Musannaf 'Abd al-Razzaq 9854

Translation

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A man from the disciples of ʿĪsā b. Maryam came to the city of the People of the Cave and wanted to enter it. He was told that at its gate there was an idol, and no one entered it without prostrating to it. He disliked entering, so he went to a bathhouse near that city and worked in it, hiring himself out to the owner of the bathhouse. The owner saw blessing and ease in his bathhouse, entrusted it to him, and began to confide in him. Some youths of the city became attached to him, and he began to tell them about the matter of the heavens and the earth and the matter of the Hereafter, until they believed in him and affirmed his truthfulness, and they came to be like him in good conduct. He used to stipulate to the owner of the bathhouse: "The night is mine, and do not come between me and prayer when it is due." Then the king's son came with a woman to enter the bathhouse with her. The disciple rebuked him and said: "You are the king's son, and you enter with this such-and-such woman?" He was ashamed and left, then returned another time. The disciple said the same to him, so he insulted him and rebuked him harshly, and paid no attention until he entered, and the woman entered with him. They spent the night in the bathhouse and died in it. The king was informed, and it was said to him: "The owner of the bathhouse killed your son." He was sought but could not be found, and he fled. The king said: "Who used to accompany him?" They named the youths. They left the city and passed by a companion of theirs in his field, who was of the same persuasion as they. They told him they were being sought, so he went with them, with a dog accompanying him, until night forced them to shelter in a cave. They entered it and said: "We will spend the night here, then in the morning, God willing, you will decide what to do." He said: Their ears were sealed. The king went out with his companions following them until they found them. They went to the cave, but whenever one of the men wanted to enter, he was struck with terror, and no one was able to enter. Someone said to him: "Did you not say: If I had power over them I would kill them?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Then build up the entrance of the cave over them and leave them in it to die of thirst and hunger." So he did. Then they remained for a time. Then a shepherd was overtaken by rain near the cave and said: "If only I opened this cave and brought my sheep in from the rain." He kept working at it until he opened it for his sheep and brought them in. The next day, when morning came, God returned their souls to their bodies. They sent one of them with silver coins to buy them food. When he reached the gate of their city, whenever he showed anyone any of his silver, they disapproved of it, until he came to a man and said: "Sell me food for these dirhams." He said: "Where do these dirhams come from?" He said: "I and some companions of mine went out yesterday and night forced us to shelter; then we woke in the morning and they sent me." He said: "These dirhams date from the reign of such-and-such king, so how did you come by them?" He took him to the king, who was a righteous man. The king said: "Where did you get this silver?" He said: "I and some companions of mine went out yesterday until night overtook us in such-and-such cave, then my companions told me to buy them food." He said: "Where are your companions?" He said: "In the cave." The king went with him until he reached the entrance of the cave. He said: "Let me enter to my companions before you." When they saw him and he drew near them, his ear and their ears were sealed. The people wanted to enter upon them, but whenever a man entered he was struck with terror, and they could not enter upon them. So they built a church and built a mosque in which they prayed.

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