Al-Kahf

Surah 18 of the Quran
الكهف
Al-Kahf
The Cave
ClassificationMeccan
PositionJuzʼ 15 to 16
Hizb no.30, 31
No. of verses110
No. of Rukus12
No. of words1583
No. of letters6425
Heading for Surah Al-Kahf. From the Qur'an copied by Ruzbihan Muhammad al-Shirazi. Shiraz, c. 1550. Chester Beatty Library.

Al-Kahf (Arabic: الكهف, lit.'the Cave') is the 18th chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with 110 verses (āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier Meccan surah, which means it was revealed before Muhammad's hijrah to Medina instead of after. It is the midst sura of quran having the midst word "walyatalattaf" (وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ), meaning "let him be kind". The story of believers falling asleep in a cave for a long time is present also in the Christian tradition (Seven Sleepers).