Parables of the Qur’an

Episode Ten

Amr Khaled

The Companions of the Cave – Part II

In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful. We will continue now the story of the Companions of the Cave[1]. Today we will visit the cave they lived in for 300 years.

We mentioned yesterday that they were 6 or 7 young men who had a message and a dream to reform their country and inform their people of the Oneness of Allah[2] (God). However, their king[3] did not approve that, and a call for their arrest was issued. Thus they decided to flee to the cave in order to plan what they will do next. 

We discussed why Allah (SWT)[4] had allowed their message to face such a hardship. In that we talked about Allah's name al-Wakeel (The Ultimate Trustee).  We said that you have to carry out what you are obliged to do and then trust that Allah will grant you success. We should not allow our dreams to be encompassed by mere personal visions.  Instead, be like the Companions of the Cave who had a dream to reform their whole country.

Someone's dream might be to enlighten his village.   Another could undertake the role of teaching the illiterate.  Yet another could aim at using the media to brighten youngsters.  The major character that makes humans distinct from other creatures is the ability to dream People who do not dream are not alive.

In addition to dreams, the Companions of the Cave had hope.  Dreams can not be realized without hope.  If our dreams are embellished with hope, then we can simply change the world. 

If you are at a point of origin A and have a dream of reaching point Z, you might consider your capabilities too feeble to achieve such a far goal.  In the story of the Companions of the Cave, we see a very important concept.  When those young men invested their energy to reach  point B, Allah allowed easy flow to their dream. 

Those young people did not despair as some of our brothers sitting jobless at home, raising an excuse of no hope.  You have to reach point B.  Then Allah will ease the remaining majority of your path.  Not everyone who has reached great expectations had the tangible needs to get there.

Allah's name: The Ultimate Trustee (al-Wakeel):

The fact that the Muslim army of 313 soldiers was victorious over an army of 1000 polytheist soldiers in the Battle of Badr is inconceivable by means of this world.  Allah ordered the Muslims what can be translated as, "And prepare for them whatever power you can..," (TMQ[5], 8: 60).  They were ordered to reach the end of point B with all their possible worldly resources.  When they reached what they were ordered, Allah said to them, "And in no way did you throw when you threw, but Allah threw," (TMQ, 8: 17).  These are the blessings of The Ultimate Trustee.  You should complete what you were ordered to do, and then place your trust in Allah with dependence.  Allah will then fulfill your dream.

When you choose a trustee for an estate, you are choosing someone who will supervise that asset for you.  When you sign on that, you are placing complete trust in that person.  Will you sign up that Allah be your trustee?  Will you say with sincere certitude, "Allah is sufficient for me, and he is The Ultimate Trustee,"?

The events in the Cave and the Trustee's arrangements for them:

When you look at the Cave, you will be amazed at how its 90 meters were created to accommodate such a righteous company.  First, the cave was designed as would an air-conditioned apartment be designed.  There is a reception ahead of where they slept their 300 years.  Then there is an opening in the cave, allowing the entry of air and sunlight.  The opening faced the South-East as if designed to be away from the sun during the day, but allow the light flow of sunrays and warmth around dusk.  Which trustee could have designed a palace to conserve people for 300 years, to take care of them, as did The Ultimate Trustee? 

Allah says what can be translated as, "And you might have seen the sun when it rose, declining from their cave towards the right; and when it set, it went past them towards the left while they were in a broad fissure of (the cave). That was one of the signs of Allah. Whomever Allah guides, then he is right-guided, and whomever He leads away into error, then you will never find for him a right-minded patron. " (TMQ, 18: 17).  This was the first mercy bestowed on them. 

Secondly, Allah's soldiers (the sun and air, and the heat and cold) were ordered not to harm them.  Brothers and sisters, when we ask The Ultimate Trustee, we are asking The Creator of all the soldiers that can work for our sake.  Scorpions and snakes were not to enter the cave for over 300 years.  Who can protect you like that?

This cave was a mercy from Allah to them.  Their people were guided by their sleep in the cave and disappearance, more than they could have ever been guided by their presence.  They moved to point B, and then Allah allowed them to rest while their work progressed on its own!

Allah allowed them to sleep for 309 years, by muting their hearing! Allah says, "Then We struck upon their ears for a (great) number of years in the cave," (TMQ, 18:11), and then says, "And We turned them about towards the right and towards the left," (TMQ, 18:18).  They were not dead, but only asleep.  This is one of the very miraculous signs in this story. Allah changed the characters of sleep to accommodate 7 sixteen year olds because they trusted in Him. 

Fourthly, noise and disturbance was prohibited around the Cave.  The king's soldiers informed him where the young men were located, and they were ordered to block the apparent entrance of the Cave so he could get rid of the young men by suffocating them inside, but this was only another part of Allah's settings that the young men not be disturbed! "And in no way does anyone know the hosts of your Lord except He," (TMQ, 74: 31).  "And they were scheming, and Allah was scheming; and Allah is The Most Charitable of schemers," (TMQ, 8: 30).

The importance of al-Waseed:

Allah says, "And their dog stretching out his two fore-legs (Literally: his two arms) on the threshold (Waseed)," (TMQ, 18: 18).  Waseed is the step near the entrance of the Cave.  The young men's dog laid there for 309 years, as if a sign was saying, "Beware! Do not trespass!" 

We all have to realize the meaning of trusting Allah, dear brothers and sisters.  We all have had signs in our lives showing how trust in Allah does not fail. What are you afraid of?  Live with a message and work as hard as your capabilities and means can get you, and know that Allah will allow you success.  We are all ordered to read Surat[6] al-Kahf (The Cave) every Friday.  The Prophet (SAWS)[7] told us that reading it allows one to have a light that extends from heaven to earth. Can we now realize why? Surat al-Kahf reminds us of these meanings every week.

The importance of turning them in their sleep:

A statement which strikes you with the essence of His care to them is, "And We turned them about towards the right and towards the left," (TMQ, 18: 18). When you sleep, you turn in bed more than 30 times every night. Medicine tells us the importance of that is preventing a disease known as bed sores.  Sleeping too long on one side of the body can cause continuous pressure on that side, leading to pain and loss of the skin's vitality.  The skin dies and ulcers are the result.  This normally happens to those unconscious, as those bed-ridden in coma.  Thus medical staff in hospitals will go in to coma patients and continuously turn them in bed to prevent ulcers of their backs and legs. 

They were only 7 young men and not prophets, and they were granted all that care because of their trust.  Whoever lives his life for Allah's sake, Allah will truly ensure for him such mercies. On the other hand, people who live for their own selves and desires will not sense such meaningful signs in their lives. 

Similarly, in this verse Allah says, "If you look at them, indeed you would have turned away from them in flight and indeed been filled with horror of them" (TMQ, 18: 18).  This verse is showing another defense for them.  Those young men went to the Cave afraid from the king's corruption.  Here Allah says that those who trust Allah and sense His presence will be lead to peace and serenity while those who transgress will be in fear from this same serenity!  If you sleep while trusting Allah in mind, then sleep entirely and never be scared.

Have we now realized the meaning of the verse, "Or even do you reckon that the Companions of the Cave and Ar-Raqîm (It is the name of a leaden plate, on which were written the names of the seven sleepers) were among Our signs a wonder?" (TMQ, 18: 9).

Events going on Outside the Cave:

What happened outside the cave? What happened to their people?  Their Families had searched for them a lot, the young men had disappeared suddenly, and their families and the town had a doubt that the king was the reason for their disappearance and that he might have hurt them.

As for the King, since that day his image had been shaken, because all the people were thinking that he is the one who killed the young men whom were 15 years of age.  Notice that the king is the one who introduced the message and that because the seven young men were presenting good deeds for the people and time was not on their side to spread their monotheistic beliefs among the people.  Then the King announced that the young men had faith, and he had spread his guards everywhere.  So the people said: “Did those righteous young men want to inform us that there is no god but Allah? Why does the king want to hurt them?"  By this way the people were introduced to the new message.

The Inscribed Tablet:

People have engraved the names of the seven young men on a wooden or a copper tablet, so that they would be always remembered for the coming generations, and no one would forget them.  Good deeds that are done are never a waste, and for that came the famous ayah[8] “Surely the ones who have believed and done deeds of righteousness, surely We do not waste the reward of him who does fair deeds” (TMQ, 30:18). The way the young men disappeared made people love them and made their names live eternally and the Inscribed Tablet was passed to the future generations for the period of 300 years. Allah rewards for the good deeds and any one of you who makes a good thing for the sake of Allah, the Inscribed Tablet is there. 

If you want to make your name live eternally on the Inscribed Tablet, then do something useful, and do not leave this world without leaving an imprint.  There are people who leave this world without leaving any imprints, as if they are only living in it for themselves and their children.  While there are others who leave an imprint on the sand, and when the water comes it wipes it away.  And there are others who grave their imprints on the rocks. 

I remember when I was seven years, my Grandfather used to go to poor districts and I used to see him give money for the poor.  He used to tell me stories about the companions of the prophet (SAWS), and when I grew up I told the same stories in the program of “On the Path of the Beloved”. Would you like to become alive after your death?  Add your name in the Inscribed Tablet, do not leave this world while you are worth Zero.

Change the land to the better and feel the love of others and make people love Allah by helping them, and giving them food, and making projects in their villages for their families and children. This is the story of the companions of the cave, and that is why Allah commands us to read Surat al-Kahf every Friday.  It teaches us to to amend the land even if we are faced with troubles and oppression. There will be a light for you.

The Weakness of the power of Decius:

The power of Decius started to weaken because of the seven young men and his image started to change in front of the people and in front of his army. Then later on he died, and his son came and he felt that oppression is not working, so he started to spread justice between the people, and they began to feel relieved. The Inscribed Tablet appeared and the seven young men have become the fuel that awakes every one, and people advised their children to become like those young men because people always love the one who sacrifices for them.

Modification needs time:

The young men had started their work then Allah made them sleep, but why did they go to sleep?  Because modification needs time.  If we want to make our countries become better, we must know that this matter needs time. In the story of the companions of the cave, it took 300 years for change to occur.  In our case it might take 100 years or 20 years depending on the effort done.  As if Allah’s message to us is that a miracle has happened for the seven young men, but in what concerns the country, change needs more time. During all this time, the reward of the seven young men is in increase, as well as the love of the people for them.

The Awakening of the companions of the cave:

After 300 years, a new king who believed in Christianity took charge and he made all the people believe in it too.  The Inscribed Tablet appeared and it became a symbol to them. After change took place, Allah wanted the companions of the cave to wake. But why would they wake after all this time? They woke to teach people that Allah completed their journey and to leave a mark in the Qur’an that Allah does not waste the reward of those who make good deeds. 

Allah inspired a farm owner which is located near the cave, to take from the rocks that are in front of the cave to build a fence for his farm, so the door of the cave was opened. Then the noise started outside and the dog was awake and so were the companions of the cave.

The Ayah starts in narrating the story of the awakening of the companions of the cave from their sleep: “And thus We made them rise again that they might ask one another (Literally: among themselves). A speaker from among them said, “How long have you lingered?” They said, “We have lingered a day, or part (Literally: some “part” of a day) of a day.” (Others) said, “Your Lord knows best how long you have lingered. So send one of you forth with this money to the city, then let him look for whichever of them has the purest (Literally: most cleansed) food, so let him come up to you with a provision thereof, and let him be courteous, and definitely let no man be aware of your (presence)” (TMQ, 19:18).

They did not know for how long they stayed asleep, they thought it was a day or half a day, and when they woke, they were very hungry since they went to the cave suddenly without taking their food. We notice that they were not very poor and wanted to eat good food, and at same time, they were religious with a mission. 

One of the seven young men went down feeling that life had changed all around him and that place was not the same place he came from yesterday, he thought that those houses were not there yesterday and that he got lost because of their sleep yesterday, but he remained silent He went to town hiding because he thought that for sure the guards of Decius were searching all over the town for them now. He reached a seller from whom he wanted to buy food, and while he was giving him the paper money, the man looked at the money and knew that it goes back to 300 years ago, to the period of Decius .

The seller thought that the young man had found a treasure and he said to the young man: “Either you tell me the place of the treasure, so that we can share it or I will tell the police”. The young man said: "Which treasure?" The seller replied: "This currency goes back to 300 years ago". The young man was surprised because he though he has just run away from Decius yesterday. People started to gather around him laughing and they thought he was crazy.  I am imagine that he told them,: "Please stop gathering people around me so that the guards of Decius do not find me". In the middle of the people’s laughter, the young man said: "Truthfully, we are Christian believers". The gathering said: "We are all like you, and even the king believes in god too". The young man could not believe it. One of the men of wisdom asked the young man about his name and the names of his friends. When the man of wisdom heard the names, he knew then that these were the seven young men who disappeared, and whose names were written on the Inscribed Tablet.

People informed the king about him, and went to the cave to see his friends.

Imagine the whole town going to the cave now telling the seven young men, "We are all believers now, and you are the ones who directed us to the right path".  Imagine their invoking to Allah “ O The Generous, O The Ultimate Trustee”.  Imagine the moment when they found out the truth saying, "How did the dream come true? O Allah you have fulfilled our dream”.

The ayah says what can be translated as,: “And thus We made the (people of the city) discover them that they might know that the promise of Allah is true and that the Hour, there is no suspicion about it. As they were contending among themselves their Command, (The Command of Allah concerning Resurrection; or: their affair) (then) they said, “Build over them a structure; their Lord knows them best.” (But) the ones who prevailed over their Command (Literally: overcame them in their Command; or: in their affair) said, “Indeed we will definitely build (Literally: take to ourselves) over them a mosque” (TMQ, 21:18).

By their awaking we learn that The Ultimate Trustee never leaves his worshippers like he said (SWT), whoever lives his life for the sake of Allah, Allah helps him to complete his dream.  We also learn that the One who awakened them after 300 years will awaken all of us on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, we need to be prepared for that day.

End of The story:

After people found and recognized the people of the cave, they died because it will be very difficult for them to live in the four centuries later from their time. Now they have become just a memory. They died and their graves are now in the cave, and we will go there to see it.