The People of the Cave

“We have adorned everything on earth, in order to test them, and thus distinguish those among them who work righteousness. Inevitably, We will wipe out everything on it (the earth), leaving it completely barren.  Why else do you think we are telling you about the people of the cave, and the numbers connected with them? They are among our wondrous signs.

When the youths took refuge in the cave, they said, Oh Our Lord, shower us with Your mercy, and bless our affairs with Your guidance. We then sealed their ears in the cave for a predetermined number of years. Then we resurrected them to see which of the two parties could count the duration of their stay therein. We narrate to you their history truthfully. They were youths who believed in their Lord, and we increased them in their guidance.

We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and proclaimed: Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We will never worship any other god beside Him. Otherwise, we would be far astray. Here are our people setting up gods besides Him. If only they could provide any proof to support their stand! Who is more evil than the one who fabricates lies and attributes them to God?

They said to each other: Since you wish to avoid them, and their worshiping of other than God, let us take refuge in the cave. May your Lord shower you with His mercy and direct you to the right decision. And you could see the sun when it rose coming from the right side of their cave, and when it set, it shone on them from the left, as they slept in the hollow thereof. This is one of God's portents. Whomever God guides is the truly guided one, and whomever He sends astray, you will not find for him a guiding teacher. You would think that they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. We turned them to the right side and the left side, while their dog stretched his arms in their midst. Had you looked at them, you would have fled from them, stricken with terror. When we resurrected them, they asked each other, How long have you been here? We have been here one day or part of the day, they answered. Your Lord knows best how long we stayed here, so let us send one of us with this money to the city. Let him fetch the cleanest food, and buy some for us. Let him keep a low profile, and attract no attention. If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you to revert to their religion, then you can never succeed.

We caused them to be discovered, to let everyone know that God's promise is true, and to remove all doubt concerning the end of the world. The people then disputed among themselves regarding them. Some said, Let us build a building around them. Their Lord is the best Knower about them. Those who prevailed said, We will build a place of worship around them.

Some would say, They were three; their dog being the fourth, while others would say, Five; the sixth being their dog, guessing at the unseen. Others said, Seven, and the eighth was their dog. Say, My Lord is the best Knower of their number. Only a few knew the correct number. Therefore, do not argue with them; just go along with them. You need not consult anyone about this. And do not say: I will do this tomorrow, without saying, if God Wills. And, if you forget to do this, you must immediately remember your Lord and say, “It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this”. They stayed in their cave three hundred years, increased by nine. Say [To them], God is the best Knower of how long they stayed there. How clearly He sees, and hears (everything)!  There is none beside Him as Lord and Master, and He never permits any partners to share in His Kingship.”

[Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) – Ayahs 7-26]