“For if they become aware of you, they will stone you to death or turn you to their belief... Then you will never have the opportunity to succeed!”
So, We informed them about them, so that they know the word of Allah (resurrection) is Truth, and that of the hour (of death) there is no doubt! When they were arguing about the affair among themselves, they said, “Construct over them a building. Their Rabb knows best about them (about what they are)” Those whose word prevailed over the matter said, “Surely, we will construct over them (the people of the cave) a masjid (a prayer house).”
They will say, “They were three, the fourth was a dog” ... “They were five, the sixth was a dog” ... This is merely guessing at the unknown (ranting and fabricating about things they do not know)! They will say, “They were seven, the eighth was a dog” ... Say, “My Rabb knows better their number... None knows them except a few” ... Do not argue about them other than exchanging ideas and do not ask them anything about them![1]
(And some say) they remained in their cave for three hundred years and added nine to it.
Say, “Allah knows best how long they remained... To Him belongs the unknown (aspects) of the heavens and the earth! He is One whose sight and hearing cannot be comprehended with the mind! They have no friend or guardian besides Him! And there is none to share His verdict!”[2]
This was the answer to the first question…
Besides these verses the people of the cave are also mentioned in various hadith.
Based on these, there were 7 young men who had retreated from their home city, ruled by a tyrant polytheist king, and sought protection in a cave. These young Christian men fell asleep in the cave. They slept for 309 years, during this time nobody found them. They also had a dog with them. When they woke up 309 years later, they thought they only had a short nap and felt hungry. One of them went to the city to buy some food, but when he saw the city, he was astounded. 309 years had gone by the city had changed drastically. So, he went to the first place he saw with the hope of finding food and retreating back to the cave. But alas, when the shopkeeper saw the silver coin the young man handed him as money – which had obviously become antique over the years – he caught hold of the young man thinking he’s a thief. They took him to the Sultan. The young man explained his story and how they sought protection in a cave. The Sultan and the wise men of the time were not all that surprised as they had already heard about them from their predecessors… A large group then entered the cave and saw the other men… The 7 young men and their dog lived in that cave for some time, when they died the cave became their tomb.
This cave is reportedly the famous cave in Tarsus (Turkey) known as the “The Cave of Ashab al-Kahf” …
Moving on to the second question… The answer to this was given through the following verses:
They ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn... Say, “I will recite to you a dhikr (remembrance) about him.”
We established him upon the earth and made easy for him every path (to attain his wishes).
So, he followed a way.
When he finally reached the place where the sun set, he found it setting in dense, dark water... And he found people there! We said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn! You can either punish them or do good for them.”
(Dhul-Qarnayn) said, “We will punish the one who does wrong... And he will be returned to his Rabb and He will punish him with an indescribable torment.”
But whoever believes (in the reality) and fulfills the requirements of his faith the return of this is best for him... We will apply Our command of ease on him.
Then he (Dhul-Qarnayn) followed (another) way.
Until he came to the place of the rising sun (the place where the sun rises from the lowest point in the north without actually setting). He found it rising upon a people for whom We had not made a cover (against the sun) (i.e. the sun never disappeared).
Thus, it is... We had encompassed him with what he had.
Then he (Dhul-Qarnayn) followed one other way.
Finally, he reached a place between two mountains... He found people there who were almost unable to evaluate any warning.
They said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn! Indeed, Gog and Magog are causing corruption on earth! So, shall we pay you a price so that you make a barrier between us and them?”
(Dhul-Qarnayn) said, “That which my Rabb manifests through me is better... But assist me with your strength and I will make between you and them a barrier.”
“Bring me the blocks of iron...” Until when We leveled both sides, he said, “Blow (with bellows)” ... Until it (the iron) became red hot, he said, “Bring it to me, that I may pour molten copper over it.”
So, they were neither able to pass over it nor penetrate through it!
(Dhul-Qarnayn) said, “This is a grace from my Rabb... So, when the promise of my Rabb comes, He will make it level... The promise of my Rabb is true.”
That day We will leave them alone; they will surge over each other like (two different kinds of) waves! And the Horn will be blown, and We will have gathered all of them together.[3]
As for the third question regarding the reality of the spirit, its answer was given with the following verse:
And they (the Jews) ask you, (O Muhammad) about the spirit. Say, “The spirit is from the command (amr; the manifestation of the Names) of my Rabb. And you have been given little of this knowledge (this answer is for the Jews who asked this question).”[4]
All three questions asked by the Jewish scholar were thus answered. Albeit, the polytheists of Quraish were not satisfied and made the ‘fifteen-day delay’ their excuse…
A very important point to take note of here is:
“You have been given little of this knowledge” is in reference to the Jewish scholar and the polytheists – the people of duality- who collaborated with him.
Indeed, the Jews and those with a dualistic mindset do not know the reality of the SPIRIT.
Whereas those who attained a state of closeness and intimacy to Allah through the knowledge left as inheritance from Muhammad (saw) have made many explanations providing detailed information regarding the spirit.[5]