• Sixth: It establishes the permissibility of eating wholesome things and of selecting the kinds of food that suit one’s taste, provided this does not cross into the extravagance that is forbidden, as in His words: “Let him look for the food that is purest and bring you provision from it” (18:19).

• Seventh: It urges caution, discretion, and keeping out of places where religious trials erupt, employing secrecy that wards off harm.

• Eighth: It showcases those youths’ eagerness for their religion—their flight from every temptation that might endanger it and their readiness to abandon their homelands and familiar customs for the sake of Allah.

• Ninth: It points out that evil contains harms and corruptions that naturally call one to detest and abandon it; this is the way of the believers.

• Tenth: Concerning the verse, “Those who prevailed in their matter said, ‘We shall surely build a mosque over them’” (18:21), it shows that the people who lived in their time were themselves religious, for they venerated the youths so highly that they resolved to build a mosque at their cave. Although this practice is prohibited—especially in our law—the lesson is that the fear the Companions of the Cave felt when they first believed and hid in the cave was later replaced by security and honor among people. Such is Allah’s custom with those who bear hardships for His sake: He grants them a praiseworthy outcome.

• Eleventh: One should not become engrossed in lengthy, exhaustive debate over matters of no real importance, as He says: “So do not argue about them except with obvious argument” (18:22).

• Twelfth: It is forbidden to seek a ruling from someone who has no knowledge of the issue—or who is unreliable—as indicated by His words: “And do not seek a ruling from any of them concerning them” (18:22).