Stories of the Honorable Qur’an Series

أصحاب الكهف

The People of the Cave

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

قال الله تعالى
{فاقْصُصِ القَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُم يَتَفَكرُون}

Thisََ Qur’anic verse 176 of Suratul-‘A^raf means: [O Muhammad,] tell the stories [of the previous blasphemers] so that they [the blasphemers of your time] may reflect.

In the Honorable Quran, numerous are the stories that tell about the previous nations. Those who are guided and follow the messenger of Allah, Allah will endow them with power on Earth. Those who disbelieve and turn away from the call of the prophets will be a paradigm for others to learn from. As for the illustrations in this series, they are used to represent the situations by example and do not in any way claim to depict the original situation perse.

Our hope is that the readers enjoy these stories derived from the Noble Qur’an and learn lessons from them. We ask Allah to grant our readers the ability to perform the acceptable, good deeds.
Islamic Studies and Research Division
alsunna.org Team

مقدمة
كثيرة هي القصص في القرءان  الكريم، تحدث عن أخبار بعض الأمم السابقة، من اهتدى واتّبع المرسلين مكَّنَ الله له في الأرض، ومن كذَّب و تولَّى وكفرغضب الله عليه وهلك وصار عبرةً لمن جاء بعده. وأما الرسوم التى تحويها الساسة فهي تمثيل وليس الأصل فَلْيُتَنبَّه. ورجاؤنا أن يستمتع القارئ بهذه القصص المستقاة من القرءان الكريم وأن يأحذ العبرة منها، عسى الله أن يوفقه لما يحب ويرضى.
قسم الأبحاث والدراسات الاسلامية
في موقع السنّة

ذُكرتْ قصةُ أصحاب الكهفِ في القرءان الكريمِ، وفيها عِبَرٌ وءاياتٌ وبراهينُ تَدُلّ على عظيِم قدرة ِالله تعالى وحكمته في تدبير مخلوقاته. وتفاصيلُ القِصّةِ كما رُِويَتْ أن مَلِكاً اسمُهُ “دُقْيانُوس” أَمَرَ اهلَ مدينتِهِ “أُفسوس” {في نواحي تركيا حالياً} بعبادةِ الأصنامِ.

The story of the People of the Cave in the Honorable Qur’an, in Suratul-Kahf. The story includes lessons, signs, and evidences that all testify to the great Power of Allah, ta^ala, and His Wisdom in managing His creations. As narrated, the details of the story proceed as follows:
A kng named “Duqyanus” ordered the people in his territory “Afsus” (nowadays Turkey) to worship the idols.

وذاتَ يومٍ زارَ المدينةَ أحدُ أصحابِ سيدِنا عيسى المسيحِ عليهِ السلامُ وهم المُسَمَّوْن “بالحَوَارِّيينَ” وكانَ مسلماً داعياً إلى دينِ الإسلامِ، فعَمِلَ في حَمَّامٍ يَغْتَسِلُ فيهِ الناسُ، ولما رَأَى صَاحِبُ الحَمَّامِ بَرَكَةً عَظِيمةً مِن هذا العاملِ سلَّمهُ شؤونَ العملِ كلَّها.

One day one of the disciples of ^Isa, ^alayhis-salam, visited that city. This man was a Muslim calling to the Religion of Islam. He worked in a public bath where people used to bathe. When the bath owner sensed the blessings of that worker, he put him in charge of all the work to be done.

وتعرَّف ذلك الحواريُّ إلى فِتيانٍ من المدينةِ فعلُّمهمُ التوحيدَ وتَنزيهَ اللهِ تعالى عن الولدِ والشّكلِ والتحيز في المكانِ وأنه لا يُشبه شيئاً ودعاهم إلى الإسلامِ فأسلَموا وءامَنوا باللهِ وطبّقُوا ما علمهمْ إياهُ من التعاليمِ والأحكام.

Later on, this disciple became acquainted with some youngsters in the city. He taught them the knowledge of Oneness of Allah and about deeming Him clear of having a child, possessing a form, or being designated with a place. He invited them to Islam. They believed in Allah and converted to Islam. They practiced the Religion and followed its rules.

اشتَهَرَ أمرُ الفِتيةِ المسلمين الذين التزمُوا الإسلامَ وعبادةَ اللهِ وحدَهُ، فرُفعَ أمرُهُم إلىالملِكِ “دُقيانوس” وقيلَ لهُ: “إنهم قد فَارَقوا دينكَ واستخفُّوا بما تعبُدُ من أصنامٍ و كَفَروا بها”، فأتى بهمُ الملِكُ إلى مجلسِهِ وأمرَهُمْ بتركِ الإسلامِ، وهدَّدهمْ بالقتلِ إن لم يفعلوا ذلكَ،

The story of those youngsters, who became devoted to the Religion of Islam and to the worship of Allah alone, became well known. The king was informed about them and was told, “Those people left your religion, and mocked and defied your idols.” The king called them to his court and ordered them to leave Islam. He threatened them with killing if they declined.

ثم زعمَ أنهم ما زالوا فِتياناً صِغاراً لا عُقولَ لهمْ وقالَ لهمْ إنهُ لن يقتلَهُمْ فوراُ، بل سيعطيهِمْ مُهْلَةَ للتفكيرِ قبلَ تَنفيذِ تهديدهِ، وأرسلَهُمْ إلى بيوتِهِمْ. ثم إنَّ الملكَ”دُقيانوس” سافَرَ حلالَ هذهِ الفترةِ، فاغتنمَ الفِتيةُ الفُرصةََ وتَشاوروا في الهروبِ بدينِهِم،

He claimed that they were young and they did not have mature mind. Hence, he did not want to kill them immediately. Instead he wanted to give them enough time to think before he would carry out his threat. Then he sent them back to their homes.

In the meantime, King Duqyanus traveled. Those young men took advantage of his departure and consulted each other about running away to rescue their faith in their Religion.

فقال أحدُهُم: “إني أعرفُ كَهْفاً في ذاك الجبلِ كانَ أبي يُدخِلُ فيه غَنماً، فلْنذهبْ ولْنَخْتَفِ فيهِ حتى يَفتح اللهُ لنا”، واستقرَّ رأيُهُمْ على ذلكَ.

One of them said, “I know a cave in the mountain. My father used to secure the sheep in it. Let us go there and hide until Allah grants us victory.” The all agreed to that idea.

فَخَرجُوا يَلْعَبونَ بالكُرَةِ وهم يُدحْرجُونَها أمامَهُم لئلا يَشعُرَ الناسُ بهم حتى هَرَبُوا وكانَ عددُهُم سبعةً وأسماؤُهُم: “مَكْسَلَمين”، “أمليخا”، ” مرطوِنس”، “ينيونس”، “سَازَموِنس”، “دَوَانَوَنِس” و “كَشْفيطِط”.

They went outside playing and rolling the ball in front of them so that nobody would notice them. Then they fled. There wer seven of them: “Makaslamin”, “Amlikha”, “Maratonis”, “Yanyunis”, “Sazamunis”, “Dawanawanis”, and “Kashfitit”.

وتَبعَهم كلبٌ صارَ ينبحُ عليهم فطردُوه فعادَ، فطردوه مراراً ورَمَوْهُ بالحجارةِ مخافةَ أن ينتبِهَ الكفارُ إلى مكانهم بسَماعِهِمْ نُبَاحَهُ، فرفعَ الكلبُ يديهِ إلى السماء كالداعي وأنطقهُ اللهُ تعالى فقالَ: “يا قومُ، لمَ تطردونني، لمَ ترجمونني، لِمَ تضْرِبونني، لا تخافُوا مني فواللهِ إنني لا أكْفُرُ بالله”، وكان اسمُ الكلبِ “قِطمير”.

A barking dog named “Qitmir” followed them. Worried that they non-believers might hear this barking and know of their place, they threw stones at the dog and pushed it away more than once. Every time the dog returned. At the end the dog raised its front paws up to the sky as if making supplication. With the help of Allah, it said, “O people! Why are you driving me away, why are you hitting me? Do not be scared of me. I do not disbelieve in Allah.”

فاستيقنَ الفِتيةُ أن اللهَ تعالى سيمنعُ الأذَى عنهم، واشتغلوا بالدعاءِ والالتجاءِ إليهِ سبحانَه فقالوا:”ربنا ءاتنا منْ لَدُنْكَ رحمةً، وهيّئْ لنا مِن أمرِنا رَشَداً.” وما زالوا في سَيْرِهِم حتى وصلوا إلى الكهفِ، وهناك وجدوا ثِماراُ فأكَلُوها، وماءً فشرِبوهُ، ثم اسْتَلْقَوْا قليلاً لتَرْتَاحَ أقدامُهم،

As a result, the young men were certain that Allah, by His Mercy, would protect them from harm. They sought refuge with Allah, tabaraka wa ta^ala, and started making supplication to Him and said, “O Allah, grant us Mercy from You, and prepare (create) good mattes for us.”
They continued walking until they reached the cave. There they found fruits and water. They ate and drank. Then they lay down to rest.

وما هي إلا لحظاتٌ حتى أحسُّوا بالنُّعاسِ يُداعبُ أجفانَهم فتثاقلتْ رُءُوسُهم ونامُوا على الأرضِ نوماً عميقاً، من دونِ أن يُغْمِضوا أَعْيُنَهُمْ. وتَعاقبَ ليلٌ إثْرَ نهارٍ، ومضى عامٌ وراءَ عامٍ، والفِتْيَةُ راقدونَ، والنومُ مضروبٌ على ءَاذانِهم، أي مُنعوا من أنْ يَسْمَعوا شيئاًً،

A few moments later, they felt sleepy. Their heads dropped down and they slept heavily on the floor with their eyes open. Night after day, years passed one after the other and the young men were in slumber; sound asleep. They were prevented from hearing anything.

لأن النائمَ إذا سَمعَ استيقظَ، لا تُزْعِجهُمُ زَمْجَرَةُ الرياح، ولا يوقزُهُمْ قصفُ الرَّعْدِ، تطلعُ الشمسُ فلا تُصيبُهُم بحرِّها كَرامةً لهم، فإذا طَلَعَتْ مالتْ عن يمينِ كهفِهم وإذا غربتْ تمرُّ عن شِمالِهِ فلا تُصيبهم في ابتداءِ النهارِ ولا في ءاخرِهِ، ولا تعطيهمْ إلا اليسيرَ من شُعَاعِها، ولا تُغيرِّ ألوانَهُمْ ولا تُبلِي ثيابَهُمْ.

The gust of the wind would not annoy them and the rumble of the thunder would not awaken them. When the sun rose it did not hit them with its high heat, as a sign of their rank. When rising, it moved to the right of the cave; and when setting, it passed by its left. They did not get much of its heat or of its sunbeams, neither at the beginning of the day nor at its end. As a result, their color did not change and their clothe did not wear out.

وكانوا لَوْ نَظَرَ إليهم ناظرٌ لحَسِبَهُمْ مستيقيظينَ وهم رُقودٌ، لأن أعينَهُم مفتوحةٌ لئلا تُفْسَدَ بطولِ الغَمضِ ولأنها إذا بقيتْ ظاهرةً للهواءِ كان أنسبَ لها.

Because their eyes were wide open, if one were to look at them, one would think them awake. In reality, they were heavy with sleep. Their eyes were left open, because it was better for their eyes to be exposed to the air so that they would not get impaired with lengthy closure.

وكانوا كذلك يُقلَّبونَ يميناً وشمالاً مرتين في العامِ، وذلك لئلا تأكُلَ الأرضُ لحومَهُم، وقيلَ إن مَلَكَاً منَ الملائكةِ الكرامِ كانَ موكلاً بتقليبِهِم. ولو نظرَ إليهمْ شخصٌ لهربَ ومُلِئَ رُعْباً منهُمْ لِمَا غشيتْهُم من الهيبةِ وحُفُّوا به من رعبٍ، لِوَحْشَةِ مكانِهِم، وكانَ الناسُ محجوبينَ عنهُم حماهم الله من أن يطَّلع عليهِم الناسُ فلا يَجسُرُ أحدٌ منهم على الدُّنُوّ إليهمْ.

It was also narrated that an honorable angel was in charge of turning them around. They were turned on their left and right sides twice a year, so their bodies would not decay. If one was to look at them, one would be frightened by them and run away. People could not see them and could not approach them.

ولما مضتْ ثلاثُماءةٍ وتسعٌ منَ السنواتِ منذُ نومِهِمْ في الكهْفِ، بعثَهُمُ اللهُ تعالىمن نومِهِم وهُمْ لا يكادُونَ يُمْسِكُونَ نفوسَهُمْ من الجوعِ وتَسَاءَلُوا فيما بَيْنَهُم: “كمْ لَبثْنَا”؟
فقالَ بعضُهُم: “لَبِثْنَا يوماً أو بعضَ يَوْمٍ”

After three hundred nine years of sleep, Allah woke them up. They could not stand the hunger they had. They asked one another about the length of the stay. One of them said, “We stayed one day or less than a day.”

وقال أحدُهُم: “نحنُ رَقَدْنا في الصباحِ وهذهِ الشمسُ تُقَارِبُ الغروبَ”، وقال الرابعُ: “دَعُونا من تَسَاؤُلكُمْ، فاللهُ أعلمُ بمالِبِثْتُمْ، ولكنْ فَلْنَبْعَثْ واحداً منا ولْنُعْطِهِ مِن دَرَاهِمِنا لِيَجْلبَ لنا طَعَاماً ،وَلْيَكُنْ حَذِراً ذًكِياً، حتى لا يَعْرِفَهُ أَحَدٌ، فَيَلْحَقَ بهِ ويَصِلَ إلَيْنَا، فَيُخْبِرَ الملكَ “دُقيانوس” وجماعتَه فيعلموا بمكانِنا ويُعَذبونا بأنواعِ العذابِ أو يَفْتِنونا عن دِينِنا”.

Another one said, “We went to sleep this morning and now the sun is getting ready to set.” The fourth one said, “Let us stop wondering. Allah knows best how long we stayed. Anyhow, let us send one of us with some money to bring us some food. That person must be alert and smart. No one should recognize him, or else he would be followed. Then King Duqyanus and his followers would be told. They would know of our place and would inflict various types of torture on us until they deviate us from our Religion.”

وكان “دُقيانوس”مَلِكُ تلكَ المدينةِ قد ماتَ وَتولَّى مُلْكَ المدينةِ رجلٌ مسلمٌ صالحٌ، وفي زمانِهِ اختلفَ أهلُ بلدِهِ في الحشرِ وبَعْثِ الأجسادِ من القبورِ، فشكَّ في ذلك بعضُ الناسِ واستبعدُوه وقالوا:”إنما تُحشرُ الأرواح فقط وأما ُ الاجساد فيأكلها التراب ولا تعود”. وقال بعضهم: “بل تبعث الروحُ والجسدُ جميعاً” وقولهم هذا هو الحق.

After the hundreds of years that had passed King Duqyanus passed away. A pious Muslim king replaced him. The people of the city at that time were in disagreement regarding the gathering and resurrection of the bodies. Some people had doubts about it, and thought that it was very unlikely. They said that only souls would be gathered. However, the bodies will be decayed in the soil. Some of them said, “But body and soul will be equally resurrected.”

فاغتمَّ الملكُ لهذا وكادتْ أنْ تَحْصُلَ فِتْنَةٌ، فتَضَرَّعَ إلى اللهِ تعالى أن يُسَهِّل الحُجَّةَ والبيانَ لإظهارِ الحقِ، وفي هذا الوقتِ دخلَ إلى مدينةِ “أُفسوس” واحدٌ من أصحابِ الكهفِ اسمُهُ “أمليخا” لجلبِ الطعامِ،

The king became distressed and a quarrel was about to happen. So he made a supplication to ask Allah to make showing the proof of the truth easy.
At the time, Amlikha, one of the men in the cave who was sent in search of food,

وكان خائفاً حَذِراً،  و دُهِشَ من تغيُّرِ المعالمِ وشكلِ الأبنيةِ، فهذه الناحيةُ لم تكنْ إلا مساحات لرعْيِ الغنمِ فصارتْ قُصوراً عاليةً، وهناكَ قصورٌ صارتْ خرائبَ مدمَّرةً، وتلك وجوهٌ لم يعرفْها، وصُوَرٌ لم يألفْها، وتحيّرتْ نَظَرَاتُهُ،

Reached the city of “Afsus”. He was fearful and watchful. The changes in the landmarks and the structure of the buildings surprised him. That area used to be an open land for the sheep to graze; now there were high castles. Other castles had collapsed. There were scenes he was not familiar with and faces he did not recognize.

وكَثُرَتْ لَفَتَاتُهُ، وظهر الاضطرابُ في مِشْيَتِهِ، فالتفتَ إليهِ أحدُهم قائلاً: “أغريبٌ أنتَ عن هذا البلد؟ وعم تبحثُ؟”
قال:”لستُ غريباً، ولكني أبحثُ عن طعامً أَشْتَرِيهِ، فلا أرى مكانَ بيعِهِ الذي كنتُ أعرفُه”

His eyes glance became unstable; he looked confused and hesitant. Nervousness and agitation appeared in his glances and footsteps. Someone turned around and asked him, “Are you a stranger to this city, and what are you looking for?”
He said, “I am not a stranger and I am looking for food to buy. I did not find the place where I used to buy food.”

فمضى به إلى بائع طعام فلما أخرج دراهمه وأعطاها للتاجر استغرب منظرها إذ كانَ عليها صُورةُ الملكِ “دُقيانوس” الذي ماتَ منذ ثلاثمائةِ سنةٍ وأكثرَ، فَحَسِبَ أنهُ عثرَ على كَنْزٍ، وأنَّ معه أموالاً كثيرةً ودراهمَ وفيرةً، فاجتمعَ الناسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِ وأخذوه إلى الملكِ الصالحِ.

The man held his hand and took him to the owner of the restaurant. Amlikha took his money out and gave it to the seller. The seller wondered, because the money had the picture of King Duqyanus on it. That king died three hundred or more years before. He thought Amlikha discovered a treasure and that he had a wealth of money in his possession. People gather around Amlikha sand took him to the righteous king.

ووصلَ الخبر إلى الملكِ الصالح،ِ فكان يَنتظرُ بفارغِ الصبرِ رؤيةَ هذا الشخصِ الذي سمعَ عنه من أجْدَادِهِ، فسألهُ عن خَبَرِهِ، فحَكَى لهُ “أمليخا” ما جَرَى معهُ ومع أصْحَابِهِ. فَسُرَّ الملكُ بذلك وقال لقومه: “لعلَّ اللهَ قد بعثَ لكم ءايةً لِتُبَيّنَ ما اختلفْتُمْ فيهِ”.

The news of Amlikha reached the king before his own arrival. The king was in fact waiting for him eagerly, because he had heard the story of the youngsters from his grandfather. When Amlikha came, the king asked him about his story. So Amlikha told him what happened to him and his friends.
The king was pleased with that and said to his people, “Certainly, Allah sent you a sign to show the truth about what you differ.”

وسارَ الملكُ مع أهلِ المدينةِ يرافقُهُم “أمليخا”، فلما دَنَوْا من الكهفِ قالَ لهم: “أنا أدخلُ عليهِمْ لئَلا يفزَعُوا”، فدخلَ عليهِمء فأعلمَهُم الأمْرَ وطَمْأَنَهُمْ أنَّ الملكَ “دُقيانوس” ماتَ وأَنَّ الملِكَ الحاليَّ مسلمٌ صالحٌ، فسُرُّوا بذلكَ

The king, along with the people of the city walked with Amlikha. When they approached the cave, Amlikha said, “I will go inside first so that my friends do not get scared.” He went inside and informed his friends of what happened. He told them that King Duqyanus passed away and that the present king was a pious Muslim. They were happy with the news

وخرجُوا إلى المَلِكِ وحيَّوْهُ وحيَّاهُمْ ثم رَجَعُوا إلى كَهْفِهمْ، فلما رءاهُمْ مَنْ شَكَّ في بَعْثِ الأجسادِ تراجعَ واهْتَقَدَ الصوابَ أنَّ الحَشْرَ يكونُ بالروحِ والجسدِ معاً.

And went outside, greeted the king, then they back into their cave. When the people who doubted resurrection saw them, they gave up their incorrect belief and believed that the correct conviction is that the gathering of people on the Day of Judgment happens by both body and soul.

وحينئذِ أعمْى اللهُ تعالى أبصار الناسِ عن أثَر الكهفِ وحَجَبَهُ عنهم فقالَ بعضُهُمْ: “ابنُوا بُنْياناً ليكونَ مَعْلَماَ لهمْ ودليلاً على مَكَانِهِم “.
وقال ءاخرون: “ابنُوا مَسْجِداً للتبركِ بهم”.
وهكذا كانتْ قِصةُ أصحابِ الكهفِ  التي جَعَلَها اللهُ تعالى تَذْكِرَةً للناسٍ وعِبْرَةً وموعظةً ودليلاً على قُدرِتِهِ العظيمةِ وأنهُ لا يُعْجِزُهُ شئٌ.

After that, Allah concealed the cave and its trace from the sight of the people. Some of the believers said, “Build a structure that would stand as a landmark and memorial of their location.” Others said, “Build a mosque for one to seek blessings at their place.”
The story of the people of the cave went a s described Allah made it for people a reminder, a lesson, and a proof of His Great Power.
Allah has Power over everything.