Allah the Almighty says: {Do you think that the people of the Cave and the Inscription (the news or the names of the people of the Cave) were a wonder among Our Signs? (Remember) when the young men fled for refuge (from their disbelieving folk) to the Cave. They said: “Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!” Therefore, We covered up their (sense of) hearing (causing them to go in deep sleep) in the Cave for a number of years. Then We raised them up (from their sleep), that We might test which of the two parties was best at calculating the time period that they had tarried. We narrate unto you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) their story with truth: Truly they were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah), and We increased them in guidance. And We made their hearts firm and strong (with the light of Faith in Allah and bestowed upon them patience to bear the separation of their kith and kin and dwellings.) when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any Ilah (god) other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in disbelief.” These our people have taken for worship alihah (gods) other than Him (Allah). Why do they not bring for them a clear authority? And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah?” (The young men said to one another): “And when you withdraw from them, and that which they worship, except Allah, then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will open a way for you from His Mercy and will make easy for you your affair (i.e. will give you what you will need of provision, dwelling).” And you might have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the midst of the Cave. That is (one) of the Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs) of Allah. He whom Allah guides, he is the rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no Wali (guiding friend) to lead him (to the Right Path). And you would have thought them awake, whereas they were asleep. And We turned them on their right and on their left sides, and their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance [of the Cave or in the space near to the entrance of the Cave (as a guard at the gate)]. Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them. Likewise, We awakened them (from their long deep sleep) that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: “How long have you stayed (here)?” They said: “We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord (Alone) knows best how long you have stayed (here). So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town, and let him find out which is the good lawful food, and bring some of that to you. And let him be careful and let no man know of you. For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you (to death or abuse and harm you) or turn you back to their religion; and in that case you will never be successful.” And thus We made their case known (to the people), that they might know that the Promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour. (Remember) when they (the people of the city) disputed among themselves about their case, they said: “Construct a building over them; their Lord knows best about them;” (then) those who won their point said (most probably the disbelievers): “We verily shall build a place of worship over them.” (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; and (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, guessing at the unseen; (yet others) say they were seven, and the dog being the eighth. Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)): “My Lord knows best their number; none knows them but a few.” So debate not (about their number) except with the clear proof (which We have revealed to you). And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture - Jews and Christians) about (the affair of) the people of the Cave. And never say of anything, “I shall do such and such thing tomorrow.” Except (with the saying), “if Allah will!” And remember your Lord when you forget and say: “It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this.” And they stayed in their Cave three hundred (solar) years, adding nine (for lunar years). Say: “Allah knows best how long they stayed. With Him is (the knowledge of) the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. How clearly He sees, and hears (everything)! They have no Wali (Helper, Disposer of affairs, Protector) other than Him, and He makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule.” (Al-Kahf, 9-26)

The reason behind the revelation of these verses and those relating the story of Dhul-Qarnain was cited by Muhammad Ibn Ishaq in his biography of the Prophet. The people of the Quraish sent to the Jews asking them for things to test the Prophet (peace be upon him) with. The Jews said: ask him about a group of people who disappeared in the past and none has any knowledge about them, about a man who traveled through the land, and about Ar-Ruh (the Spirit). Thereupon, Almighty Allah revealed His Statement, {And they ask you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) concerning the Ruh (the Spirit); Say: “The Ruh (the Spirit) is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little”} (Al-Isra’, 85) and, {And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnain. Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)): “I shall recite to you something of his story”} (Al-Kahf, 83) and here He says: {Do you think that the people of the Cave and “Ar-Raqim” the Inscription (the news or the names of the people of the Cave) were a wonder among Our Signs?}. That is, they are not more amazing than what We have given you of the great news, astonishing signs and great wonders.

A cave is a hole in the mountain. Shu`aib Al-Jiba’i mentioned: Their cave was called “Haizam”. As for “Ar-Raqim”, Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I do not know what it means. Some scholars such as Ibn Jarir and others said: It is the record where their news and names are written thereafter. It was also said: It is the name of the mountain their cave was in. However, many other things were said pertaining to this, but the knowledge thereof rests only with Allah the Almighty, Who knows the best! Shu`aib Al-Jiba’i said: Their dog was called “Himran”.

The fact that the Jews knew about them nullifies the claim of some interpreters that they were after the time of `Isa (Jesus—peace be upon him) and that they were Christians. However, it is clear that their people were idol-worshipers. Many interpreters and historians said that they lived during the lifetime of a king called “Diqyanus” and that they were sons of some nobles or kings. They met on a feast day and saw the rituals their people were performing in worship of the idols. At this very moment, Allah removed the veils from their hearts and they realized that their people were wrong-doers. Consequently, they deserted the religion of their people and resorted to the worship of Allah Alone.

It is also said that each one of them, when guided by Allah to the True Religion, abandoned his people and they coincidentally gathered in one place. Imam Muslim transmitted in his Sahih the following Prophetic Hadith which supports that meaning: Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: “Souls are troops collected together and those who familiarized with each other (in the heaven from where these come) would have affinity, with one another (in the world) and those amongst them who opposed each other (in the Heaven) would also be divergent (in the world).” That is, they asked one another about their affair and, hence, they agreed on deserting and abandoning their people and fleeing with their true religion.

Allah the Almighty says: {We narrate unto you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) their story with truth: Truly they were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah), and We increased them in guidance. And We made their hearts firm and strong (with the light of Faith in Allah and bestowed upon them patience to bear the separation of their kith and kin and dwellings.) when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any Ilah (god) other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in disbelief. These our people have taken for worship alihah (gods) other than Him (Allah). Why do they not bring for them a clear authority? And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah?”} (Al-Kahf, 13-15) “Clear authority” here means obvious evidence or proof. {And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah?” (The young men said to one another): “And when you withdraw from them, and that which they worship, except Allah} (Al-Kahf 15-16) That is, when you deserted them and their idols that they used to worship instead of Allah the Almighty.

The Qur’an tells us about our Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham—peace be upon him): {And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, except Him (i.e. Allah Alone I worship none) Who did create me; and verily He will guide me”}. (Az-Zukhruf 26-27) Thus, some of these young men said: as you did desert your people’s religion, you should also desert them in body to be safe from the possibility of their evil touching you, {then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will open a way for you from His Mercy and will make easy for you your affair (i.e. will give you what you will need of provision, dwelling)} (Al-Kahf, 16). That is, Allah will draw His cover over you, protect you and reward you with the best of all rewards.

{While they lay in the midst of the Cave. That is (one) of the Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs) of Allah}. That is, their stay in this state for a very long period of time without eating and drinking is one of the Signs of Allah and a proof of His Magnificent Ability. {He whom Allah guides, he is the rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no Wali (guiding friend) to lead him (to the Right Path). And you would have thought them awake, whereas they were asleep}, for their eyes were open in order to be kept sound. {And We turned them on their right and on their left sides}. It was said: They used to be turned from one side to the other once every year. However, the number of the turnings is known only to Allah the Almighty, Who knows best!

Allah the Almighty says: {And their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance [of the Cave or in the space near to the entrance of the Cave (as a guard at the gate)]}. Their dog that accompanied them when they abandoned their people did not enter the cave with them. Instead, it stayed at the entrance stretching forth its two forelegs. This is because it was highly disciplined and also as a sign of honor to them because the angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog. Thus, the dog was blessed because he was in their company. However, many tales and narrations were invented with regard to the dog’s name and color.

Scholars differed on the location of this cave. Some of them said it is in the land of Ilyah (Jerusalem). Others said it is in the land of Ninevah. And others said it is in Al-Sham (Syrian territories) which is more proper and Allah knows best!

After Allah the Almighty gives us a perfect and complete description of them and makes us as if we are seeing them, He says: {Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them}. That is because of the dignity and loftiness of their appearance. Allah addresses here not only Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but also all mankind because it is human nature to feel awe when seeing a magnificent or dignified thing.

Then Allah the Almighty awakened them (from their long deep sleep) after three hundred and nine years. One of them said: {“How long have you stayed (here)?” They said: “We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord (Alone) knows best how long you have stayed (here). So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town…} The coins they had were called “Dafsus”. {…and let him find out which is the good lawful food, and bring some of that to you}, that is, to eat of it. This is a sign of their piety and God-fearing. {And let him be careful} while entering that town {and let no man know of you. For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you (to death or abuse and harm you) or turn you back to their religion; and in that case you will never be successful}, that is, if you turn back to their religion after you were saved by Allah the Almighty. All this because they thought they had slept a day or part of a day, and they did not imagine that they had slept for more than three-hundred years.

During that period that they slept, almost everything changed. Their generation passed away and other generations inhabited the land. But they did not know this. Thus, when one of them went to the town to get food, he feared that the people would recognize him, so he went disguised. Instead, the town and its people found him to be a stranger and feared that he might be a spy or that he could harm them in some way. Some scholars said that he escaped from them. But, others said he informed them of the news and took them to the cave to see his companions. When they approached the cave, he entered it and told his companions all about the period they had spent sleeping in the cave, and they confessed it to be the Divine Decree of Allah the Almighty. It was said by some that they went on sleeping, and others said that they all fell dead.

As for the people of the city, it was said that they could not see their place in the cave. Or, they could not enter the cave because of their cowardice, or they were too dignified to enter the cave. However, the people of the city disputed among themselves about their case. Some of them said: {Construct a building over them}, that is, block the cave’s doorway to prevent them from getting out or anyone from harming them. But, those who won their point said: {We verily shall build a place of worship over them} that will be blessed because its nearness to these righteous and godly people. This was common in the periods prior to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But Islam rejects this building places of worship over the grave of anyone, even if he is a prophet. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their prophets.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) was warning Muslims against what the previous nations used to do with the graves of their pious people.

Allah the Almighty says: {And thus We made their case known (to the people), that they might know that the Promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour}. That is, to let the people know that resurrection is true and that there can be no doubt about the Hour if they know that these young men slept for more than three hundred years and were then were awakened unchanged. So, He Who kept them in this state all that period is capable of resurrecting and giving life again to dead bodies after they decompose. Really, the believers do not doubt this in the least: {Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be!” - and it is!}. (Ya-Sin 82)

Then He says: {(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; and (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, guessing at the unseen; (yet others) say they were seven, and the dog being the eighth}. Allah cited the dispute of the people among themselves as to their number. He cited three sayings, refuting the first two and stating the third, which indicates that the third is the true one. However, Allah guided His Prophet (peace be upon him) to the good manners to be followed in such a case: that one should say, “Allah knows best!”. For this, Allah the Almighty says: {My Lord knows best their number}.

{None knows them but a few} means from among the people. {So debate not (about their number) except with the clear proof (which We have revealed to you)} meaning do not exert yourself in such matters. {And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture - Jews and Christians) about (the affair of) the people of the Cave}, as He concealed their number from the very beginning of the story, saying: {Truly they were young men who believed in their Lord (Allah)}. (Al-Kahf 13) So, if there were any benefit in mentioning their number, Allah the Almighty would certainly have revealed it to us from the very beginning.

Allah the Almighty says: {And never say of anything, “I shall do such and such thing tomorrow.” Except (with the saying), “if Allah will!” And remember your Lord when you forget and say: “It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this”}. This is a great and high moral lesson, that when anyone wishes to do something, he should say, “If Allah wills,” because man cannot know what is hidden with Allah for tomorrow or for the future. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying: “Sulaiman Ibn Dawud (Solomon son of David), the Messenger of Allah, observed: I will have intercourse with seventy wives during the night; all of them will give birth to a male child who will fight in the cause of Allah. His companion or the angels said to him: Say, “If Allah wills.” But he (Sulaiman) did not say so, and he forgot it. And none of his wives gave birth to a child, but one who gave birth to a premature child.” Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Had he said Insha’ Allah (if Allah so willed), he would not have failed and his desire would have been materialized.”

Allah the Almighty says: {And remember your Lord when you forget}, for forgetting may be caused by the Devil, and remembering Allah gets the Devil out of one’s heart and thus he remembers what he has forgotten. {And say: “It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this”}. That is, if there are controversies and disputes about something, one should resort to Allah, Who can facilitate it and make it easy. Then, Allah the Almighty says: {And they stayed in their Cave three hundred (solar) years, adding nine}. That is, for lunar years. {Say: Allah knows best how long they stayed}. That is, if you are asked about this and you do not know the answer exactly, you should only attribute the matter to Allah the Almighty. {With Him is (the knowledge of) the Unseen of the heavens and the earth}. That is, He knows the Unseen and gives knowledge of it to none but Whom He wishes of His creatures. {How clearly He sees, and hears (everything)!} This means that He puts everything in its proper place with His Perfect Knowledge and Justice. Then, He says: {They have no Wali (Helper, Disposer of affairs, Protector) other than Him, and He makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule}. He is the only Disposer of affairs and He is the King Who rules over everything.

 Excerpted with slight modifications from Stories of the Qur’an by Ibn Kathir, Dar Al-Manarah.

Translated by `Ali As-Sayed Al-Halawani.