The story of the people of the cave - in the Quran

The story of the people of the cave is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) in the Quran. It is about a group of young believers who lived in a society where the majority of people worshipped idols. These believers were persecuted for their faith and were forced to flee their homes to avoid being killed. They sought refuge in a cave and slept there for many years, while Allah (God) kept them in a deep slumber. When they awoke, they found that their community had changed and become more accepting of monotheism. The story is a reminder of the power of faith and Allah's protection of His believers.

The story of the people of the cave, or "Ashab al-Kahf" in Arabic, is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf (the 18th chapter) of the Quran. It tells the tale of a group of young men who lived in a town where the majority of people did not believe in Allah. The young men, who were believers, fled to a cave to escape persecution and seek refuge in Allah.

They fell asleep in the cave and woke up many years later, only to find that the town they had fled from had now become a place of believers in Allah. The story highlights the power and protection of Allah, and the importance of faith and trust in Him. It also emphasizes the idea that true believers will be rewarded and saved by Allah, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

The story of the people of the cave is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf, which has 110 verses. The story of the people of the cave takes up verses 9-26, which means there are 18 verses in the Quran that mention this story.

"Or do you think that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder?" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:9)

"When the youths retreated to the cave and said, 'Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.'" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:10)

"So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years." (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:11)

"Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time." (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:12)

"We relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance." (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:13)

"And We made firm their hearts when they stood up and said, 'Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.'" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:14)

"These, our people, have taken besides Him deities. Why do they not bring for [worship of] them a clear authority? And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allah a lie?" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:15-16)

"[The youths said to one another], 'And when you have withdrawn from them and that which they worship other than Allah, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair facility.'" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:16)

"And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror." (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:18)

"And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, 'How long have you remained [here]?' They said, 'We have remained a day or part of a day.' They said, 'Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you.'" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:19)

"Indeed, they, if they come to know of you, will stone you or return you to their religion. And never would you succeed, then - ever.'" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:20)

"And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allah is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, 'Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them.' Said those who prevailed in the matter, 'We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid.'" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:21

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 16: "And when ye withdraw from them and that which they worship except Allah, then seek refuge in the cave: your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair a facility."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 17: "And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 18: "And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold. If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 19: "And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let him not disclose your secret."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 20: "Lo! if they should come to know of you, they will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 21: "And in like manner We disclosed them (to the people of the city) that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that, as for the Hour, there is no doubt concerning it. When (the people of the city) disputed of their case among themselves, they said: Build over them a building; their Lord knoweth best concerning them. Those who won their point said: We verily shall build a place of worship over them."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 22: "(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 23: "And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow."

Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 24: "Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this."

The story of the people of the cave, as narrated in the Quran, is about a group of young believers who lived in a time when their people were committing shirk (associating partners with Allah) and persecuting the believers. Seeking refuge from their oppressors, they sought shelter in a cave where Allah put them into a deep sleep for many years. When they woke up, they found that their people had either passed away or changed their ways, and they continued to live their lives as faithful believers. The story highlights the power of faith, trust in Allah, and the rewards of steadfastness in the face of persecution.