It was revealed after the Surah al-Ghashiyah in the Meccan period. Although there are narrations that verses 28, 83 and 101 were revealed in Medina, the content and style of the verses raise doubts about the authenticity of these narrations (M. İzzet Derveze, III, 475). It takes its name from the word al-Kahf (cave) in the story of the Companions of the Cave in verses 9-26. It consists of 110 verses and its interval is the letter ا.

A narration is recorded regarding the reason for its revelation as follows: The Quraysh polytheists, who had no knowledge of prophethood, sent Nadr ibn Haris and Ukba ibn Abu Muayt, who were known for their storytelling, to Jewish scholars to get information about Hz. Muhammad's claim of prophethood, and these scholars sent Hz. The Companions of the Cave advised Muhammad to ask questions about the person and the spirit who went to the east and west of the earth, and if they knew these, to believe and follow him.

The Messenger of Allah said that he would answer these questions the next day, but he forgot to say, “Inshallah.” When the revelation he was waiting for did not come, he started to speak against the polytheists, and the Prophet fell into great distress. Fifteen days later, the Surah of the Cave, which also included the warning, “Do not say, ‘I will do this tomorrow’ unless you say, ‘If Allah permits’” (verses 23-24), was revealed (Suyuti, Esbab al-Nuzul, p. 128). Elmalılı Muhammed Hamdi states that this narration should be taken with caution due to reasons such as the fact that one of the narrators mentioned in this narration is not a well-known person and the third of the questions in question was explained in a previously revealed surah (al-Isra 17/85) (Hak Dini, V, 3219-3220).