First 10 Verses of Surah Al-Kahf: Protection from the Dajjal
Every Friday, my family and I try to recite the first 10 verses of Surah Al-Kahf, and we are slowly memorising them together. The reason is one short hadith in Sahih Muslim: whoever memorises these verses will be protected from the Dajjal. Let’s take a look at the hadith, what it means, and how you can start memorising the verses too.
At a glance
- Source: Sahih Muslim 809
- Narrated by: Abu ad-Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him)
- Grade: Sahih (in Sahih Muslim)
- Topic: Quran, protection from the Dajjal
- Practise it: Memorise Surah Al-Kahf 18:1–10, one or two verses at a time
The hadith
Abu ad-Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ حَفِظَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ سُورَةِ الْكَهْفِ عُصِمَ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ
“If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal.”
Sahih Muslim 809a · Narrated by Abu ad-Darda’
There is a small detail worth knowing. In the narration right after it (Sahih Muslim 809b), Imam Muslim notes that one narrator, Shu’bah, reported it as the last ten verses of Al-Kahf, while Hammam reported it as the first ten. My family and I started with the first ten, as in the main narration. If you are able, learning the last ten as well covers both narrations.
Who is the Dajjal?
The Dajjal is the great false messiah who will appear before the Day of Judgement. His trial is so serious that the Prophet ﷺ said: “No prophet was sent but that he warned his followers against the one-eyed liar (Ad-Dajjal)” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7131).
The Prophet ﷺ also taught us to seek refuge from the trial of the Dajjal in every prayer, after the tashahhud (Sahih Muslim 588). I’ve written about that dua in Dua to Recite After Tashahhud.
What the first 10 verses of Surah Al-Kahf are about
You can read the verses with translation on Quran.com (Surah Al-Kahf 18:1–10). In short, they:
- Praise Allah, who sent down the Book with no crookedness in it.
- Warn those who claim that Allah has taken a son.
- Remind us that everything on earth is an adornment, placed there to test us (18:7).
- Begin the story of the young people of the cave, who fled to protect their faith.
The tenth verse ends with the dua those young people made when they took refuge in the cave. It is a beautiful dua to learn on its own:
إِذۡ أَوَى ٱلۡفِتۡيَةُ إِلَى ٱلۡكَهۡفِ فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحۡمَةٗ وَهَيِّئۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَمۡرِنَا رَشَدٗا
Rabbanā ātinā min ladunka raḥmatan wa hayyi’ lanā min amrinā rashadā
“˹Remember˺ when those youths took refuge in the cave, and said, ‘Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Yourself and guide us rightly through our ordeal.’”
Surah Al-Kahf 18:10 · Translation: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Reflection: The trial of the Dajjal will be a trial of deception: of false claims, and of the glitter of this world. These opening verses remind us of exactly the opposite: that Allah alone is worthy of worship, that this world’s glitter is only a test, and that young believers once held on to their faith when everything around them was against it. Maybe that is part of why carrying these verses in our hearts is a protection, and Allah knows best.
How to memorise the first 10 verses of Surah Al-Kahf
Here are some simple steps. The first one is what my family and I do every week. Take it slowly; consistency matters more than speed.
- Make Friday your Al-Kahf day. Recite the first ten verses every Friday, even before you have memorised them. (I’ve shared more about this blessed day in The Blessings of Friday in Islam.)
- Learn one or two verses a day. Listen to the verse a few times, then repeat it until you can say it without looking.
- Revise in your prayers. Recite what you have learned in your sunnah prayers. It is the easiest way to make it stick.
- Learn together as a family. Recite to each other and gently correct each other. Children often pick up verses quickly.
- Use a recitation to check yourself. Play the video above or use the audio on Quran.com, and recite along.
Key lessons
- Whoever memorises the first ten verses of Surah Al-Kahf is protected from the Dajjal (Sahih Muslim 809).
- One narration mentions the last ten verses, so learning both is a good goal.
- Every prophet warned his people about the Dajjal, so we should take his trial seriously.
- Small daily steps and a weekly Friday habit make memorising easy, even for busy families.
Questions people ask
Is it the first ten or the last ten verses of Surah Al-Kahf?
The main narration in Sahih Muslim (809a) says the first ten verses. Imam Muslim also notes that one narrator, Shu’bah, said the last ten (809b). Many people start with the first ten; learning both covers both narrations.
Do I need to memorise the verses, or is reading them enough?
The hadith uses the word ḥafiẓa (حَفِظَ), which means to learn by heart. So the promise in this hadith is for memorising. Reading Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays is still a good habit and a great way to start.
Who is the Dajjal?
The Dajjal is the great false messiah who will appear before the Day of Judgement. The Prophet ﷺ said that every prophet warned his people about him (Sahih al-Bukhari 7131), and taught us to seek refuge from his trial in every prayer (Sahih Muslim 588).
I hope this encourages you to start memorising these ten verses, even one verse at a time. May Allah protect us and our families from the trial of the Dajjal. Ameen.
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