 As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh Bismillahir rahmanir raheem wa salatu wa salamu ala sayyidina wa nabiyina Muhammadin wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa salim Ya Rabbana lakal hamdu kama yambagi lijalali wajhika wa azaimi Sultanic. Bismillah, we will start today, insha'Allah, by continuing Surah al-Kahf that we are on Ayah 18. And we saw that last time that those young men, this fleet with their religion, they didn't want to be affected by the Emperor, the King or the people. So they ran away in order to save themselves and to keep their faith and iman as strong as it was. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala made them, directed them to a cave. And he prepared that cave for them. So when the sun would go from the, when it will rise up, it will incline away from their cave on the right. And when it sets, it will again pass away from them to the left. So this was preparations. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala prepared that cave for them. Allah goes on and says, So Allah is saying, and you will think them wide awake because their eyes were open while they were deep asleep. And we turned them to the right and to the left while the dog stretched his four legs at the entrance. If you have a look, if you have looked at them, then you should have turned from them in flight and have been filled up by terror. So we said the sun will miss them when it rises up and when it sets down. They were sleeping, but their eyes were wide open. So this is subhanallah something that if the eyes are closed for a long time, which in their case would be over 300 years, then they will not be able to see when they open them, if they can't open them. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is turning these people, these young men right and left. Why? Imagine there is a sick person who is bedridden, who cannot move. After two, three weeks, then he would have skin sores, he would have muscle problems. So those people, those young men, they are turned so they don't have these skin problems, they don't have these muscle problems during their 300 and over years of sleeping. And what happens to their dog? Their dog was at the doorstep at the entrance of the cave so no one can get into them. Only if you had a look on them, you will run away out of fear. They trusted God and He miraculously saved them. He protected them. They fell asleep for centuries and they were saved from that tyrant emperor, from that tyrant's king. So, and similar to that, so, and similarly, we awakened them that they might question one another. They would look at themselves and they will answer what's going on. What is going on? How many years? So sad as people of them among them, how long have we remained here? And they looked at themselves and they said, we have remained a day or a part of a day. And they said, okay, your Lord is most knowing of how long you remain. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best food, the pure food, and bring you provision from that food and let him be cautious and let no one be aware of you. Now, let's start with the deep understanding of the ayah. The word ba'asnahum wa qadalika ba'asnahum, the word ba'asnahum means or refers to resurrection after death. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala used this word here to indicate the long period they slept, okay? So when they asked each other how many years, how long did you sleep? They said yawman wa ba'dayaw, a day or part of a day. Why did they say so? Because they looked at themselves, they did not find anything different. They were young and they stayed young. Their hair was not gray and it stayed the same way. So they said it's not important how long we slept because nothing changed for them. So look at this thing. It's not important to argue about the things that are not important. Stop arguing. Sayyidina Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says, I am weak in my house in Rabad-ul-Jannah that left the mirror when I was pregnant. So Sayyidina Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is guaranteeing a house in paradise, in a special part of paradise for that person who does not argue even if he is right. And we all know that Sayyidina Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the way he used to talk, his words would be counted. He used to use jawami'u l-kalim, a few words that would give a lot of meanings. So the point is stop arguing, do not argue. So here they said it's not important how long we slept. Let's not talk about this. Allah knows exactly how long we slept. But what was important as a mention for them now is that they are hungry. They want to eat. So when they suggested that someone goes to buy, to use the silver coins that they have to buy some food, he said, فَبَعَثُ أَحْدَكُمْ بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَاْدِهِ إِلَ الْمَدِينَ فَالْيَنْظُرْ أَيُُّّهَا اَزْقَا طَعَامَنْ The word ازْقَa means good, delicious, but at the same time pure, pure. And this is a real sign of taqwa. When we want to practice taqwa, we have to have it in all, we have to have it in all our actions, in everything. We have to have it in everything, in actions, in food, in our money. Our money should be pure, our actions should be pure and for the sake of Allah SWT only. Everything should be for the sake of Allah SWT. So get some pure food, some good food, but make sure that nobody sees you. Make sure nobody sees you. They are not sure that things have changed, because the people are looking for them. So they slept only for a few seconds, a few minutes, part of a day. So they slept only for a short period of time. That's what they think. So they are sure that people are looking for them and they have to be careful. They don't have to draw attention to themselves. So just be aware, be cautious. If we look at this, we understand something very important, that we have to, when we have tawakkur on Allah SWT, when we really depend on Allah SWT, then what is going on? Then we have to take necessary precautions and depend on Allah SWT. So we cannot just say, okay, I am depending on Allah and he will save me. You cannot say that. You have to take precaution. You have to start being aware. So you cannot say, I'm depending on him, Allah, and he will save me. No, you have to take measures. So why were they so cautious? Because they said, إنهم يظهروا عليكم يرجموكم أو يعيدوكم في ملتكم ولا تفلحوا إذن أبدا. Indeed, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or they will force you to return to their religion. And what will happen after that? And never would you succeed than ever. So they faced death because they refused to worship the false gods. They refused to worship anyone other than Allah SWT. They were true believers and they wanted to save their hearts because they are seeking for the day after. They are seeking for their reward with Allah SWT on the day of judgment. So this is what was their concern. They did not care about dunya. They did not care about anything. No distractions. Just Allah SWT. So they faced death because they refused to worship these false gods. So they ran away. And when they woke up again, they said, we have to be careful not to get caught by that tyrant king, that tyrant emperor and his men. So the lesson here is do not throw yourself into harm. Stay away from it. Keep safe. Your soul is an amana. Save it. It's not only your body to take care of. You have to take care of your soul also. And how do we take care of our souls? Just know that Allah SWT has given you this amana. So you have to take care of it. You have to keep getting closer to Allah SWT. You have to nourish your soul. Send salawat to Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Read Quran. Be with righteous people. Learn about your religion. Learn about the life of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Learn about the companions, how they lived, how they acted, how they stood firm with Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. We are at an age now that we have to be very strong with our faith to face all those arrows that are being hit directly against us, against Muslims. So take care of your amana. Because when you cannot take care of others, if you yourself is not strong enough, you have your family as an amana. But you have to be strong to take care of your amana. Ask Allah SWT for help always. And just be sure that you cannot fulfill anything without the help of Allah SWT. So get yourself prepared. Get yourself ready to do what Allah SWT wants you to do in this life. To fulfill the purpose of your life. Alif, laa meem, aam, hasee, bani, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, alif, laa meem, bu candle compos. There will be fitted. There will be tests of your life, but you have to be strong. Strong. Allah will test his servants, his people just to know who is going to be a winner who is going to be a loser. So be careful. Get yourself prepared. And Allah SWT you have to be, you have to be careful. You have to start the first step and then you depend on Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala and when you depend on Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala then Allah will help you. So what happened now? Those young men were saved and Allah wants the truth to be revealed now. So he says, وَكَذَالِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا النَّوَعْضَ اللَّهِ حَقْ And similarly we have, we caused them to be found so that they who found them would know that the promise of Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala is truth. So that everyone up till our day up till the day of judgment everyone will know that the promise of Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala is truth. وَأَنَّ السَّاعَتَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُ بْنُوْ عَلَيْهِمْ بُنْيَانًا رَبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسْجِدَةَ So Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala caused them to be found so that everyone would know that the promise of Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala is truth. And that the hour is, there is no doubt about the day of judgment, about the hour. When they asked Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ about the hour, he says The one who is being asked does not have more information about the one who is asking. No one knows when is the hour except Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala. So that was when they disputed amongst themselves how about their affairs and then they said construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them said those who prevail in the matter. We will surely take for ourselves over them a message. So this is how they were discovered. That was because of the coin. No one accepted to take the coin in return of the food that that young man went to buy for his friends. So the salesman sent him from one to another and everyone said, Oh, what is this money? We don't know this money. So they couldn't recognize the they couldn't recognize this money. People also something strange happened. The young man himself could not recognize anything around him. Centuries have gone by. Everything is different. People are different shops are different merchandise is different. The structures are different. So the sellers refused to take the coin. And they sent him from one to another until they thought that he has found a treasure. And he was forced to go before the bishop. We know earlier we said that the 300 years ago when they ran away, people were pagans, but later they became Christians. So the bishop asked, asked him what is this? What is his story? But before before the man answered, he said, Where is that emperor? And it is said, well, the name of that emperor was this year's. And this person died about 250 CE. So nobody knows that this person except someone who lived with him. So they told him they said he has died centuries back. And he told them the stories. The bishop could not believe the story. So he said, take me to the cave you are talking about. So the young men took them took the bishop and the few people to the cave and they saw his friends. They saw their cloth and they realized they found out that they are really of that era. The bishop and the men left. And after that, all the young men died naturally after they were discovered by people. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala calls them to be found so that everyone is sure that Allah's promise is true and that there is no doubt about resurrection. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will give victory to those who truly believe in him. To those who sacrifice for his sake. To those who do not get distracted by dunya, by nefs, by shaitan, by anything. They are real true believers of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And they wanted to keep their heart pure and nothing in their heart except Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. They ran away. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in Surah Muhammad 7 Ya ayyuhal ladina amanu. Intansur Allah yansurkum wa yuthabbit aqdamakum. Oh you who believe, who believe, if you support Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala Allah will support you. Allah will give you victory. And how do you support Allah? By following obedient servants, by following the orders, by accepting anything that Allah has ordered you to do. And being away from anything that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants you to be away from. So this story is a sign that the promise of Allah is truth. So let them know that there is no doubt about Allah's victory. There will be a day that Allah will give you victory. Just stay firm. Iz yatana za'oona baynahum amrahum. So they began debating about what should be done with them. So several ideas were given. Some of them said, faqalu bnu alayhim bunyana. So one group said let's build a monument to honor them. Allah knows all that happened. We don't know but we need to honor them. Others gave other opinion until a group said, qalil ladina ghalabu ala amrihim, lana takhizanna alayhim masjida. Those who won the debate said, we will build a place of worship here. Actually, this is a true story that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala kept their remembrance till today and until the day of judgment. They will stay there. Their remembrance will be, their story will be told from generation to generation to generation. They will say, thalathatun rabihum kalbuhum. They will say, khamsatun sadisuhum kalbuhum. Rajman bil ghaib. They will say, sapaatun wa thaminuhum kalbuhum. So some said, they were three and the fourth of them being their dog. They will say, they were five and the sixth of them is their dog. Some say, they were seven and the eighth of them was their dog. So say, oh Muhammad, my lord is the most knowing of their number. So it's not important. Allah knows the number. None knows the exact, none knows exactly how many were they except for a few. So do not argue with them, except that you have a solid knowledge. There is a lesson here, and we mentioned that last time, speak with knowledge or keep silence. If you are asked a question and you don't know the answer, just say, I don't know the answer. I will check the answer. I will ask someone who knows the answer. If you are not qualified to speak, then keep silent. Do not argue about something that you are not sure about. So do not discuss something if you are not sure about. But do not argue about something that knowing it would not benefit and not knowing it would not harm. The most important thing is the story. Fityatan, amen will be rabbihim. Young men believed in Allah and they ran away, so Allah saved them. This is the most important thing. It's not important the names of those people. It's not important how many are exactly, how many were they? It's not important. It's not important the place. It's a cave, any cave, a cave. But what is important is the truth. So if Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala had specified time or so people had specified time. So people would say, oh, this is only for that time. This story is only for that time. It's only a story. If he specified the names, then people would say, oh, this story is about so and so. If he specified the number, then they will say this is the number. That's only about those people. But Allah kept these things unknown for a reason. That this story might happen to everyone. It might happen to everyone. Anyone can be in their position. So the lesson is be with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah will be with you. Be with Allah. Be with Allah. Be with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Remember Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala at the time of ease. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will be with you at the time of hardship. And do not ask them. Do not ask them as they do not have the knowledge. Do not ask your people who came and they are judging you. They are asking you about the story of these people because they don't know. They do not know. They do not have the knowledge. And we mentioned also that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Qur'an. And also the same ayah is repeated in surah al-anbiya ayah 7. Ask the people of knowledge if you don't know. Ask the people of knowledge if you don't know. Ask the people of knowledge if you don't know. And in surah al-anbiya ayah 7, ask the people of knowledge if you do not know. But, ya Muhammad, do not ask these people. They don't know. So, when you want to have knowledge, when you want to ask someone, Don't ask anyone, except that you are sure, that this person has the knowledge. Or he can get you the exact knowledge, the exact answer, the correct answer, answer. You have to know who to ask. And it is said that at the end of time, so many people would give fatwas. So many people would give fatwas, which is very wrong. Even if they don't know, they will give fatwa. Someone would ask them, they will immediately answer without thinking about the question. And this is the end of time. So, la tastafdi Do not ask except the people of knowledge. They don't know, don't ask them. And never say, I will do anything tomorrow. I will do this thing tomorrow. Never say that, except you add insha'Allah, if Allah wills. So insha'Allah, when you want to do something, say insha'Allah. And when you say so, then you are, as if you are saying ya Allah, I am, I have no power. You have the power. If you wills that, if you will, that thing will happen, then it will happen. If you will that thing that not to happen, then it will not happen. I don't know. I am depending on you ya Allah. This is one of the ways that we depend on Allah. Just keep mentioning, keep saying insha'Allah. I want to come visit you, insha'Allah. You never know. You never know if you can, if you will wake up or not. You never know if your car will act funny on that day or not. You will never know if you can make it on the road or not. You never know if this will happen or not. Just say insha'Allah. Please have the company of Allah with you. Insha'Allah. Bismillah. Alhamdulillah. Thank Allah for everything good that happens to you. Alhamdulillah. And remember you Lord when you forget. Suppose that you said okay I'm going to do this tomorrow or today after an hour and you forgot to say insha'Allah. Just say it whenever you remember it. Insha'Allah. So remember your Lord when you forget. Say perhaps my Lord will guide me. So say perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this. To the right conduct. So guide me. Ya Allah to something better to what I had in mind. We don't know. We ask Allah. And that's why whenever we want to do something we would do salat al-istikhara. Whenever we want to have a decision then we will do salat al-istikhara. So ask Allah. Ask Allah. Now always say Allahumma inni la'uhsinu l-iqtiara faqtarli. Wa la'uhsinu tadbira fadabbirli. Ya Allah. I don't know how to choose. You choose for me. I don't know how to manage my affairs. You manage them for me. Because I trust that whatever you want for me is the best. I don't know what's best for me. Sometimes we beg Allah for something to happen. We ask Him for something to happen. But when it happens we say oh we wish it did not. That's why from now on stop. Say what you want but add at the end. Ask Allah for whatever you want but add at the end. If there is khayr in that thing ya Allah and you know you know best. I don't know. Allahumma inni la'uhsinu l-iqtiara faqtarli. Wa la'uhsinu tadbira fadabbirli. So remember Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Sometimes we want to save something. We don't want it to get lost. So we hide it. We want to hide this thing. It's so precious. We don't want to lose it. And what happens? We forget where we hide it. So you keep searching and searching and searching and searching. You don't find it. And there is a way to help you find things. If you lose them read surat wa duha. Subhanallah. It helps but in order not to forget where you put your things. Which is something that happens to all of us. Be aware. The second you want to put it to leave it from your hand to put it to put it. Then say Bismillah. When you say Bismillah then you are aware. Your mind is aware of the place that you put it in. So just say Bismillah before putting your stuff here and there. Before hiding your stuff or before losing your stuff that you hide. Okay. Subhanallah. So now they remained in their cave for 300 years and also nine. So 309 years. They stayed sleeping in that cave. Say Allah is most knowing of how long they remained. No one knows. But Allah. He has the knowledge of the unseen. The knowledge of the unseen of the heavens. The knowledge of the unseen of the earth. He has the knowledge of the unseen of everything. How sleeping is he and how hearing. How seeing sir. How seeing is he. Allah never sleeps. But he always sees everything. He always hears everything. So he. This is something that we have always to keep with us. Allah is over watching us. Allah knows everything. And at the day at the day of judgment he is going to present everything for us in the record. You have no one to depend on except Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. You have no one to take care of you except Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. And what's good, what is unique, what is amazing, what is miraculous is that Allah gives the orders, Allah gives the rulings and no one, no one shares anything with Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. He by himself does everything. Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen. We'll meet, insha'Allah, next week. Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.