قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى:

Allah the Almighty says:

أتحسب أنّ أصحاب الكهف والرقيم كانوا من آياتنا عجبًا؟ (اذكر) إذ أوى الفتية إلى الكهف فقالوا: ربّنا آتنا من لدنك رحمةً وهيّئ لنا من أمرنا رشدًا. فضربنا على آذانهم في الكهف سنين عددًا. ثم بعثناهم لنعلم أيّ الحزبين أحصى لما لبثوا أمدًا. نحن نقصّ عليك نبأهم بالحق ﷺ

{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 (0 Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) their story with truth:

إنهم فتيةٌ آمنوا بربهم وزدناهم هدىً (إنهم فتيةٌ آمنوا بربهم، وزدناهم هدىً)، وربطنا على قلوبهم (بنور الإيمان بالله، ومنحناهم الصبر على فراق قومهم وأهلهم ومساكنهم) إذ قاموا فقالوا: ربُّنا ربُّ السماوات والأرض، لن ندعوَ من دونه إلهًا، لقد قلنا إذًا شططًا. هؤلاء قومُنا اتخذوا من دونه آلهةً، لولا يأتون عليهم بسلطانٍ بيّنٍ، فمن أظلمُ ممن افترى على الله كذبًا. (قال الفتية بعضهم لبعض): {وإذ اعتزلتموهم وما يعبدون إلا اللهَ فأوْوا إلى الكهف ينشرْ لكم ربكم من رحمته ويهيئْ لكم من أمركم مِرفقًا}، (أي: يعطيكم ما تحتاجون إليه من الرزق والمأوى). وترى الشمسَ إذا طلعت تزاور عن كهفهم ذاتَ اليمين، وإذا غربت تقرضهم ذاتَ الشمال وهم في فجوةٍ منه. ذلك من آياتِ الله. مَن يهدِ الله فهو المهتدِ، ومن يُضلل فلن تجدَ له وليًّا مرشدًا. وتحسبهم أيقاظًا وهم رقود، ونقلّبهم ذاتَ اليمين وذاتَ الشمال، وكلبُهم باسطٌ ذراعيه بالوصيد [أي عند مدخل الكهف، حارسًا للباب]. لو اطلعتَ عليهم لوليتَ منهم فرارًا ولَمُلئتَ منهم رعبًا. وكذلك بعثناهم ليتساءلوا بينهم. قال قائلٌ منهم: كم لبثتم؟ قالوا: لبثنا يومًا أو بعضَ يومٍ. {وَقَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا * إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا} وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا. سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا}

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 llah (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 (0 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).

وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ۝ وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا ۝ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا ۝ وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا ۝ قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا ۖ لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ ۖ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا

And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture -Jews and Christians) about (the affair on 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 on 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)

ذكر محمد بن إسحاق في سيرته أن سبب نزول هذه الآيات وتلك التي تتعلق بقصة ذي القرنين هو أن قريشًا أرسلت إلى اليهود يسألونهم أشياء يختبرون بها النبي ﷺ. فقال لهم اليهود: سلوه عن فتية ذهبوا في الزمن الأول لا يُعرف لهم خبر، وعن رجل طوّاف بلغ مشارق الأرض ومغاربها، وعن الروح. فأنزل الله تعالى قوله: {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا} [الإسراء: 85]، وقوله: {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ} ﷺ

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: that the people of 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 (0 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 DhulQarnain.

قل (يا محمد ﷺ): "سأتلو عليكم منه ذكرا" {الكهف: 83}، وهنا يقول: {أم حسبت أن أصحاب الكهف والرقيم كانوا من آياتنا عجبا}، أي: ليسوا بأعجب مما آتيناك من النبأ العظيم، والآيات الباهرة، والعجائب الجسيمة. أما الكهف فهو الفجوة في الجبل. وذكر شعيب الجبائي أن كهفهم كان يُسمى "حيزام". وأما "الرقيم" فقال ابن عباس رضي الله عنه: لا أدري ما معناه! وقال بعض العلماء كابن جرير وغيره: هو الكتاب الذي كُتبت فيه أخبارهم وأسماؤهم بعد ذلك. وقيل: هو اسم الجبل الذي كان فيه كهفهم. وقيل غير ذلك كثير، ولكن العلم بذلك عند الله تعالى وحده، وهو أعلم! وقال شعيب الجبائي: كان اسم كلبهم "حمران".

Say (0 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?}, i.e. they are not more amazing than what We have given you of the great news, astonishing signs and gigantic wonders. However, a cave is a hole in the mountain. Mentioned Shu' aib Al-Jiba'i: 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 recordwhere 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".

إنّ علم اليهود بهم يُبطل زعم بعض المفسّرين أنهم كانوا يطلبون عيسى (عليه السلام) وأنهم كانوا نصارى. غير أنّ الظاهر أنّ قومهم كانوا عَبَدةَ أصنام. وقد ذكر كثير من المفسّرين والمؤرخين أنهم عاشوا في زمن ملكٍ يُقال له «دِقْيَانُوس»، وأنهم كانوا أبناءَ بعض الأشراف أو الملوك. وكانوا يجتمعون في يوم عيدٍ، فيرون الشعائر التي كان قومهم يؤدّونها في عبادة الأصنام. وفي تلك اللحظة نزع الله الحجُبَ عن قلوبهم، فأدركوا أن قومهم على ضلال. فتركوا دين قومهم، ولجؤوا إلى عبادة الله وحده. ويُقال أيضًا:

The fact that the Jews knew about them nullifies the claim of some interpreters that they were after Jesus (Peace be upon him) and that they were Christians. However, it is clear that their people were idol-worshippers. 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 Norship of the idols. At this very moment, Allah removed the veils from their hearts and they realized hat their people were wrong-doers. Consequently, hey deserted the religion of their people and resorted to the worship of Allah Alone. It is also laid:

أنَّ كلَّ واحدٍ منهم، لمّا هداه اللهُ إلى الدينِ الحقِّ، تركَ قومَه، واجتمعوا مصادفةً في مكانٍ واحد. وقد روى الإمامُ مسلمٌ في صحيحه الحديثَ النبويَّ الآتيَ الذي يؤيّد هذا المعنى: "عن أبي هريرةَ رضيَ اللهُ عنه قال: قال رسولُ اللهِ ﷺ: الأرواحُ جنودٌ مجنَّدةٌ، فما تعارفَ منها ائتلفَ، وما تناكرَ منها اختلفَ." ثم تساءلوا فيما بينهم عن أمرهم، فاتفقوا على ترك قومهم والهروبِ بدينهم الحق. قال اللهُ تعالى: {نحنُ نقصُّ عليك نبأهم بالحق إنهم فتيةٌ آمنوا بربِّهم وزدناهم هدى، وربطنا على قلوبهم إذ قاموا فقالوا ربُّنا ربُّ السماواتِ والأرضِ لن ندعوَ من دونه إلهًا لقد قلنا إذًا شططًا * هؤلاء قومُنا اتخذوا من دونه آلهةً لولا يأتون عليهم بسلطانٍ بيّنٍ} .

that each one of them when guided by Allah to he 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, 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 (0 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 )f 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?

{وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا} (الكهف: 13-15). "السلطان المبين" هنا يعني الدليل الواضح والبرهان الظاهر. {وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا. (قال الفتية بعضهم لبعض): وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ} (الكهف: 15، 16)، أي: حين تركتموهم وأصنامهم التي كانوا يعبدونها من دون الله تعالى. وقال نبينا إبراهيم عليه السلام: {وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ}

And who does more wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah}. (AlKahf, 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) i.e. when you deserted them and their idols that they used to worship others instead of Allah the Almighty. Our Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) said: {And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his father and his people:

"إنِّي بريءٌ مما تعبُدون، إلا الذي فطَرني فإنه سيهدين" (الزخرف: 26، 27). وقال بعضُ أولئك الفتيةِ: بما أنكم فارقتم دينَ قومكم فينبغي أن تفارقوهم بأبدانكم وأشخاصكم، حتى تأمنوا أن يصيبكم شرُّهم، {فأْوُوا إلى الكهفِ ينشُرْ لكم ربُّكم من رحمتِه ويُهيِّئْ لكم من أمرِكم مِرفقًا} (الكهف: 16)، أي: يُظلِّلكم الله بستره، ويحفظكم، ويثيبكم أفضلَ الثواب. ثم وصف الله الكهفَ الذي لجؤوا إليه فقال إن بابَه إلى الشمال، فقال: {وتَرى الشمسَ إذا طلعت تَزاوَرُ عن كهفِهم ذاتَ اليمينِ وإذا غربتْ تقرِضُهم ذاتَ الشمالِ}، أي: تطلع الشمسُ على الجانب الغربي من كهفهم، ثم تميل إلى جانبه الأيمن، وإذا غربت أصابت أشعتُها الكهفَ من جانبه الشرقي.

"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 and figure so as to be safe from the possibility that their evil may touches 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) i.e. Allah will draw on you His cover, protect you and reward you with the best of all rewards. Then, Allah described the cave to which they resorted stating that its door is to the north saying: {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}, i.e. the sun rises on the western side of their cave, then it declines to the right side thereof. And, when it sets its rays come towards the cave from its eastern side.

وفي ذلك حكمة، وهي أن الشمس تدخل كهفهم عند طلوعها وغروبها لتجديد الهواء بين حين وآخر. {وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ}؛ أي أن بقاءهم على هذه الحال مدةً طويلةً من الزمن دون أكلٍ ولا شربٍ من آيات الله ودليلٍ على قدرته العظيمة. {مَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا}، {وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ}، لأن أعينهم كانت مفتوحة حفاظًا عليها من التلف. {وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ}، قيل: كانوا يُقلَّبون من جانبٍ إلى جانبٍ مرةً في كل سنة. غير أن عدد التقليبات لا يعلمه إلا الله تعالى، وهو أعلم! يقول الله تعالى: {وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ}، أي أن كلبهم الذي صحبهم حين فارقوا قومهم لم يدخل الكهف معهم، بل بقي عند المدخل باسطًا ذراعيه فيه. وذلك لأنه كان شديد الانضباط، وكذلك إكرامًا لهم، لأن الملائكة لا تدخل بيتًا فيه كلب. فبورك الكلب لكونه في صحبتهم. غير أن كثيرًا من الحكايات والروايات قد اختُلقت فيما يتعلق باسم الكلب ولونه.

Here, the wisdom is that the sun enters their cave on its rising and setting in order to refresh the air from time to time. {While they lay in the midst of the Cave. That is (one) of the Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs) of Allah}, i.e. their stay on 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)]}, i.e. their dog which accompanied them when they abandoned their people did not enter the cave with them, instead, it stayed at the entrance stretching forth his two forelegs thereat. This is for 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.

اختلف العلماء في موقع هذا الكهف. فقال بعضهم: إنه في أرض أيلة (أي بيت المقدس). وقال آخرون: إنه في أرض نينوى. وقال آخرون: إنه في الشام، وهو الأولى، والله أعلم!8

Scholars differed on the location of this cave. Some of them said: It is in the land of Aylah (i.e. Jerusalem). Others said: It is in the land of Ninawa. And others said: it is in the Sham (Syrian territories) which is more proper and Allah knows best!8

بَعْدَ أَنْ وَصَفَهُمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى وَصْفًا كَامِلًا تَامًّا، وَجَعَلَنَا كَأَنَّنَا نَرَاهُمْ، قَالَ: ﴿لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا﴾، أَيْ: بِسَبَبِ جَلَالَةِ هَيْئَتِهِمْ وَعُلُوِّ مَنْظَرِهِمْ. وَالْمُخَاطَبُ بِذَلِكَ لَيْسَ النَّبِيَّ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ وَحْدَهُ، بَلْ جَمِيعُ النَّاسِ، لِأَنَّ الطَّبْعَ الْبَشَرِيَّ يَدْفَعُ إِلَى الرَّهْبَةِ عِنْدَ رُؤْيَةِ الشَّيْءِ الْعَظِيمِ الْمَهِيبِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى بَعَثَهُمْ (مِنْ نَوْمِهِمُ الطَّوِيلِ الْعَمِيقِ) بَعْدَ ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعِ سِنِينَ، فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنْهُمْ: ﴿كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ؟ قَالُوا: لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ، قَالُوا:﴾

After Allah the Almighty gave us perfect and complete description of them and made us as seeing them, He said: {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}, i.e. because of the dignity and loftiness of their appearance. The addressed her is not only Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) but also all mankind because it is a 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; then 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:

رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ ۚ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ، وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا. إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا وكانت النقود التي كانت معهم تُسمّى «الدَّفْسُ». {فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا}، أي: فليبحث عن الطعام الحلال الطيب، {فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ}، أي: ليأتِكم بشيء منه لتأكلوا. وهذا علامةٌ على تقواهم وخشيتهم لله. {وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ} عند دخوله تلك المدينة، {وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا؛ فَإِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا}، أي: إن رجعتم إلى ملّتهم بعد أن أنجاكم الله تعالى. وكل ذلك لأنهم ظنّوا أنهم لبثوا يومًا أو بعض يوم، ولم يخطر ببالهم أنهم ناموا أكثر من ثلاثمائة سنة، وهي مدة تغيّر فيها كل شيء، وانقرض جيلهم، وسكنت الأرض أجيالٌ أخرى. فلما ذهب أحدهم إلى المدينة لشراء الطعام خاف أن يعرفه الناس، فتنكّر.

"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}, i.e. to eat thereof. This is a sign of their piety and godfearing. {And let him be careful} during 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}, i.e. if you turn back to their religion after you are saved by Allah the Almighty. All this because they thought they slept a day or part of a day, and they did not imagine to have slept for more than three-hundred years. The period in which almost everything have changed and their generation passed away and other generations inhabited the land. Thus, when one of them went to the town to get the food, he feared that the people would recognize him, so he disguised.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ غَرِيبًا فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَخَافُوا أَنْ يَكُونَ جَاسُوسًا أَوْ أَنْ يُؤْذِيَهُمْ بِأَيِّ وَجْهٍ. فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْعُلَمَاءِ: إِنَّهُ هَرَبَ مِنْهُمْ. وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: بَلْ أَخْبَرَهُمْ بِالْخَبَرِ، وَذَهَبَ بِهِمْ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ لِيَرَوْا أَصْحَابَهُ. فَلَمَّا اقْتَرَبُوا مِنَ الْكَهْفِ دَخَلَ فِيهِ، وَأَخْبَرَ أَصْحَابَهُ بِكُلِّ مَا جَرَى مِنْ مُدَّةِ نَوْمِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ، فَأَقَرُّوا بِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ قَضَاءِ اللهِ تَعَالَى وَقَدَرِهِ. وَقِيلَ: بَقُوا نِيَامًا، وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: مَاتُوا جَمِيعًا.

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 any way. Some scholars said that he escaped from them. But, others said: he informed them with 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 spent sleeping in the cave and they confessed it to be the Divine Decree of Allah the Almighty. It was said: They went on sleeping; and others said: They all fell dead.

أما أهل المدينة، فقيل: إنهم لم يتمكنوا من رؤية مكانهم في الكهف. أو إنهم لم يتمكنوا من دخول الكهف بسبب جبنهم، أو لشعورهم بجلالة مكانتهم. ومع ذلك، فإنهم (أهل المدينة) تنازعوا فيما بينهم في أمرهم، فقال بعضهم: {ابنوا عليهم بنيانًا}، أي: سدّوا باب الكهف لمنعهم من الخروج أو لمنع أي أحد من أن يمسهم بسوء. أما الذين غلبوا رأيهم فقالوا: إن ذلك سيكون مباركًا لقربه من هؤلاء الصالحين المتقين. وكان هذا شائعًا في العصور والحقب السابقة قبل النبي محمد ﷺ. لكن الإسلام يرفض هذا الفعل (بناء أماكن العبادة على قبور أي أحد ولو كان نبيًّا): قال النبي ﷺ:

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 feeling their lofty dignity. However, they (the people of the city) disputed among themselves about their case, some of them said: {Construct a building over them}, i.e. block the cave's gate to prevent them from getting out or anyone from touching them with harm. But, those who won their point said: that will be blessed because its nearness to these righteous and godly people. This was common in the previous eras and periods prior to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). But, Islam rejects this deed (building places of worship over the graves of anyone even if it is a Prophet): the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

لَعَنَ اللهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ. كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُحَذِّرُ أُمَّتَهُ مِمَّا كَانَتِ الْأُمَمُ السَّابِقَةُ تَفْعَلُهُ عِنْدَ قُبُورِ صَالِحِيهِمْ.

"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.

قال الله تعالى: {وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا}، أي: لِيُعْلِمَ النَّاسَ أنَّ البعثَ حقٌّ، وأنَّه لا شكَّ في الساعة؛ لأنَّهم إذا عَلِموا أنَّ هؤلاء الفتيةَ ناموا أكثرَ من ثلاثِ مئةِ سنةٍ ثم استيقظوا على حالِهم لم يتغيَّروا، فإنَّ الذي أبقاهم على هذه الحالِ طولَ تلك المدةِ قادرٌ على أن يبعثَ الموتى ويُحييَهم بعد أن تَبْلَى أجسادُهم وتتفسَّخ. والمؤمنون لا يشكُّون في هذا أدنى شكٍّ: {إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ} (يس: ٨٢).

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}, i.e. 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 then they were awaken unchanged. So, He Who kept them in this state all that period, is capable to resurrect and give life again to the dead bodies after they undergo decomposition. 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)

ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: {سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ، وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ، وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ}، فَقَدْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى اخْتِلَافَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي عَدَدِهِمْ. فَذَكَرَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَقْوَالٍ، فَرَدَّ الْأَوَّلَيْنِ، وَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثِ قَوْلًا يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ.

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}, as Allah cited the dispute of the people among themselves as to their number. He cited three sayings, the first two He refuted and the third He stated, a matter which indicates that the third is the true one.

لكنّ الله هدى رسولَه ﷺ إلى الأدب الذي ينبغي اتباعه في مثل هذه الحال، وهو أن يقول: «اللهُ أعلم». ولهذا قال الله تعالى: {رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِمْ}.

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}.

قوله تعالى: {مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ}، أي من الناس. {فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا}، أي جدالاً هيّناً، ولا تبالغ في مثل هذه الأمور. {وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا}، أي لا تستفتِ فيهم أحداً منهم (من أهل الكتاب، اليهود والنصارى) في شأن أصحاب الكهف، إذ كتم سبحانه عددهم من البداية حين قال: {إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى}.

His Statement: {None knows them but a few}, from among the people. (So debate not (about their number) except with the clear proof (which We have revealed to you)}, i.e. an easy debate and do not exert yourself in such matters. {And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture -Jews and Christians) about (the affair oj) 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)}.

(الكهف، 13) فلو كان في ذكر عددهم فائدة لأطلعنا الله تعالى عليها من أول الأمر! يقول الله تعالى: {وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا}، وهذا درس أخلاقي عظيم علّمه الله تعالى: أنّ من أراد أن يفعل شيئًا فليقل: «إن شاء الله»، لأن الإنسان لا يعلم ما عند الله من الغيب لغدٍ أو للمستقبل. وروى أبو هريرة رضي الله عنه عن نبي الله ﷺ قال: «قال سليمان بن داود ﷺ: لأطوفنّ الليلة على سبعين امرأة، كلهن تلد غلامًا يقاتل في سبيل الله. فقال له صاحبه أو الملك: قل إن شاء الله. فلم يقل، فلم تحمل منهن امرأة إلا واحدة» ﷺ.

(Al-Kahf, 13) So, if there was any benefit in mentioning their number, Allah the Almighty would certainly 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 taught by Allah the Almighty 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 that "Sulaiman lbn Dawud, the Messenger of Allah, observed: I will have an 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.

ولم تلد واحدة من نسائه إلا واحدة جاءت بشِقّ رجل. فقال رسول الله ﷺ: «لو قال: إن شاء الله، لم يحنث، وكان دركاً لحاجته». قال الله تعالى: ﴿وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ﴾، فإن النسيان قد يكون بسبب الشيطان، وذكر الله يُخرج الشيطان من القلب، فيتذكّر ما نسيه. ﴿وَقُل عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا﴾، أي: إذا وقعت مناظرات ومنازعات في شيء، فينبغي اللجوء إلى الله الذي يُيسّره ويسهّله. ثم قال الله تعالى:

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 lnsha'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"}, i.e. if there were controversies and disputes about something, one should resort to Allah Who can facilitate it and make it so easy. Then, Allah the Almighty says:

{وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا}، أي: سنين قمرية. {قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا}، أي: إذا سُئلتَ عن ذلك ولم تعلم الجواب على وجه التحديد، فينبغي أن تنسب الأمر إلى الله تعالى وحده. {لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ}، أي: هو سبحانه يعلم الغيب، ولا يُعطي علمه لأحد من خلقه إلا من شاء؛ {أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ}، أي: ما أبصره وأسمعه!

{And they stayed in their Cave three hundred (solar) years, adding nine}, i.e. for lunar years. {Say: Allah knows best how long they stayed}, i.e. if you are asked about this and you do not know exactly the answer, you should only attribute the matter to Allah the Almighty {With Him is (the knowledge on the Unseen of the heavens and the earth}, i.e. He knows the Unseen and gives knowledge thereof to none but Whom He wishes from among His creatures; {How clearly He sees, and hears (everything)!}, i.e.

يُضِعُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ الصَّحِيحِ بِعِلْمِهِ الكَامِلِ وَعَدْلِهِ.

He puts everything in its proper place with His Perfect Knowledge and Justice.

ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: {وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا}، أي: هو وحده المتولي لأمور الخلق، وهو الملك الذي يتصرف في كل شيء.

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}, i.e. He is the only Disposer of affairs and He is the King Who rules over everything.