There are at least three special features of Surah Al-Kahf in the Hadith that we need to know about. This hadith should be a motivation to understand and practice it. Among them:

God willing عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ :

مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

From Abu Said al-Khudri RA, Rasulullah sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, " Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday night, the light will shine between him and the Kaaba ." (HR. ad-Darimi. Sahih)

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In another narration, he said,

مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ فِى يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمُعَتَيْنِ

" Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, the light will shine on him between the two Fridays ." (HR. Hakim. Sahih)

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In fact, because of the powerful influence of the light that Allah bestows, those who pay attention to the uniqueness of Surah Al-Kahf will be protected from the temptations of the Dajjal. From Abu Darda' RA, the Prophet said,

مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ God bless you

" Whoever memorizes the first 10 verses of Surah Al-Kahf will be protected from the slander of the Dajjal ." (HR. Muslim Abu Daud 4325)

Lessons on the special features of Al-Kahf's letter in the hadith:

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1️⃣-1 Surah Al-Kahfi is a protective letter from various slanders.

The biggest slander is the Fitnah of the Dajjal. No Prophet or Apostle was sent except to remind his people of the enormity of the Dajjal's slander.

2️⃣-2 Sunnah every Friday to read it

We are also required to seek refuge in Allah from the slander of the Dajjal at the end of our prayer tashuhud. 

3️⃣-3 Special Features of Surah Al-Kahf Protecting Humans from the Slander of the Dajjal

Apart from the slander of Dajjal, there are 4 slander (tests) mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf as our guide in facing various slander, namely:

a. Test because of religion, the story of Ashabul Kahfi who ran away from his hometown in order to maintain his faith.

b. The slander of wealth. The story of the owner of two gardens who shirks his faith in God because he is dazzled by his worldly life.

c. Test because of knowledge, the story of Musa and Khidr. Musa was ordered to study with Khidr, even though he was a prophet who had the Torah. Because above people who are knowledgeable, there are those who are more knowledgeable.

d. Slander on the strength and power of Dzulqarnain's story. A king who rules almost all of the world's surface. His power stretched from the east to the west. However, he used his power to uphold justice and the Shari'a for all humans.

4️⃣-4 Surah Al-Kahf Strengthening the Heart

The majority of scholars say that Allah revealed Surah Al-Kahf before the Hijrah. So this letter is classified as a Makkiyyah letter. To be precise, this letter was revealed before the emigration of the Prophet and his companions. It is as if this letter is a preamble to the great struggle of the Muslims, to emigrate from their hometown, along with their wealth and family.

Of course, it was no easy feat. They had to be prepared for all the risks when they moved to Medina. Everything was at stake. They were risking the wealth and position they had built in Mecca. They were risking their family relationships, having to separate into two different countries. They were risking their lives upon arriving in Medina, where they would still have to contend with the surrounding Jews.

5️⃣- Bright Light, that is the specialty of Surah Al-Kahf,

Even the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam made it a source of light for humans so that they could avoid the slander of the Dajjal, the slander of the world and religion. Of course, this is for those who try to reflect on the content and meaning.

The theme of the special verses of Surah Al-Kahfi relating to the 4 tests:

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1️⃣ 1. The Companions of the Cave : Their story teaches that humans must defend their religion, even if they are forced to flee their homeland. Migration is a solution for those whose faith is being tested. Saving religion is an obligation and a matter of life and death.

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God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing God bless you فَقَالُوْا رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَّهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ اَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا فَضَرَبْنَا عَلٰٓى اٰذَانِهِمْ فِى God willing God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing

Meaning: Or do you think that those people who inhabit caves and (who have) raqim, they are among the signs of Our surprising power?

(Remember) when the young men sought shelter in the cave, then they prayed, "O our Lord, grant us mercy from You and perfect for us straight guidance in (this) our affairs.".

So We closed their ears for several years in the cave, then We woke them up, so that We would know which of the two groups was more accurate in calculating how long they stayed (in the cave )." [Qs. Al-Kahf, verses 9-12]

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2. The story of Shahibul Jannatain (garden owner) , the story teaches people not to be dazzled by wealth, so they prefer the world and abandon their religion. Even the Prophet was not worried about poverty, but the Prophet was worried when the world was exposed to his people. So they compete to chase him which results in destruction. Not a few Muslims pawn their faith for wealth, position and position.

۞ وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِاَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ اَعْنَابٍ وَّحَفَفْنٰهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَّجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعًاۗ كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ Allah's blessings وَّفَجَّرْنَا خِلٰلَهُمَا نَهَرًاۙ وَّكَانَ لَهٗ ثَمَرٌَ لِصَاحِبِهٖ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهٗٓ اَنَا۠ اَكْثَرُ مِنْكَ مَالًا وَّاَعَزُّ نَفَرًا وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهٗ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهٖۚ قَالَ مَآ اَظُنُّ اَنْ تَبِيْدَ هٰذِهٖٓ اَبَدًاۙ وَّمَآ اَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَاۤىِٕمَةً وَّلَىِٕنْ رُّدِدْتُّ اِلٰى رَبِّيْ لَاَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنْقَلَبًا

Meaning: “ And present to them the parable of two men; We made for one of them (the disbeliever) two gardens of grapes and We surrounded them with date palms and between them We made a field.

Both gardens produced fruit, and there was no shortage of fruit in the garden, and We made rivers flow between the two gardens, and he had great wealth. So he said to his friend (who was a believer) when he was conversing with him, "My wealth is greater than yours, and my followers are stronger."

And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself; he said, "I don't think this garden will perish forever, and I don't think the doomsday will come; and if I were returned to my Lord, I would definitely find a better place to return to than those gardens." [Qs. Al-Kahf, verses 32-36]

3. The story of Moses and Khidr teaches that people must seek the source of knowledge and guidance, wherever they are. Knowledge is sought and sought, which is why the Qur'an refers to it as Utul 'Ilm (seeking knowledge). With knowledge, one can distinguish between truth and falsehood, monotheism and polytheism, sunnah and innovation, and so on.

فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ اٰتَيْنٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِنَا وَعَلَّمْنٰهُ مِنْ لَا

Meaning: " Then they met a servant among Our servants, to whom We had given mercy from Our side, and to whom We had taught him knowledge from Our side. " [Qs. Al Kahfi :65]

4️. The story of Dzulqarnain , his story teaches that Allah will inherit this earth to whoever Allah wishes among His servants.

وَيَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنْ ذِى الْقَرْنَيْنِۗ قُلْ سَاَتْلُوْا God willing الْاَرْضِ وَاٰتَيْنٰهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا ۙ

Meaning: " They will ask you (Muhammad) about Zulqarnain. Say, "I will read to you a story about him.” Indeed, We have given him power on (the face of) the earth and We have given him the way (to achieve) everything.” [Qs. Al-Kahf: 83-84].

That is the uniqueness of Surah Al-Kahf and its virtues. May it be beneficial and inspire you to love and live with the Quran. Amen

By Heri Mahbub