Tafsir of Al-Kahf 18:110

{So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord} Whoever hopes for the goodness of meeting his Lord, and that he may meet Him in a state of contentment and acceptance. We have already explained the meaning of "meeting." Or it may mean: whoever fears the evil of meeting Him.

The prohibition of associating partners in worship The intent behind the prohibition of associating partners in worship is that one should not show off in his deeds, and that he should seek nothing by them except the Countenance of his Lord, purely and sincerely, without mixing it with anything else.

Occasion of Revelation It is said that this was revealed regarding Jundub ibn Zuhayr, who said to the Prophet (ﷺ): "I perform a deed for the sake of Allah, but when it is seen by others, it pleases me." He (ﷺ) replied: "Indeed, Allah does not accept that which has been associated with Him."

Regarding showing off It is narrated that he (ﷺ) said: "You have two rewards: the reward of the secret [deed] and the reward of the public [deed]," provided that the intention in the public deed is to be an example for others to follow.

From the Prophet (ﷺ): "Beware of the minor shirk (polytheism)." They asked: "What is the minor shirk?" He replied: "Showing off (al-riya')."

Virtues of the Surah From the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Whoever reads the end of Surah al-Kahf, it will be a light for him from his head to his feet, and whoever reads the whole of it, it will be a light for him from the earth to the sky."

And from him (ﷺ): "Whoever recites {Say, 'I am only a man like you'} when going to his bed, there will be a light from his bed shining to Makkah, filled with angels praying for him until he rises. And if his bed is in Makkah, there will be a light shining from his bed to the Much-Frequented House (al-Bayt al-Ma'mur), filled with angels praying for him until he wakes up."

And Allah knows best.