﷽

The young men in the cave were asleep for centuries and once they awoke they had no idea how long it had been. Thus they wanted to go out to the city and find some food. They worried that they would be caught and tried to keep themselves discreet.

They said to each other:

وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا

But be careful not to let anyone know about you (18:19)

Allah Most High says:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ

In this way We brought them to people’s attention so that they might know that God’s promise [of resurrection] is true and that there is no doubt about the Last Hour (18:21)

This is a great example of ‘we plan & Allah’s plan is greater’. Scared for their lives, they sought to remain hidden, but Allah had a higher purpose; to show His power and the truth of the Resurrection.

Much like those young men, I too have faced challenges where things didn’t go the way I had hoped. This would cause me to wonder what Allah’s plan for me was. Yet, these verses show me that sometimes Allah’s plan is not even about me—His wisdom is far greater than anything I can comprehend.

Peace & blessings upon the Nabi of Allah.