N.Starkovsky · MealMerkezi.Net

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Praise be to God, Who has sent down to His servant a Scripture that is not twisted,

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but straightforward, to warn about His mighty retribution and to announce a generous reward to the believers who do good —

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[a dwelling] where they will abide for ever.

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And also to caution those who say: “God has begotten a son.”

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Terrible are these words coming out of their mouths! Neither they nor their fathers know anything about it, and everything they say is a plain lie!

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Had you followed them, you might have killed yourself out of grief, knowing that they will never believe in this Revelation!

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We made everything on earth to embellish it and to test which of them are the best in deeds.

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But verily, We will reduce everything on it to waste and dust!

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Do you not think that the youths of the cave and ar-raqim were one of Our most amazing Signs?

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Once, after hiding in the cave, the young men said: “O our Lord! Grant us Your mercy and settle our matter in the right way!”

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There in the cave, We sealed their ears for many years.

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Then We brought them back to life to find out which of the two sides would better estimate how long they had stayed [inside].

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We are telling you their true story. These youths believed in their Lord, so We increased [Our] Guidance to them

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and fortified their hearts. Once, they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of Heavens and earth. We’ll never call to any one besides Him — that would be blasphemy.

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Our people had taken gods besides Him, but why don’t they bring convincing proofs in their favor? Is there a worse offender than the one who invents lies about God?”

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— [O young men!] Withdraw from them and from those they worship besides God, and escape to a cave. Your Lord will grant you of His mercy and will facilitate your affair.

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You could have observed that when the sun rose, it leaned to the right of the cave, and when it set, it moved to the left, while they remained in the middle. This was one of God’s Signs. Whoever is guided by God is on the right path, but for whomever He leads astray, you shall not find a protector to show him the right way!

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You could have thought they were awake, but they were asleep. We kept turning them right and left, and their dog stretched its forepaws at the entrance. Had you suddenly come upon them, you would have surely fled from them in terror!

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Then We brought them back to life to let them question one another. One of them said: “How long we’ve been [here]?” They said: “We’ve been here one day or a part of a day.” And they all said: “Our Lord knows best how long we’ve been here. Send one of you to the city with your money. Let him find the purest food and bring it to you to satisfy your hunger. And let him be careful and not tell anyone about you.

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Indeed, if they find you, they’ll stone you or force you to return to their cult. Then you’ll never be successful!”

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We are telling their story to make it known that God’s promise is true, and that the Hour [of Judgment] will certainly come. As they were arguing about their affair, [someone] said: “Build a house over them — indeed, their Lord knows them best!” But those who prevailed in this matter said: “We’d rather build a mosque over them!”

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Soon [some people] will say that they were three, and that the dog was the fourth. [Others] will say, guessing the unknown, that they were five, and the dog was the sixth. [Still others] will say that they were seven, and the dog was the eighth. Say, [O Muhammed!]: “My Lord knows best how many they were, but only a few [people] know it.” Do not argue about them, unless the facts are clear, and do not question anyone about them!

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And never say about anything: “I promise, I’ll do it tomorrow,”

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without adding: “If God wills.” Each time you forget [it], remember your Lord and say: “I hope that my Lord will bring me still closer to the right path!”

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They stayed in the cave three hundred and nine years.

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Say: “God knows best how long they’ve stayed [there] — indeed, He holds the secrets of Heavens and earth. And how He sees! And how He hears! They’ve no protector besides Him! And He doesn’t associate anyone to His decisions!”

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So recite what has been revealed to you of the Scripture of your Lord — indeed, no one can change His Words. And you will find a shelter only by Him!

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Hold onto those who, seeking His Face, pray to their Lord mornings and evenings, and do not avert your eyes from them, lest the frills of this life tempt you. Do not obey any one, whose heart We allow to neglect remembering Us, who pursues his passions, and is extravagant in his affairs.

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Say: “Truth emanates from your Lord.” Whoever wants it, let him believe, and whoever does not want it, let him deny. We have prepared a Fire for the wrong-doers which will take them under its pall! They will cry out for help, but they shall be given water like molten metal that will scorch their faces. What a dreadful drink, what an awful refuge!

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And what about those who believed and did right? Verily, We shall not suffer that the reward of those who believed and did right goes to waste.

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