah (Dhikr) or making the exception (Inshallah) rectifies an omission even if some time has passed.

• The Narration: Ibn Abbas explained that if a person forgets to say Inshallah during an oath or a promise, they should say it whenever they remember it, even if it is a year later.

• Source: Recorded by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih as a suspended text (Mu'allaq), and fully connected by Al-Tabari in his Tafsir.

3. Protection from Changing the Word of Allah (Verse 27)

"And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge." — Surah Al-Kahf 18:27

This closing verse of page 296 binds the listener back to the ultimate authority of the Quran. The Sunnah emphasizes that the words of Allah are an unassailable protection, a concept modeled in daily prophetic supplications.

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ taught his followers to seek refuge using the perfect words of Allah when stopping at any destination or experiencing fear: "Whoever stops at a place and says: 'I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created' (A'udhu bi-kalimatillahi-t-tammati min sharri ma khalaq), nothing will harm him until he leaves that place."

• Source: Sahih Muslim, Book 48, Hadith 78.

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari.

• Al-Muslim, I. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim.

• Ibn Kathir, I. (2000). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim (Vol. 5). Dar Thiba.

• Lumah, D. D. (n.d.). How Did Imam At-Thabari's Interpretation with Tafsir bil Ma'tsur Style Influence Qur'anic Exegesis. Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta.

• Philips, A. A. B. (n.d.). Tafseer Soorah al-Kahf. International Open University.

• Sijistani, A. D. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud. 

(Note: "n.d." denotes classical texts where modern standardized publication years vary across publishers, cited instead by their universally recognized book and Hadith numbers).