Qur’an and Hadith on the Benefits of Reading Surah Kahf
Surah Kahf is the 18th Chapter of the Noble Quran and there are many benefits of Reading Surah Kahf. This Surah is a Makki Surah revealed to Prophet MUHAMMAD (PBUH) in Mecca at the time when Mushriks (Disbelievers) of Mecca went to Prophet MUHAMMAD to test him and asked him four difficult Questions to which only a Prophet could reply. The Mushriks (Disbelievers) of Mecca took the help of the Ahl e Kitab (Jews) to humiliate the Prophet, but all their plans went in vain when this Surah was revealed. The Surah had all the answers to the questions asked by the Mushrikeens, and when Prophet MUHAMMAD (PBUH) answered all their Questions, the Kuffars of Mecca became silent and went away.
The Surah has 110 verses in it and describes four important events in a detail. The Surah begins with the story of the People of the Cave (Ashab’Al’Kahf), and then afterward, the Surah talks about the Story of Rich and the Poor. The conversation and Journey between Moses and Khidr are also talked about it in this Surah and the last part of the Surah talks about “Dhulqarnain” and Yajooj-Majooj (Gog-Magog).
While this is just the summary of such a great Surah of the Qur’an, it also has various benefits associated with it. One such benefit of this great Surah is that whoever recites it every Friday, the light (Noor) given by ALLAH (S.W.T.) will illuminate the reader till the next Friday.
Every chapter of the Noble Qur’an not only takes the reader into the Practicality and reality of the world, but also serves the reader with various other benefits, and Surah Kahf is no more exception if we talk about its benefits. Now, let us talk about the benefits of Reciting Surah Kahaf on Friday (JUMU’AH)
Benefits of Reading Surah Kahf on Friday:
FORGIVENESS OF SINS THROUGH READING SURAH KAHF
It is narrated in various Hadith (Narrations of the Prophet MUHAMMAD) that when a believer recites Surah Kahf on every Friday, ALLAH (S.W.T.) forgives all the sins of the believer that the believer committed between two Fridays (the current Friday and the previous Friday).
PROTECTION AGAINST THE FITNAH (TRIBULATION) OF THE DAJJAL (ANTI-CHRIST)
One who recites Surah Kahf every Friday will be protected against the Fitnah (Tribulation) of Dajjal (Anti-Christ). It is also mentioned in various Sahih Narrations that whoever memorizes the first 10 verses of Surah Kahf and recites them regularly will be saved from the Fitnah (Tribulation) of Dajjal (Anti-Christ).
PROTECTION FROM EVERY UPCOMING FITNAH(TRIBULATION):
The recitation of Surah Kahf every Friday ensures the protection of the believer from every kind of Tribulation, Trials, and afflictions for eight (8) days and also offers peace.
THE READER IS ILLUMINATED WITH NOOR (LIGHT) THROUGH READING SURAH KAHF
According to various Narrations (Hadith) of the Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.), ALLAH (S.W.T.) will illuminate one who recites Surah Kahf on the arrival of JUMU’AH (Friday) with a special light (also knowns as “Noor”) and this Noor (light) will continue to glow on the believer till the next Friday.
Another narration says that whoever recites Surah Kahf on the night of JUMU’AH (Friday), ALLAH (S.W.T.) will stretch a light (Noor) between the believer and the Holy Ka’ba.
READING SURAH KAHF INCREASES THE REWARD AND STATUS OF A BELIEVER
It is a well-known fact that with the recitation of every alphabet of the Qur’an, there is a reward offered by ALLAH (S.W.T.). Thus, when a believer recites Surah Kahf on Friday, it will increase the reward of the believer and also raises the rank and status of the believer.
VARIOUS HADITH (NARRATIONS) RELATED TO THE BENEFITS OF RECITING SURAH KAHF EVERY FRIDAY:
In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded from Abu Sa’eed that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمُعَتَيْنِ
Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on the day of Friday will have a light for him between this Friday and the next.
– Sunan Al-Kubra (5856)
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَرَأَ رَجُلٌ الْكَهْفَ وَفِي الدَّارِ الدَّابَّةُ فَجَعَلَتْ تَنْفِرُ فَسَلَّمَ، فَإِذَا ضَبَابَةٌ ـ أَوْ سَحَابَةٌ ـ غَشِيَتْهُ، فَذَكَرَهُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ “ اقْرَأْ فُلاَنُ، فَإِنَّهَا السَّكِينَةُ نَزَلَتْ لِلْقُرْآنِ، أَوْ تَنَزَّلَتْ لِلْقُرْآنِ ”.
Narrated Al-Bara’ bin `Azib: A man recited Surat-al-Kahf (in his prayer) and in the house there was a (riding) animal which got frightened and started jumping. The man finished his prayer with Taslim, but behold! A mist or a cloud hovered over him. He informed the Prophet (ﷺ) of that and the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “O so-and-so! Recite, for this (mist or cloud) was a sign of peace descending for the recitation of Qur’an.”
– Sahih al-Bukhari (3614)
” It is related from Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (RA) who said: “Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on the night of Jummah (Friday), will have a light that will stretch between him and the Holy Kabah”.
– Sunan Al Darimi (3312)
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ سَالِمِ، بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ الْغَطَفَانِيِّ عَنْ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ الْيَعْمَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ عُصِمَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ ”
Abu Darda’ reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal.
– Sahih Muslim (809a)
CONCLUSION
As we have seen above, a lot of virtues and benefits are associated with the recitation of Surah Kahf (Chapter 18) of the noble Qur’an, and many Hadith (Narration) of the Prophet MUHAMMAD (PBUH) also supports this. Thus, as a believer, we must take out time on every Friday to get the reward of reciting this amazing Surah which will illuminate us with a special light and reduce the burden of our sins. Apart from that, the end times are near and the Fitnah of Dajjal is coming very close to us. Thus, memorizing the first ten verses of the Surah and the daily reading of it will protect us from the Fitnah (Tribulation) of Dajjal (Anti-Christ). May ALLAH (S.W.T.) protect us from the Anti-Christ and help us to die upon true Islamic faith.
