Sūrat al-Kahf (Part 6)
Part 6 of observations on the organization and structure of Sūrat al-Kahf
See Part 5 in last week’s post. As a reminder, here is the overall structure.
[D]/[D’] – The center also demonstrates a remarkable parallel structure when the two halves converge.
CONNECTIONS
[D1]/[D1’] – The first “mathal (example)” Allah ﷻ presents is of a man who owned two gardens rich with crops. Each garden was so fruitful that Allah ﷻ described them saying they “did not fall short thereof in anything.” Opposite this is the mathal of the life of this world. The rain provides vegetation, but unlike how the garden was described, Allah ﷻ says, “it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds.”
[D2]/[D2’] – The earlier section has the owner of the garden boasting to the other man about how he is “greater than [him] in mālan (wealth) and more in terms of manpower” And the later section describes “al-mālu (wealth) and children” as nothing but “adornments of the worldly life.”
[D3]/[D3’] – The owner of the garden falsely assumed that his garden would “never perish” nor did he “think the Hour will occur.” He went as far to say, “And even if I should be brought back to my Master, I will surely find better than this as a return.” In almost direct response to this, the matching section describes how everything, even things as seemingly unmovable as mountains will be removed on Judgment Day, and that Allah ﷻ “will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone.”
[D4]/[D4’] – The companion of the garden owner used as one of his arguments, “Have you disbelieved in He who khalaqa-ka (created you) from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?” Likewise, Allah ﷻ will say to us on the Day of Judgment, “You have certainly come to Us just as khalaqanā-kum (We created you all) for the first time.”
[D5]/[D5’] – The companion continues his warning and speaks of a forthcoming calamity that may afflict the garden in this life. Similarly, when speaking of the Day of Judgment, Allah ﷻ warns of a possible calamity where people will receive their book of deeds and realize that their headed for Hell.
[D6]/[D6’] – There is an interesting contrast between the owner of the garden ultimately regretting how he associated partners with Allah ﷻ, and the lack of regret with Satan when he disobeyed. And instead of regretting his actions, he sets himself up as someone to be followed in opposition to Allah ﷻ. Allah ﷻ goes as far as to warn, “Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you?”
[D7]/[D7’] – Allah ﷻ concludes the owner of the garden’s story with a simple statement, “And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor could he defend himself.” This complements Allah’s challenge on the Day of Judgment where Allah ﷻ will say, “Call 'My partners' whom you claimed," and they will invoke them, but they will not respond to them.” And the consequences of having taken partners with Allah ﷻ will be that He “will put between them [a valley of] destruction.”
[D8]/[D8’] – Both sections end on a similar note, but for opposite groups. The first section gives the good news to the believers that “He is best in reward and best in outcome.” And the final section warns the disbelievers that, “the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall therein. And they will not find from it a way elsewhere”
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
The concludes the macro-structuring of the sūrah. Next week we’ll look at some micro-structuring found throughout the sūrah in Part 7.