They disputed over what should be built, so the Muslims said, “We shall build a mosque over them, in which people may pray, for they follow our religion.” The polytheists said, “We shall build a structure over them (1), for they are of our own kin.”

Ikrimah said: They disputed concerning the resurrection. The Muslims said, “The resurrection is for both bodies and souls together,” while another group said, “It is for souls alone, apart from bodies.” So Allah, exalted is He, resurrected them and showed them that the resurrection is for bodies and souls alike.

It was also said that they disputed over the length of time they had remained; and it was said that they disputed over their number.

“They said, ‘Build a structure over them; their Lord knows them best.’ Those who prevailed in their affair”—Baydarus the king and his companions—said, “We shall certainly build a mosque over them.”

“They will say, ‘They were three, their dog being the fourth’; and they will say, ‘They were five, their dog being the sixth’—speculating about the unseen; and they will say, ‘They were seven, and their dog was the eighth.’ Say, ‘My Lord knows best their number. None knows them except a few.’ So do not argue about them except on the basis of what is clear, nor consult any of them concerning them.” (22)

“It was related that al-Sayyid, al-Aqib, and their companions, who were Christians from Najran, were with the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, when the Companions of the Cave were mentioned. Al-Sayyid—who was a Jacobite—said, ‘They were three, their dog being the fourth.’ Al-Aqib—who was a Nestorian—said, ‘They were five, their dog being the sixth.’ The Muslims said, ‘They were seven, and their dog was the eighth.’ Thereupon Allah confirmed the statement of the Muslims after relating the statement of the Christians, saying: ‘They will say, “They were three, their dog being the fourth”; and they will say, “They were five, their dog being the sixth”—speculating about the unseen.’” (2) That is, they were merely conjecturing and guessing without certainty. He did not say this regarding the seven; rather, He said, “And they will say”—meaning the Muslims—“They were seven, and their dog was the eighth.”

There is disagreement regarding the waw in His saying, “and their dog was the eighth.” It was said that its omission or inclusion makes no difference.

It was also said that it is the waw of definitive judgment and confirmation: as though He had related their disagreement, and the statement ended at His saying, “and they will say, ‘They were seven,’” after which He confirmed this statement by saying, “and their dog was the eighth.” For the eighth can only come after the seventh.

It was also said that this is the waw of eight. The Arabs would count by saying: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, because seven was, in their reckoning, the implicit complete number, just as ten is for us today. A parallel is His saying, exalted is He (3): “Those who repent