Abud-Darda’ (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah
(salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever commits to memory the first
ten Ayat of the Surat Al-Kahf, will be protected from (the trial of)
Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist).” [Muslim]
In another narration, the Messenger of Allah (salallahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam) said: “(Whoever commits to memory) the last ten Ayat of Surat
Al-Kahf, he will be protected from (the trial of) Ad-Dajjal
(Antichrist).”
Ad-Dajjal will appear sometime before Yaum-ul-Qiyamah. Allah, the
Almighty will give him some supernatural powers the manifestation of
which will shake the faith of many people. For this reason, this will be
a serious trial. All Prophets (alayhimus-sallam) warned their people
against him. Our Prophet (salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also warned us
against him and ordered us to guard ourselves from it and strictly
advised us to seek Refuge of Allah against it.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) said: “The Messenger
of Allaah (salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever reads Soorat
al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), a light will shine for him from
beneath his feet to the clouds of the sky, which will shine for him on
the Day of Resurrection, and he will be forgiven (his sins) between the
two Fridays.’” [Al-Mundhiri رحمة اللہ علیه said, this was narrated by
Abu Bakr ibn Mardawayh رحمة اللہ علیه in his Tafseer, with an isnaad
with which there was nothing wrong]
From Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه), who said: “Whoever reads
Soorat al-Kahf on the night of Jumu’ah (Friday), will have a light that
will stretch between him and the Ancient House (the Ka’bah).” [Narrated
by al-Daarimi, 3407]
“Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), will
have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.”
[Narrated by al-Haakim, 2/399; al-Bayhaqi, 3/249. Ibn Hajar said in
Takhreej al-Adhkaar that this is a hasan hadeeth, and he said, this is
the strongest report that has been narrated concerning reading Soorat
al-Kahf. See: Fayd al-Qadeer, 6/198]
The soorah may be read during the night or the day of Jumu’ah. The
night of Jumu’ah starts from sunset on Thursday, and the day of Jumu’ah
ends at sunset. Therefore the time for reading this soorah extends from
sunset on Thursday to sunset on Friday.
Al-Mannaawi رحمة اللہ علیه said: Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar رحمة اللہ علیه
said in his Amaali: “In some reports it says ‘the day of Jumu’ah’ and in
some reports it says ‘the night of Jumu’ah’. They may be reconciled by
saying that what is meant is the day which includes the night and vice
versa.” (Fayd al-Qadeer, 6/199)
Al-Mannaawi also said: “It is recommended to read it during the day
or night of Jumu’ah, as al-Shaafa’i (rahmatullahi alaih) stated.” (Fayd
al-Qadeer, 6/198)
It is recommended to recite Surat al-Kahf completely the night before
Friday, and it is also recommended to do so Friday itself, before
Maghrib time. Ibn Abidin said, And it is best to do so early on Friday,
in order to rush to the good and to avoid forgetting. [Ibn Abidin, Radd
al-Muhtar, Bab al-Jumu`ah]