Alhamdulillah, as Muslims, we are blessed with a lot of opportunities to earn rewards from Allah and also benefit from some of the worship that we perform in this world. One of them is the recitation of Surah Al Kahf every Friday. It’s so sad that many of us don’t normally do this every Friday, maybe because we don’t know the true importance of reading Surah Al Kahf on Friday.
Surah Al Kahf is the 18th chapter of the Quran, which we can find on page 294 in the Quran mushaf. It is a surah that contains wonderful teachings and wisdom. It also contains four educational stories which include the People of the Cave, the story of the rich man and the poor man with two gardens, the story of Prophet Musa and Khidr, and the story of Dhul-Qarnayn, the righteous leader
Each of these stories taught us great lessons as believers, which include the test of patience, faith, wealth, knowledge, power, humility, and trust in Allah. The main importance of reading Surah Al Kahf on Friday is the great reward that is tied to this simple, consistent habit of reading Surah Al Kahf every Friday. So, when you are preparing for the next Jumu’ah, don’t forget to plan to read Surah Al Kahf too.
What is the main importance of reading Surah Al Kahf on Friday
We are going to start with the most cherished hadiths in the hearts of we believers that strongly point out the importance of reading Surah Al Kahf on Friday. This is the hadith that encourages and motivates us in reading this surah every Friday due to the rewards and benefits attached to it. In this hadith, our Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.”
(Narrated by Al-Haakim, Al-Bayhaqi, and others; authenticated by Imam Al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, Hadith 6470)
This hadith is the foundational evidence for why Muslims all over the world hold on to this Sunnah weekly. This authentic and complete wording is found in Sunan collections and has been graded Sahih (authentic) by our great Muhadith Shaykh Nasiruddin Al Albaani. But what does this “light between two Fridays” mean?
This light refers to a guiding light in this Dunya and the Akhirah. It encompasses the noor (light) of guidance, clarity in one’s decisions, strength against temptation, and insight into truth for those reading and reflecting on this surah. This means that for the one who reads Surah Al Kahf every Jumu’ah, Allah places a divine light in his heart and life, guiding him through the struggles of the world until the next Friday arrives.
Similarly, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله elaborated in his book, Sharh al-Mumti’, that this light is a metaphorical meaning of barakah (blessing), protection, and spiritual clarity in one’s affairs. He emphasized that the Hadith should motivate every Muslim to be consistent, because Allah has made this Surah a means to scape through the darkness of modern-day fitan (trials).
The importance of reading Surah Al Kahf on Friday is very clear in this prophetic narration, and many of the leading research scholars, past and present, including Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee and Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allah shower blessings on them) have ruled that it is from the Sunnah acts of that day. (Aboo Naasir Hafidhahu-Llaah)
4 amazing rewards and benefits of reading Surah Al Kahf every Friday
Exploring these amazing rewards and benefits will let us know the real importance of reading Surah Al Kahf on Friday. Let’s mention seven soul-stirring benefits that every one of us should reflect on when acting on this blessed habit.
1. A spiritual light between two Fridays
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.”
(Narrated in various Hadith collections and authenticated by scholars like Al-Albaani)
This “light” is not a metaphorical meaning of a guiding illumination from Allah that helps the believer distinguish truth from falsehood, especially in these obvious dark areas of modern life. Whether it’s making ethical choices, resisting temptation, or seeking direction, this light becomes your weekly divine compass.
2. Protection from the Dajjal’s Fitnah (The greatest trial)
This virtue is attached to memorizing the first ten verses of Surah Al Kahf, not just reading it alone or reading it only on Friday. It is only related to memorizing it. But where it falls under this part is that for someone who is consistent in reading this surah every Friday, it could be a means to memorize it and thus, save from the fitnah of Dajjal. The Prophet ﷺ said:
If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal. (Sahih Muslim, 809 a)
The Dajjal’s fitnah will be unlike anything humanity has ever seen, deceptive miracles, false promises, and massive confusion. Through this hadith, it has been affirmed that Surah Al-Kahf shields you from fitnah (trial).
Even before the existence of this Dajjal, we are living in a world of mini Dajjals now, where a lot of atrocities are being seen as a normal thing, inhumanity of all forms is rampant, and the widespread practice of Kufr acts. Another importance of reading Surah Kahf every Friday is that it will guide your intellect, make your heart firm, and help you with the spiritual defenses to stand firm against all these modern trials.
3. Reviving the Sunnah and connecting with the Quran weekly
One of the most beautiful blessings of reading this Surah weekly is that you’re reviving a Sunnah of our Prophet ﷺ. You’re following the ways of our Messenger’s life. This act draws you closer to Allah and the Quran. The reward of following the acts of our prophet is a means to earning Allah’s love, as He says in the Quran…
Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Q3:31)
4. You earn the reward of reading the Quran
Every letter of the Quran earns you ten rewards. So, imagine the reward in 110 verses. The Prophet ﷺ said
“Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah will be credited with a good deed for it, and a good deed is multiplied tenfold. I am not saying that ‘Alif-Lām-Mīm’ is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lām is a letter, and Mīm is a letter.
Tirmidhi
The virtues and benefits of reading the Quran itself are many, and these are part of the rewards we should all strive to earn. In summary, the importance of reading Surah Al Kahf on Friday cannot be overlooked, we encourage everyone of us to make it a habit to read this surah every Friday.
Make a sincere intention today to revive this beautiful Sunnah and reap the rewards that await you in both this world and the Hereafter. May Allah guide us all to strengthen our faith and stay steadfast on His path.
