Al-Kahf (The Cave)

28 “And keep yourself content with those who call unto their Lord morning and evening seeking His pleasure, and let not your eyes turn away from them desiring the adornment of the life of the world, and do not obey him whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and he follows his own low desires, and his affair has become all excess.”

Occasion of Revelation

A group of arrogant conceited rich Arabs came to the Prophet (S) and, pointing to some faithful Muslims, such as: Salman,’Abuthar, Ṣuhayb, Khabab and the like of them, said:

“O’Muhammad! If you sit in the seat of honor, and send away these fellows from around yourself, (so that your meeting becomes apt for notables and personalities), we will approach you. But, with the presence and existence of these people, the meeting is not a suitable place for us.”

At this time, the verse was revealed and commanded the Prophet of Islam (S) not to surrender to those hollow deceptive statements, and he should always receive the faithful, sincere-hearted ones, such as those who are like Salman and’Abuthar.

The Prophet (S) told them (his true followers) that he praised Allah for that he (S) did not die until when He ordered him such a commandment that he would be with them and the like of them.

He (S) said:

“Yes, life with you, and also death with you, is pleased.”

One of the lessons which the story of the Companions of the Cave taught us was that the criterion of men’s value is not the apparent rank, social position, and their wealth. In fact, this verse pursues this very important subject, and commands the Prophet (S) as follows:

“And keep yourself content with those who call unto their Lord morning and evening seeking His pleasure…”

Imam Sadiq and Imam Baqir (as) said:

“The objective meaning of calling Allah in the morning and in the evening is ‘to perform the prayer’.”1

Then, as an emphasis, the Qur’an continues saying:

“…and let not your eyes turn away from them desiring the adornment of the life of the world…”

Again, for a more emphasis, it adds:

“…and do not obey him whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and he follows his own low desires…”

Such people are always out of normal method, so that their manner has become all excess. Since, concerning the material lusts, the nature of man is always toward the mood of demanding more and more, a mortal ceaselessly steps in the direction of excess so far that he perishes himself.

The holy verse says:

“…and his affair has become all excess.”

Explanations

1. A leader should not be heedless of the deprived, but he must be sympathetic unto them.

2. Do not turn away from the poor in order to obtain the material world and the consent of the rich.

3. The worst thing is the circumstance that people pay attention to Allah, but their leader pays to the world.

4. He who follows the low desires and the world, will go out of the path of godly ones.

5. The danger of mammonism is so much that Allah has warned His prophets of it.

6. The value of the remembrance of Allah depends on that its root to be deep in the heart and the soul. Otherwise, a man falls down step by step. The first step is negligence, then lust, and, finally, the path of aberration.