297 Page Notes

18  Surah Al-Kahf (continued)

Page 297 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 297 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 297 of the Quran contains Surah Al-Kahf, verses 28 through 34. This section marks a major transition in the chapter. It moves away from the narrative of the People of the Cave and introduces the famous Parable of the Two Men and Their Gardens (Verses 32–34).

The themes on this page revolve around the virtue of keeping righteous, humble company over wealthy elitists, a description of the severe punishments in Hell versus the exquisite rewards of Paradise, and the beginning of a warning against materialism and arrogance.

Classical commentary (Tafsir) connects these verses to clear historical context (Asbab al-Nuzul) recorded in authentic Hadith collections.

1. The Value of Righteous, Humble Company (Verse 28)

"And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life..." — Surah Al-Kahf 18:28

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

The pagan aristocracy of Makkah (the chiefs of the Quraysh) disdained the fact that the early followers of Islam were largely the poor, the enslaved, and the socially weak.

• The Hadith: Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas narrated: "There was a group of six of us with the Prophet ﷺ. The idolaters said [to the Prophet], 'Tell these people to leave so they will not offend us.' There was myself, Ibn Mas'ud, a man from Hudayl, Bilal, and two other men. Allah's Messenger ﷺ thought to himself about whatever Allah willed he should think about, then Allah revealed: 'And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon...' [which is mirrored directly in Surah Al-Kahf 18:28]."

• Source: Sahih Muslim, Book 44, Hadith 133.

B. The Sunnah of Seeking Righteous Companionship

Verse 28 commands the Prophet ﷺ—and by extension all Muslims—to bind themselves to people who are constantly remembering Allah, regardless of their financial or social status. The Prophet ﷺ heavily emphasized this in his daily Sunnah.

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: "The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith. From the seller of musk, you will either buy some, or he will give you some, or you will smell a pleasant fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he will either burn your clothes, or you will smell a foul odor."

• Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 34, Hadith 314; Sahih Muslim, Book 45, Hadith 145.

2. The Severity of Hellfire and Murky Water (Verse 29)

"...Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten metal (al-muhl), which scalds their faces..." — Surah Al-Kahf 18:29

The graphic descriptions of the punishment for those who choose disbelief are expounded upon in prophetic descriptions of the exact Arabic words used on this page.

• The Hadith: Regarding the word Al-Muhl (molten metal/murky oil) mentioned in Verse 29, the Prophet ﷺ explained its severity: "It is like boiling oil. When it is brought near a person's face, the skin of his face falls off into it."

• Source: Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Book 39, Hadith 2767; also recorded in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad.

3. The Parable of the Two Gardens (Verses 32–34)

"And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them [fields of] crops... And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, 'I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men.'" — Surah Al-Kahf 18:32-34

A. The Spiritual Danger of Materialism

These verses introduce the wealthy, arrogant man who takes pride in his temporary estate and looks down on his less affluent brother. The Prophet ﷺ routinely warned against this specific psychological trap, establishing a Sunnah of choosing humility.

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Look at those who are beneath you (in worldly wealth) and do not look at those who are above you, for it is more suitable that you do not underestimate the blessings of Allah upon you."

• Source: Sahih Muslim, Book 55, Hadith 9.

B. Condemning Arrogance (Kibr)

The man with the two gardens boasted in Verse 34: "I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in men." The Sunnah categorically bars this mindset from entering Paradise.

• The Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will not enter Paradise." A man asked, "What if a person likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?" The Prophet replied, "Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people."

• Source: Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 173.

References

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

• Al-Muslim, I. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim.

• At-Tirmidhi, M. I. (n.d.). Jami' at-Tirmidhi.

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

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