Quran · · 6 min read
Reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday: Virtues, Evidence and When to Read It
Many Muslims make a point of reading Surah Al-Kahf every Friday. So what exactly has been narrated about it? When should it be read? And what is this surah — which brings together four great stories — about?
Short answer: Surah Al-Kahf is the 18th surah of the Qur’an, a Meccan surah of 110 verses. About reading it on the night or day of Friday, there is a report from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri in Sunan ad-Darimi: “a light will shine for him between himself and the Ancient House”. And in Sahih Muslim, whoever memorises ten verses from its beginning is protected from the Dajjal.
What is narrated about reading it on Friday
The best-known report on the subject is from the Companion Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, recorded by ad-Darimi in his Sunan:
Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri said: “Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on the night of Friday, a light will shine for him between himself and the Ancient House (the Ka‘bah).”
This narration is mawqūf — it stops at Abu Sa‘id, meaning it is his own statement. Many scholars hold that something like this cannot be said from personal opinion, so it carries the ruling of a marfū‘ (Prophetic) report. A similar wording has also been reported as marfu‘, from the Prophet ﷺ, mentioning “the day of Friday” and “between the two Fridays” — reported by al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi and graded authentic by some hadith scholars. That is why many Muslims have made it their practice to read it every Friday.
When should Surah Al-Kahf be read?
The night of Friday begins at sunset on Thursday, because in the Hijri reckoning the night comes before its day. So whoever reads it from sunset on Thursday to sunset on Friday has read it on the night or the day of Friday — this is the view of many scholars. It does not have to be read in one sitting; you can spread it over different times of the day.
The surah falls in the 15th and 16th juz’, starting on page 293 of the Madinah mushaf. Read it in full on Noor with recitation, verse by verse.
Ten verses from its beginning
Abu ad-Darda’ reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever memorises ten verses from the beginning of Surat al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal.”
Among these ten verses is the supplication of the young men when they took refuge in the cave:
إِذۡ أَوَى ٱلۡفِتۡيَةُ إِلَى ٱلۡكَهۡفِ فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحۡمَةࣰ وَ هَيِّئۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَمۡرِنَا رَشَدࣰا
Tranquillity descending at its recitation
Al-Bara’ said: A man was reciting Surat al-Kahf, and beside him was a horse tied with two ropes. A cloud covered him and began to come closer and closer, and his horse began to shy away. In the morning he came to the Prophet ﷺ and mentioned that to him, and he said: “That was the sakīnah (tranquillity) that descended because of the Qur’an.”
What is Surah Al-Kahf about?
The surah revolves around the great trials (fitan) that people are tested with, and presents them in four stories:
- The People of the Cave — the trial of faith: young men who believed in their Lord fled to protect their religion, and Allah preserved them in their cave.
- The owner of the two gardens — the trial of wealth: a man deceived by what he was given forgot the One who gave it, and what he boasted of was lost.
- Musa and al-Khidr — the trial of knowledge: a meeting that teaches that behind what we see lies wisdom we do not grasp.
- Dhul-Qarnayn — the trial of power: a king established in the land who used his strength for justice.
The surah closes with this verse:
قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرࣱ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهࣱ وَٰحِدࣱ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلۡيَعۡمَلۡ عَمَلࣰا صَٰلِحࣰا وَ لَا يُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدَۢا
Frequently asked questions
What is the virtue of reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday?
Ad-Darimi narrated from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri: “Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on the night of Friday, a light will shine for him between himself and the Ancient House.” A similar wording has been reported from the Prophet ﷺ by al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi.
When does the time for reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday begin?
From sunset on Thursday (the night of Friday) until sunset on Friday, according to many scholars.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Kahf?
Surah Al-Kahf has 110 verses. It is the 18th surah in the order of the mushaf, and it is Meccan.
What is the virtue of memorising the first ten verses of Surah Al-Kahf?
In Sahih Muslim, Abu ad-Darda’ reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever memorises ten verses from the beginning of Surat al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal.”
