Being Upright; Re. Surah Al-Kahf:

1.    Introduction:               Allah SWT tries to educate & guide us from examples of the past, so that we may remain steadfast in times of trial and that we should not get scared of a bigger and a more powerful being.

2.    Surah Al-Kahf, verse no. 14:         “We solaced their hearts when they stood up and said. 'Our Lord is He Who is the Lord of heavens and earth, we shall not worship any god beside Him, if we did so, then necessarily we uttered crossing the limit” (18/14).

3.    No Lord Besides Allah SWT:                            Its only when we compromise on our principles and / or when greed overcomes our faith that we show flexibility. Otherwise we know and believe that there is no one in this world who can help us and there is no Lord worth worshipping besides Allah SWT.

4.    Surah Al-Kahf, verse no. 15:                   “These our people have taken for themselves gods besides Him. Why then they do not bring for them a bright authority? Then who is more unjust than he who fabricates a lie against Allah” (18/15).

5.    An Exemplary Story:            In this Chapter (Surah) of Al-Quran, Allah SWT has narrated the famous tale of a group of young people who had hidden themselves in a cave to resist and reject a tyrant ruler. It elaborates that it’s better to seek isolation rather than make ourselves available to move with the crowd.

6.    Surah Al-Kahf, verse no. 16:                   “And when you have separated yourselves from them and from all that which they worship beside Allah, then take refuge in the cave, your lord will unfold for you His mercy and will prepare an easy arrangement of your affairs” (18/16).

7.    Guidance & Ignorance:                  We have to make choices between faith and greed. The latter will make us go astray, whereas if we surrender before Allah SWT, then HE will ease our life here and more importantly in hereafter.

8.    Surah Al-Kahf, verse no. 17:                   “And O beloved! You will see the sun when it rises, moves away from their cave to the right and when it sets, turn away from them on the left, whereas they are in the open space of the cave. This is of the signs of Allah. He whom Allah guides is on the right way, and he whom He sends astray, for him you will never find a supporter to guide” (18/17).

9.    Guidance:                    Seeking guidance is key to the true path. While guidance is only in remembrance of Allah SWT, therefore if we ever err then we should immediately ask for HIS mercy. 

10.  Surah Al-Kahf, verse no. 24:                   “But that Allah please, add remember your Lord when you forget and say like this, 'it is near that my Lord might make me see the right path nearer than this” (18/24).

11.  We Should Keep High Standards:          We should envy people who seek guidance on a regular basis and not those people who desire worldly gains.

12.   Surah Al-Kahf, verse no. 28:                   “And keep yourself familiar to those who call upon their Lord in the morning and evening seeking His pleasure and your eyes should not see others leaving them; would you like the adornment of the life of this world? And obey not him whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who followed his own desire and whose affair exceeded the limit” (18/28)

 May Allah SWT help & guide us all (Aameen).