[The Story of the Companions of the Cave]

Allah the Exalted says:

“Or do you think that the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription were something wondrous among Our signs? (9)

When the youths took refuge in the cave they said, ‘Our Lord, grant us mercy from Yourself and set our affair right for us.’ (10)

So We sealed their ears in the cave for many years. (11)

Then We raised them up so that We might make clear which of the two groups was better able to calculate how long they had remained. (12)

We relate to you their story in truth: they were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. (13)

We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and declared, ‘Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never shall we invoke any deity besides Him, for then we would have uttered an outrageous falsehood. (14)

These our people have taken gods other than Him; why do they not bring clear authority for them? Who is more unjust than one who fabricates a lie against Allah?’ (15)

[They said to one another:] ‘Now that you have withdrawn from them and from all they worship other than Allah, take shelter in the cave; your Lord will spread over you of His mercy and will make your affair easy for you.’ (16)

Had you seen the sun when it rose, you would have seen it veer away from their cave to the right, and when it set, passing by them on the left, while they lay in a spacious chamber within. That is among the signs of Allah. Whomsoever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whom He leaves astray you will never find for him a protecting guide. (17)

You would have thought them awake, though they were asleep; We turned them to the right and to the left while their dog stretched its forelegs at the entrance. Had you looked at them, you would surely have fled and been filled with terror. (18)

Thus We awakened them so that they might question one another. One of them said, ‘How long have you stayed?’ They replied, ‘We have stayed a day or part of a day.’ They said, ‘Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed. Send one of you with this silver of yours to the city; let him look for the purest food and bring you provision from it. Let him be courteous and let no one become aware of you, (19)

for if they discover you they will stone you or force you back into their religion, and you will never prosper then—ever.’ (20)

In this way We disclosed them to the people so that they might know that Allah’s promise is true and that there is no doubt about the Hour. When they disputed among themselves about them they said, ‘Build over them a structure; their Lord knows best about them.’ But those who prevailed in the matter said, ‘We shall surely build over them a place of worship.’ (21)

Some will say, ‘They were three, the fourth of them was their dog,’ and others will say, ‘Five, the sixth of them their dog,’ guessing at the unseen; and others will say, ‘Seven, and the eighth of them their dog.’ Say, ‘My Lord knows best their number; none knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with clear argument, and ask none of them about them.’ (22)

And never say of anything, ‘I will certainly do that tomorrow,’ (23)

except by adding, ‘If Allah wills.’ Remember your Lord when you forget and say, ‘Perhaps my Lord will guide me to something even nearer to right guidance than this.’ (24)

They remained in their cave three hundred years, and added nine. (25)

Say, ‘Allah knows best how long they remained. His is the unseen of the heavens and the earth. How perfectly He sees and hears! They have no protector besides Him, and He shares His rule with no one.’” (26) [al-Kahf 9–26]

The reason for the revelation of the story of the Companions of the Cave and the account of Dhū’l-Qarnayn is what Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq relates in his Sīrah and others likewise report: Quraysh sent a delegation to the Jews, asking them about certain matters with which they might test the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and question him in order to see how he would answer.

They were told: “Ask him about a group of men who disappeared in ancient times and no one knows what became of them; about a man who travelled widely across the earth; and about the Spirit.” Thereupon Allah, exalted is He, revealed, “They ask you about the Spirit” (al-Isrāʾ 85), and, “They ask you about Dh