سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي 677 الکهف
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ عِوَجًا ﴿۱﴾
﴾1﴿ Alhamdu lillaahil lazeee anzala 'alaa 'abdihil kitaaba wa lam yaj'al lahoo 'iwajaa
﴾1﴿ All attributes of divinity belong exclusively to Allah, the Exalted, who sent down the Book to His servant and made no crookedness in it
And another name for it is Al-Ha'ilah (The Barrier).
In this portion of the Qur'an, the third segment extends from this surah to Surah Saba, comprising sixteen surahs. This segment emphasizes two aspects of Allah's Rahmaniyyah (Mercy): The first aspect: Allah Himself governs the system of the universe and has not entrusted it to anyone, as He has no offspring—"He has not taken a son" (لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا). This theme continues up to Surah Al-Mu’minun. The second aspect: Allah alone is the source of blessings and provisions. This theme spans from Surah Al-Mu’minun to Surah Saba.
Relevancy:
From Surah Al-Kahf to Surah Al-Isra, the primary focus is on the concept of monotheism (Tawhid). In Surah Al-Isra, it is emphasized that shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the cause of punishment, and the rejection of shirk is elaborated in detail toward the end of the surah. In this context, Surah Al-Kahf provides answers to doubts raised about Tawhid, addressing misconceptions and affirming the oneness of Allah.
Claim of this surah:
The rebuttal of the polytheists' doubts, which they base on extraordinary occurrences (umoor khariq lil-'adah), is central to this discussion. The foundation for refuting these doubts lies in the phrase "لم يجعل له عوجا" (He has made no crookedness in it) in verse 1, referring to the removal of misconceptions. Furthermore, verse 4, "وَيُنْذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا" (And to warn those who say Allah has taken a son), addresses the claim of divinity in someone who allegedly possesses divine traits like perfect power and knowledge of the unseen.
The surah establishes the affirmation of Tawhid (monotheism) by refuting various forms of shirk, including shirk in knowledge, control, worship, and supplication, across the first ten verses. It also highlights the oneness of Allah through the mention of six of His beautiful names (Asma' Husna) to emphasize His absolute and unmatched attributes.
Summary of the surah:
This surah is divided into an introduction, four sections, and a conclusion:
Introduction (Verses 1–8):
Affirmation of Tawhid: Begins with "Alhamdulillah" (All praise is for Allah), emphasizing the oneness of Allah. Proof of Tawhid: The revelation of a flawless Book free of doubts (verse 1). Purpose of the Book: To warn and give glad tidings (verses 2–3). Refutation of Polytheism: The rejection of Allah taking a son (verses 4–5). Consolation for the Prophet (PBUH): Comforting the Prophet in verse 6, addressing his grief over people's rejection. Detachment from the World: Encouragement to detach from worldly desires in verses 7–8.
These themes are later elaborated in detail throughout the surah.
In this verse, the affirmation of Tawhid begins with "Alhamdulillah" (All praise is for Allah), signifying that all attributes of divinity—such as perfect power and knowledge of the unseen—are exclusive to Allah, and He has no partners in these attributes. It then mentions the revelation of the Book of Allah, which is free from any doubts or distortions, as indicated by "عِوَجًا" (crookedness). This term implies that the Qur'an addresses and resolves any misconceptions or doubts regarding Tawhid. The verse subtly advises that if anyone harbors doubts about monotheism or encounters them, they should refer to the Qur'an for guidance and clarity.