Tarikh (al-Tabari) 355
the accounts of past peoples from the Israelites and others
الظَّاهِرُ مِنَ السِّيَاقِ أَنَّ قَوْمَ أصحاب الكهف كَانُوا مُشْرِكِينَ يَعْبُدُونَ الْأَصْنَامَ. قَالَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْمُفَسِّرِينَ وَالْمُؤَرِّخِينَ وَغَيْرِهِمْ: كَانُوا فِي زَمَنِ مَلِكٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ: دِقْيَانُوسُ. وَكَانُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْأَكَابِرِ. وَقِيلَ: مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْمُلُوكِ. وَاتَّفَقَ اجْتِمَاعُهُمْ فِي يَوْمِ عِيدٍ لِقَوْمِهِمْ فَرَأَوْا مَا يَتَعَاطَاهُ قَوْمُهُمْ، مِنَ السُّجُودِ لِلْأَصْنَامِ وَالتَّعْظِيمِ لِلْأَوْثَانِ، فَنَظَرُوا بِعَيْنِ الْبَصِيرَةِ، وَكَشَفَ اللَّهُ عَنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ حِجَابَ الْغَفْلَةِ، وَأَلْهَمَهُمْ رُشْدَهُمْ، فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّ قَوْمَهُمْ لَيْسُوا عَلَى شَيْءٍ، فَخَرَجُوا عَنْ دِينِهِمْ، وَانْتَمَوْا إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ. وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا أَوْقَعَ اللَّهُ فِي نَفْسِهِ مَا هَدَاهُ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْحِيدِ، انْحَازَ عَنِ النَّاسِ، وَاتَّفَقَ اجْتِمَاعُ هَؤُلَاءِ الْفِتْيَةِ فِي مَكَانٍ وَاحِدٍ، كَمَا صَحَّ فِي الْبُخَارِيِّ الْأَرْوَاحُ جُنُودٌ مُجَنَّدَةٌ، فَمَا تَعَارَفَ مِنْهَا ائْتَلَفَ، وَمَا تَنَاكَرَ مِنْهَا اخْتَلَفَ فَكُلٌّ مِنْهُمْ سَأَلَ الْآخَرَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ وَعَنْ شَأْنِهِ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ، وَاتَّفَقُوا عَلَى الِانْحِيَازِ عَنْ قَوْمِهِمْ، وَالتَّبَرِّي مِنْهُمْ، وَالْخُرُوجِ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَظْهُرِهِمْ، وَالْفِرَارِ بِدِينِهِمْ مِنْهُمْ، وَهُوَ الْمَشْرُوعُ حَالَ الْفِتَنِ وَظُهُورِ الشُّرُورِ. قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَنْ نَدْعُوَ مِنْ دُونِهِ إِلَهًا لَقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ أَيْ: بِدَلِيلٍ ظَاهِرٍ عَلَى مَا ذَهَبُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَصَارُوا مِنَ الْأَمْرِ عَلَيْهِ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ أَيْ: وَإِذْ قَدْ فَارَقْتُمُوهُمْ فِي دِينِهِمْ وَتَبَرَّأْتُمْ مِمَّا يَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ، وَذَلِكَ لِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُشْرِكُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ، كَمَا قَالَ الْخَلِيلُ: إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ [ الزُّخْرُفِ: 26، 27 ]. وَهَكَذَا هَؤُلَاءِ الْفِتْيَةُ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: إِذْ قَدْ فَارَقْتُمْ قَوْمَكُمْ فِي دِينِهِمْ، فَاعْتَزَلُوهُمْ بِأَبْدَانِكُمْ لِتَسْلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُوصِلُوا إِلَيْكُمْ شَرًّا فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنْشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مِرفَقًا أَيْ: يُسْبِلْ عَلَيْكُمْ سِتْرَهُ، وَتَكُونُوا تَحْتَ حِفْظِهِ وَكَنَفِهِ، وَيَجْعَلْ عَاقِبَةَ أَمْرِكُمْ إِلَى خَيْرٍ، كَمَا جَاءَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ: اللَّهُمَّ أَحْسِنْ عَاقِبَتَنَا فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا، وَأَجِرْنَا مِنْ خِزْيِ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ وَلَمَّا ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَا هُوَ الْأَنْفَعُ مِنْ خَبَرِهِمْ وَالْأَهَمُّ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ، وَوَصَفَ حَالَهُمْ، حَتَّى كَأَنَّ السَّامِعَ رَاءٍ، وَالْمُخْبَرَ مُشَاهِدٌ لِصِفَةِ كَهْفِهِمْ، وَكَيْفِيَّتِهِمْ فِي ذَلِكَ الْكَهْفِ وَتَقَلُّبِهِمْ مِنْ جَنْبٍ إِلَى جَنْبٍ، وَأَنَّ كَلْبَهُمْ بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ. قَالَ: لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا أَيْ: لِمَا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْمَهَابَةِ وَالْجَلَالَةِ فِي أَمْرِهِمُ الَّذِي صَارُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَلَعَلَّ الْخِطَابَ هَاهُنَا لِجِنْسِ الْإِنْسَانِ الْمُخَاطَبِ، لَا لِخُصُوصِيَّةِ الرَّسُولِ ﷺ، كَقَوْلِهِ: فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ [ التِّينِ: 7 ]. أَيْ: أَيُّهَا الْإِنْسَانُ ; وَذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ طَبِيعَةَ الْبَشَرِيَّةِ تَفِرُّ مِنْ رُؤْيَةِ الْأَشْيَاءِ الْمَهِيبَةِ غَالِبًا، وَلِهَذَا قَالَ: لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا، وَدَلَّ عَلَى أَنَّ الْخَبَرَ لَيْسَ كَالْمُعَايَنَةِ، كَمَا جَاءَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ; لِأَنَّ الْخَبَرَ قَدْ حَصَلَ وَلَمْ يَحْصُلِ الْفِرَارُ وَلَا الرُّعْبُ. ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ تَعَالَى أَنَّهُ بَعَثَهُمْ مِنْ رَقْدَتِهِمْ بَعْدَ نَوْمِهِمْ بِثَلَاثِمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ وَتِسْعِ سِنِينَ، فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْقَظُوا، قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُمْ بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ أَيْ: بِدَرَاهِمِكُمْ هَذِهِ، يَعْنِي الَّتِي مَعَهُمْ، إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ. وَيُقَالُ، كَانَ اسْمُهَا دَفْسُوسَ. فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَى طَعَامًا أَيْ: أَطْيَبَ مَالًا فَلْيَأْتِكُمْ بِرِزْقٍ مِنْهُ أَيْ: بِطَعَامٍ تَأْكُلُونَهُ، وَهَذَا مِنْ زُهْدِهِمْ وَوَرَعِهِمْ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ أَيْ: فِي دُخُولِهِ إِلَيْهَا وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا إِنَّهُمْ إِنْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَنْ تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا أَيْ: إِنْ عُدْتُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْقَذَكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْهَا ; وَهَذَا كُلُّهُ لِظَنِّهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ رَقَدُوا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَلَمْ يَحْسَبُوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ رَقَدُوا أَزْيَدَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ وَقَدْ تَبَدَّلَتِ الدُّوَلُ أَطْوَارًا عَدِيدَةً، وَتَغَيَّرَتِ الْبِلَادُ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا، وَذَهَبَ أُولَئِكَ الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا فِيهِمْ، وَجَاءَ غَيْرُهُمْ وَذَهَبُوا، وَجَاءَ غَيْرُهُمْ ; وَلِهَذَا لَمَّا خَرَجَ أَحَدُهُمْ، وَهُوَ تِيذُوسِيسُ فِيمَا قِيلَ، وَجَاءَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ مُتَنَكِّرًا ; لِئَلَّا يَعْرِفَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ فِيمَا يَحْسَبُهُ، تَنَكَّرَتْ لَهُ الْبِلَادُ وَاسْتَنْكَرَهُ مَنْ رَآهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا، وَاسْتَغْرَبُوا شَكْلَهُ وَصِفَتَهُ وَدَرَاهِمَهُ. وقيل أنهم قَالُوا لِتَمْلِيخَا صَاحِبِ نَفَقَتِهِمْ: انْطَلِقْ [ فَاسْمَعْ مَا يَذْكُرُونَهُ ] وَابْتَعْ لَنَا طَعَامًا، فَوَضَعَ ثِيَابَهُ، وَأَخَذَ الثِّيَابَ الَّتِي يَتَنَكَّرُ فِيهَا وَخَرَجَ، فَمَرَّ مُسْتَخْفِيًا مُتَخَوِّفًا أَنْ يَرَاهُ أَحَدٌ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى بَابَ الْمَدِينَةِ رَأَى عَلَيْهِ عَلَامَةً تَكُونُ لِأَهْلِ الْإِيمَانِ فَعَجِبَ، وَخُيِّلَ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهَا لَيْسَتِ الْمَدِينَةُ الَّتِي يَعْرِفُ، وَرَأَى نَاسًا لَا يَعْرِفُهُمْ، فَتَعَجَّبَ، وَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: لَعَلِّي نَائِمٌ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَهَا رَأَى قَوْمًا يَحْلِفُونَ بَاسِمِ عِيسَى فَقَامَ مُسْنِدًا ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى جِدَارٍ، وَقَالَ فِي نَفْسِهِ: وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي لَمَا هَذَا إِلَّا غَشْيَةً، أَمْسِ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ مَنْ يَذْكُرُ عِيسَى إِلَّا قُتِلَ، وَالْيَوْمَ أَسْمَعُهُمْ يَذْكُرُونَهُ، لَعَلَّ هَذِهِ لَيْسَتْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ الَّتِي أَعْرِفُ، وَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْرِفُ مَدِينَةً قُرْبَ مَدِينَتِنَا [ شَيْئًا ]. فَقَامَ كَالْحَيَوَانِ، وَأَخْرَجَ وَرَقًا، فَأَعْطَاهُ رَجُلًا، وَقَالَ: بِعْنِي طَعَامًا. فَنَظَرَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى نَقْشِهِ فَعَجِبَ ثُمَّ أَلْقَاهُ إِلَى آخَرَ، فَجَعَلُوا يَتَطَارَحُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَيَتَعَجَّبُونَ وَيَتَنَاقَدُونَ وَقَالُوا: إِنَّ هَذَا قَدْ أَصَابَ كَنْزًا فَفَرَقَ مِنْهُمْ وَظَنَّهُمْ قَدْ عَرَفُوهُ، فَقَالَ: أَمْسِكُوا طَعَامَكُمْ فَلَا حَاجَةَ لِي إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالُوا لَهُ: مَنْ أَنْتَ يَا فَتًى، وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ وَجَدْتَ كَنْزًا، وَأَنْتَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُخْفِيهِ، فَشَارِكْنَا فِيهِ، وَإِلَّا أَتَيْنَا بِكَ إِلَى السُّلْطَانِ فَيَقْتُلُكَ. فَلَمْ يَدْرِ مَا يَقُولُ، فَطَرَحُوا كِسَاءَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي وَيَقُولُ: فُرِّقَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي يَا لَيْتَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَصَبْتُ فَأَتَوْا بِهِ إِلَى رَجُلَيْنِ كَانَا يُدَبِّرَانِ أَمْرَ الْمَدِينَةِ، فَقَالَا: أَيْنَ الْكَنْزُ الَّذِي وَجَدْتَ ؟ فَقَالَ: مَا وَجَدْتُ كَنْزًا، وَلَكِنْ مَا هَذِهِ وَرِقُ آبَائِي وَنَقْشُ هَذِهِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَضَرْبُهَا، وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي مَا شَأْنِي وَلَا مَا أَقُولُ [ لَكُمْ ]. قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ: وَكَانَ وَرِقُ أَصْحَابِ الْكَهْفِ مِثْلُ أَخْفَافِ الْإِبِلِ فَقَالُوا: مَنْ أَنْتَ، وَمَا اسْمُ أَبِيكَ ؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا مَنْ يَعْرِفُهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ أَحَدُهُمَا: أَتُظَنُّ أَنَّكَ تَسْخَرُ مِنَّا وَخَزَائِنُ هَذِهِ الْمَدِينَةِ بِأَيْدِينَا وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا مِنْ هَذَا الضَّرْبِ دِرْهَمَ وَلَا دِينَارٌ، إِنِّي سَآمُرُ بِكَ فَتُعَذَّبَ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا، ثُمَّ أُوثِقُكَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفَ هَذَا الْكَنْزَ. فَقَالَ تَمْلِيخَا: أَنْبَئُونِي عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَنْهُ، فَإِنْ فَعَلْتُمْ صَدَقْتُمْ. قَالُوا: سَلْ، قَالَ: مَا فَعَلَ الْمَلِكُ دِقْيَانُوسُ، قَالُوا: لَا نَعْرِفُ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ مَلِكًا يُسَمَّى دِقْيَانُوسُ، وَإِنَّمَا هَذَا مَلِكٌ مُنْذُ زَمَانٍ طَوِيلٍ، وَهَلَكَتْ بَعْدَهُ قُرُونٌ كَثِيرَةٌ، فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ مَا يَصْدُقُنِي أَحَدٌ بِمَا أَقُولُهُ، لَقَدْ كُنَّا فَتِيَّةٌ، وَأَكْرَهَنَا الْمَلِكُ عَلَى عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ وَالذَّبْحِ لِلطَّوَاغِيتِ، فَهَرَبْنَا مِنْهُ عَشِيَّةَ أَمْسِ، فَنِمْنَا، فَلَمَّا انْتَبَهْنَا خَرَجْتُ أَشْتَرِي لِأَصْحَابِي طَعَامًا، فَإِذَا أَنَا كَمَا تَرَوْنَ، فَانْطَلِقُوا مَعِي إِلَى الْكَهْفِ أُرِيكُمْ أَصْحَابِي. فَانْطَلَقُوا مَعَهُ وَسَارَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ فَكَانَ أَصْحَابُهُ قَدْ ظَنُّوا لِإِبْطَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أُخِذَ، فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ يَتَخَوَّفُونَ ذَلِكَ إِذْ سَمِعُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ وَجَلَبَةَ الْخَيْلِ، فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ رُسُلُ دِقْيَانُوسُ، فَقَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَسَبَقَ تَمْلِيخَا إِلَيْهِمْ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي فَبَكَوْا مَعَهُ وَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْ شَأْنِهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ، وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّبَأَ كُلَّهُ، فَعَرَفُوا أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا نِيَامًا بِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَإِنَّمَا أُوقِظُوا لِيَكُونُوا آيَةً لِلنَّاسِ، وَتَصْدِيقًا لِلْبَعْثِ. وَنَظَرَ النَّاسُ [ إِلَى ] الْمَسْطُورِ الَّذِي فِيهِ أَسْمَاؤُهُمْ وَقِصَّتُهُمْ فَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَى مِلْكِهِمْ، فَجَاءَ وَاعْتَنَقَ الْقَوْمَ وَبَكَى، فَقَالُوا لَهُ: نَسْتَوْدِعُكَ اللَّهَ وَنَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامَ، حَفِظَكَ اللَّهُ، وَحَفِظَ مُلْكَكَ، فَبَيْنَا الْمَلِكُ قَائِمٌ رَجَعُوا إِلَى مَضَاجِعِهِمْ، وَتَوَفَّى اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وقيل أن أَهْلُ الْبَلْدَةِ، لَمْ يَهْتَدُوا إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِمْ مِنَ الْغَارِ، وَعَمَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَمْرَهُمْ. وَيُقَالُ: لَمْ يَسْتَطِيعُوا دُخُولَهُ حِسًّا. وَيُقَالُ: مَهَابَةً لَهُمْ. سبب إيمان أصحاب الكهف وفي رواية أخرى ذكرها ابن الأثير في كتابه الكامل أن سَبَبَ إِيمَانِهِمْ أَنَّهُ جَاءَ حَوَارِيٌّ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ عِيسَى إِلَى مَدِينَتِهِمْ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَهَا، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: إِنَّ عَلَى بَابِهَا صَنَمًا لَا يَدْخُلُهَا أَحَدٌ حَتَّى يَسْجُدَ لَهُ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْهَا وَأَتَى حَمَّامًا قَرِيبًا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ، فَكَانَ يَعْمَلُ فِيهِ، فَرَأَى صَاحِبُ الْحَمَّامِ الْبَرَكَةَ وَعَلِقَهُ الْفِتْيَةُ، فَجَعَلَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ خَبَرَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَخَبَرَ الْآخِرَةِ حَتَّى آمَنُوا بِهِ وَصَدَّقُوهُ. فَكَانَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَتَّى جَاءَ ابْنُ الْمَلِكِ بِامْرَأَةٍ فَدَخَلَ بِهَا الْحَمَّامَ، فَعَيَّرَهُ الْحِوَارِيُّ فَاسْتَحْيَا، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فَعَيَّرَهُ فَسَبَّهُ وَانْتَهَرَهُ وَدَخَلَ الْحَمَّامَ وَمَعَهُ الْمَرْأَةُ، فَمَاتَا فِي الْحَمَّامِ، فَقِيلَ لِلْمَلِكِ: إِنَّ الَّذِي بِالْحَمَّامِ قَتَلَهُمَا، فَطُلِبَ فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ، فَقِيلَ: مَنْ كَانَ يَصْحَبُهُ ؟ فَذُكِرَ الْفِتْيَةُ، فَطُلِبُوا فَهَرَبُوا، فَمَرُّوا بِصَاحِبٍ لَهُمْ عَلَى حَالِهِمْ فِي زَرْعٍ لَهُ فَذَكَرُوا لَهُ أَمْرَهُمْ. فَسَارَ مَعَهُمْ وَتَبِعَهُمُ الْكَلْبُ الَّذِي لَهُ، حَتَّى آوَاهُمُ اللَّيْلُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ، فَقَالُوا: نَبِيتُ هَهُنَا حَتَّى نُصْبِحَ ثُمَّ نَرَى رَأْيَنَا، فَدَخَلُوهُ فَرَأَوْا عِنْدَهُ عَيْنَ مَاءٍ وَثِمَارًا، فَأَكَلُوا مِنَ الثِّمَارِ وَشَرِبُوا مِنَ الْمَاءِ، فَلَمَّا جَنَّهُمُ اللَّيْلُ ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَى آذَانِهِمْ وَوَكَّلَ بِهِمْ مَلَائِكَةً يُقَلِّبُونَهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ لِئَلَّا تَأْكُلَ الْأَرْضُ أَجْسَادَهُمْ، وَكَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ تَطْلُعُ عَلَيْهِمْ. وَسَمِعَ الْمَلِكُ دِقْيَانُوسْ خَبَرَهُمْ فَخَرَجَ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ يَتْبَعُونَ أَثَرَهُمْ حَتَّى وَجَدَهُمْ قَدْ دَخَلُوا الْكَهْفَ، وَأَمَرَ أَصْحَابَهُ بِالدُّخُولِ إِلَيْهِمْ وَإِخْرَاجِهِمْ. فَكُلَّمَا أَرَادَ رَجُلٌ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فَأُرْعِبَ فَعَادَ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: أَلَيْسَ لَوْ كُنْتَ ظَفِرْتَ بِهِمْ قَتَلْتَهُمْ ؟ قَالَ: بَلَى. قَالَ: فَابْنِ عَلَيْهِمْ بَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَدَعْهُمْ يَمُوتُوا جُوعًا وَعَطَشًا. فَفَعَلَ، فَبَقُوا زَمَانًا بَعْدَ زَمَانٍ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَاعِيًا أَدْرَكَهُ الْمَطَرُ فَقَالَ: لَوْ فَتَحْتُ بَابَ هَذَا الْكَهْفِ فَأَدْخَلْتُ غَنَمِي فِيهِ، فَفَتَحَهُ، فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ أَرْوَاحَهُمْ مِنَ الْغَدِ حِينَ أَصْبَحُوا، فَبَعَثُوا أَحَدَهُمْ بِوَرِقٍ لِيَشْتَرِيَ لَهُمْ طَعَامًا، وَاسْمُهُ تَمْلِيخَا، فَلَمَّا أَتَى بَابَ الْمَدِينَةِ رَأَى مَا أَنْكَرَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ فَقَالَ: بِعْنِي بِهَذِهِ الدَّرَاهِمِ طَعَامًا. فَقَالَ: فَمِنْ أَيْنَ لَكَ هَذِهِ الدَّرَاهِمُ ؟ قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأَصْحَابٌ لِي أَمْسِ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحُوا فَأَرْسَلُونِي. فَقَالَ: هَذِهِ الدَّرَاهِمُ كَانَتْ عَلَى عَهْدِ الْمَلِكِ الْفُلَانِيِّ. فَرَفَعَهُ إِلَى الْمَلِكِ، وَكَانَ مَلِكًا صَالِحًا، فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْهَا، فَأَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ حَالَهُمْ. فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: أَيْنَ أَصْحَابُكَ ؟ قَالَ: انْطَلِقُوا مَعِي. فَانْطَلَقُوا مَعَهُ حَتَّى أَتَوْا بَابَ الْكَهْفِ، فَقَالَ: دَعُونِي أَدْخُلْ إِلَى أَصْحَابِي قَبْلَكُمْ لِئَلَّا يَسْمَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَيَخَافُوا ظَنًّا مِنْهُمْ أَنَّ دِقْيَانُوسْ قَدْ عَلِمَ بِهِمْ، فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَخْبَرَهُمُ الْخَبَرَ، فَسَجَدُوا شُكْرًا لِلَّهِ وَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يَتَوَفَّاهُمْ، فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ. فَضَرَبَ عَلَى أُذُنِهِ وَآذَانِهِمْ، وَأَرَادَ الْمَلِكُ الدُّخُولَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَكَانُوا كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلٌ أُرْعِبَ، فَلَمْ يَقْدِرُوا أَنْ يَدْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ، فَعَادَ عَنْهُمْ، فَبَنَوْا عَلَيْهِمْ كَنِيسَةً يُصَلُّونَ فِيهَا. قَالَ عِكْرِمَةُ: لَمَّا بَعَثَهُمُ اللَّهُ كَانَ الْمَلِكُ حِينَئِذٍ مُؤْمِنًا، وَكَانَ قَدِ اخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ مَمْلَكَتِهِ فِي الرُّوحِ وَالْجَسَدِ وَبَعْثِهِمَا، فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ: يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ الرُّوحَ دُونَ الْجَسَدِ. وَقَالَ قَائِلٌ: يُبْعَثَانِ جَمِيعًا، فَشَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمَلِكِ فَلَبِسَ الْمُسُوحَ وَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُ الْحَقَّ، فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ بُكْرَةً، فَلَمَّا بَزَغَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: قَدْ غَفَلْنَا هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ عَنِ الْعِبَادَةِ، فَقَامُوا إِلَى الْمَاءِ، وَكَانَ عِنْدَ الْكَهْفِ عَيْنٌ وَشَجَرَةٌ، فَإِذَا الْعَيْنُ قَدْ غَارَتْ وَالْأَشْجَارُ قَدْ يَبِسَتْ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: إِنَّ أَمْرَنَا لَعَجَبٌ ! هَذِهِ الْعَيْنُ غَارَتْ وَهَذِهِ الْأَشْجَارُ يَبِسَتْ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ ! وَأَلْقَى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْجُوعَ، فَقَالُوا أَيُّكُمْ يَذْهَبُ ( إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَى طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُمْ بِرِزْقٍ مِنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ). فَدَخَلَ أَحَدُهُمْ يَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى السُّوقَ عَرَفَ طُرُقَهَا وَأَنْكَرَ الْوُجُوهَ وَرَأَى الْإِيمَانَ ظَاهِرًا بِهَا، فَأَتَى رَجُلًا يَشْتَرِي مِنْهُ، فَأَنْكَرَ الدَّرَاهِمَ، فَرَفَعَهُ إِلَى الْمَلِكِ، فَقَالَ الْفَتَى: أَلَيْسَ مَلِكَكُمْ فُلَانٌ ؟ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: لَا بَلْ فُلَانٌ فَعَجِبَ لِذَلِكَ. فَلَمَّا أُحْضِرَ عِنْدَ الْمَلِكِ أَخْبَرَهُ بِخَبَرِ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَجَمَعَ الْمَلِكُ النَّاسَ وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: إِنَّكُمْ قَدِ اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الرُّوحِ وَالْجَسَدِ، وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ آيَةً هَذَا الرَّجُلُ مِنْ قَوْمِ فُلَانٍ، يَعْنِي الْمَلِكَ الَّذِي مَضَى. فَقَالَ الْفَتَى: انْطَلِقُوا بِي إِلَى أَصْحَابِي، فَرَكِبَ الْمَلِكُ وَالنَّاسُ مَعَهُ، فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْكَهْفِ قَالَ الْفَتَى لِلْمَلِكِ: ذَرُونِي أَسْبِقُكُمْ إِلَى أَصْحَابِي أُعَرِّفُهُمْ خَبَرَكُمْ لِئَلَّا يَخَافُوا إِذَا سَمِعُوا وَقْعَ حَوَافِّ دَوَابِّكُمْ وَأَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَيَظُنُّوكُمْ دِقْيَانُوسْ. فَقَالَ: افْعَلْ، فَسَبَقَهُمْ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ وَدَخَلَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُمُ الْخَبَرَ، فَعَلِمُوا حِينَئِذٍ مِقْدَارَ لَبْثِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ وَبَكَوْا فَرَحًا وَدَعَوُا اللَّهَ أَنْ يُمِيتَهُمْ وَلَا يَرَاهُمْ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ جَاءَهُمْ، فَمَاتُوا لِسَاعَتِهِمْ، فَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَى أُذُنِهِ وَآذَانِهِمْ مَعَهُ. فَلَمَّا اسْتَبْطَأُوهُ دَخَلُوا إِلَى الْفِتْيَةِ فَإِذَا أَجْسَادُهُمْ لَا يُنْكِرُونَ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا لَا أَرْوَاحَ فِيهَا، فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: هَذِهِ آيَةٌ لَكُمْ. وَرَأَى الْمَلِكُ تَابُوتًا مِنْ نُحَاسٍ مَخْتُومًا بِخَاتَمٍ، فَفَتَحَهُ، فَرَأَى فِيهِ لَوْحًا مِنْ رَصَاصٍ مَكْتُوبَا فِيهِ أَسْمَاءُ الْفِتْيَةِ، وَأَنَّهُمْ هَرَبُوا مِنْ دِقْيَانُوسْ الْمَلِكِ مَخَافَةً عَلَى نُفُوسِهِمْ وَدِينِهِمْ فَدَخَلُوا هَذَا الْكَهْفَ. فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ دِقْيَانُوسْ بِمَكَانِهِمْ بِالْكَهْفِ سَدَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ. فَلْيَعْلَمْ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ كِتَابَنَا هَذَا شَأْنَهُمْ. فَلَمَّا قَرَأُوهُ عَجِبُوا وَحَمِدُوا اللَّهَ تَعَالَى الَّذِي أَرَاهُمْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ لِلْبَعْثِ وَرَفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَهُمْ بِالتَّحْمِيدِ وَالتَّسْبِيحِ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ الْمَلِكَ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ دَخَلُوا عَلَى الْفِتْيَةِ فَرَأَوْهُمْ أَحْيَاءً مُشْرِقَةً وُجُوهُهُمْ وَأَلْوَانُهُمْ لَمْ تُبْلَ ثِيَابُهُمْ، وَأَخْبَرَهُمُ الْفِتْيَةُ بِمَا لَقُوا مِنْ مَلِكِهِمْ دِقْيَانُوسْ، وَاعْتَنَقَهُمُ الْمَلِكُ، وَقَعَدُوا مَعَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّهَ وَيَذْكُرُونَهُ. ثُمَّ قَالُوا لَهُ: نَسْتَوْدِعُكَ اللَّهَ. وَرَجَعُوا إِلَى مَضَاجِعِهِمْ كَمَا كَانُوا، فَعَمِلَ الْمَلِكُ لِكُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ تَابُوتًا مِنَ الذَّهَبِ، فَلَمَّا نَامَ رَآهُمْ فِي مَنَامِهِ وَقَالُوا: إِنَّنَا لَمْ نُخْلَقْ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ إِنَّمَا خُلِقْنَا مِنَ التُّرَابِ وَإِلَيْهِ نَصِيرُ، فَعَمِلَ لَهُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَوَابِيتَ مِنْ خَشَبٍ، فَحَجَبَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِالرُّعْبِ، وَبَنَى الْمَلِكُ عَلَى بَابِ الْكَهْفِ مَسْجِدًا وَجَعَلَ لَهُمْ عِيدًا عَظِيمًا.
Translation
✧ The apparent meaning from the context is that the people of the Companions of the Cave were polytheists who worshipped idols. Many of the commentators, historians, and others said: They lived in the time of a king named Decius (Diqyānūs). They were sons of nobles. It is also said: sons of kings. They happened to gather on a feast day of their people, and they saw what their people were engaged in—prostrating to idols and venerating images. They looked with the eye of insight, and God removed from their hearts the veil of heedlessness and inspired them with their right guidance. They knew that their people were upon nothing, so they left their religion and turned to the worship of God alone, with no partner. It is said that when God placed in the soul of each one of them what He guided him to of monotheism, each withdrew from the people. These young men happened to gather in one place, as is authentically reported in al-Bukhārī: “Souls are like conscripted soldiers; those that recognize one another come together, and those that do not recognize one another are at variance.” So each of them asked the other about his situation and his affair, and he informed him of what he was upon. They agreed to withdraw from their people, to disavow them, to leave from among them, and to flee with their religion from them. That is what is prescribed at times of tribulation and the appearance of evils. God Almighty said: “We relate to you their story in truth. They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. And We bound up their hearts when they stood up and said: ‘Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We will never call upon any god besides Him; for then we would have uttered an enormity. These, our people, have taken gods besides Him. Why do they not bring a clear authority for them?’” That is, a clear proof for what they have adopted and come to believe. “And who is more unjust than one who fabricates a lie against God? And when you have withdrawn from them and what they worship except God…” That is, when you have parted from them in their religion and disavowed what they worship besides God, because they used to associate partners with God, as Abraham said: “Indeed, I am quit of what you worship, except Him who created me; indeed, He will guide me” [al-Zukhruf: 26–27]. Likewise these young men said to one another: Since you have parted from your people in their religion, withdraw from them with your bodies so that you may be safe from their reaching you with harm. “So take refuge in the cave; your Lord will spread for you of His mercy and prepare for you from your affair a comfort.” That is, He will extend His covering over you, and you will be under His protection and care, and He will make the outcome of your affair good, as it came in the hadith: “O God, make good the outcome of our affairs in all matters, and protect us from the disgrace of this world and from the punishment of the hereafter.” When God Almighty mentioned what is most beneficial of their story and most important of their affair, He described their condition, until it was as if the listener were a beholder and the one told were a witness, with the description of their cave and their state in that cave, and their turning from side to side, and that their dog was stretching its forelegs at the entrance. He said: “Had you looked upon them, you would have turned away from them in flight and been filled with terror of them.” That is, because of the awe and majesty in their affair to which they had come. Perhaps the address here is to humankind in general, not specifically to the Messenger ﷺ, as in His saying: “So what yet causes you to deny the reckoning?” [al-Tīn: 7]. That is, O human being. That is because human nature generally flees from seeing awe-inspiring things. For this reason He said: “Had you looked upon them, you would have turned away from them in flight and been filled with terror of them.” This indicates that hearing a report is not like seeing directly, as it came in the hadith, because the report had reached them but neither flight nor terror occurred. Then God Almighty mentioned that He raised them from their sleep after their slumber of three hundred and nine years. When they woke up, some of them said to others: “How long have you remained?” They said: “We have remained a day or part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord knows best how long you have remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city.” That is, with these dirhams of yours, meaning the ones they had with them, to the city. It is said its name was Ephesus (Dafsūs). “Let him look to which is the purest food.” That is, the best in wealth. “And let him bring you provision from it.” That is, food for you to eat. This shows their asceticism and scrupulousness. “And let him be courteous.” That is, in entering it. “And let no one become aware of you. Indeed, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or return you to their religion, and then you will never succeed.” That is, if you return to their religion after God has saved you from it. All this was because they thought they had slept a day or part of a day or a little more than that, and they did not imagine that they had slept more than three hundred years. The states had changed many times, the lands and their inhabitants had been transformed, those generations in which they had lived had passed away, and others had come and gone, and still others had come. For this reason, when one of them—he was Tīdhūsīs, as it is said—went out and came to the city in disguise, so that no one of his people would recognize him, as he supposed, the city seemed strange to him, and those of its inhabitants who saw him found him strange. They were astonished at his appearance, his description, and his dirhams. It is also said that they said to Tamlīkhā, the keeper of their expenses: “Go and listen to what they mention, and buy us food.” So he laid down his clothes, took the clothes in which he disguised himself, and went out. He passed along hiding himself, fearful that someone would see him. When he saw the gate of the city, he saw upon it a sign that was for the people of faith, and he was amazed. It seemed to him that this was not the city he knew, and he saw people he did not recognize, so he was astonished and began to say: “Perhaps I am asleep.” When he entered it, he saw people swearing by the name of Jesus. He stood leaning his back against a wall and said to himself: “By God, I do not know whether this is not a fainting spell. Yesterday there was no one on the face of the earth who mentioned Jesus but he was killed, and today I hear them mentioning him. Perhaps this is not the city I know. By God, I do not know any city near our city at all.” He rose like an animal, took out some silver coins, gave them to a man, and said: “Sell me food.” The man looked at their inscription and was astonished, then passed them to another. They began tossing them among themselves, marveling and examining them, and said: “This man has found a treasure.” He became afraid of them and thought they had recognized him, so he said: “Keep your food; I have no need of it.” They said to him: “Who are you, young man? By God, you have found a treasure and want to hide it. Share it with us, or we will take you to the ruler and he will kill you.” He did not know what to say. They threw his cloak around his neck while he wept and said: “I have been separated from my brothers. Would that they knew what I have encountered.” They brought him to two men who managed the affairs of the city, and they said: “Where is the treasure you found?” He said: “I found no treasure; these are the coins of my fathers and the inscription and minting of this city, but by God, I do not know what my situation is nor what to say to you.” Mujāhid said: “The coins of the Companions of the Cave were like the hoofs of camels.” They said: “Who are you, and what is your father’s name?” He told them, but they found no one who knew him. One of the two said to him: “Do you think you can mock us when the treasuries of this city are in our hands and we have not a single dirham or dinar of this minting? I shall order you to be tortured severely, then I shall bind you until you reveal this treasure.” Tamlīkhā said: “Inform me about something I shall ask you. If you do, you will be telling the truth.” They said: “Ask.” He said: “What happened to King Decius (Diqyānūs)?” They said: “Today we know no king on the face of the earth named Decius. That was a king long ago, and many generations have perished after him.” He said: “By God, no one believes me in what I say. We were young men, and the king forced us to worship idols and to sacrifice to false gods. We fled from him yesterday evening, and we slept. When we woke up, I went out to buy food for my companions, and here I am as you see. Come with me to the cave, and I will show you my companions.” They went with him, and the people of the city marched along. His companions had thought, because of his delay, that he had been seized. While they were fearing that, they heard voices and the clamor of horses. They thought they were the messengers of Decius, so they stood up to pray and greeted one another. Tamlīkhā reached them first, weeping, and they wept with him and asked him about his situation. He told them and related the whole story to them, and they knew that they had been asleep by the command of God, Mighty and Majestic, and that they had been awakened to be a sign for people and a confirmation of the resurrection. The people looked at the inscription in which their names and story were written, and they sent for their king. He came, embraced the group, and wept. They said to him: “We entrust you to God and bid you peace. May God preserve you and preserve your kingdom.” While the king was standing, they returned to their resting places, and God, glorified be He, took their souls. It is also said that the people of the town could not find their place in the cave, and God made their affair obscure to them. It is said they could not enter it physically, and it is said it was out of awe for them. The reason for the faith of the Companions of the Cave: In another narration mentioned by Ibn al-Athīr in his book al-Kāmil, the reason for their faith was that a disciple of the companions of Jesus came to their city. He wanted to enter it, but it was said to him: “At its gate there is an idol, and no one enters it until he prostrates to it.” So he did not enter it, but went to a bath near the city and worked there. The owner of the bath saw the blessing, and the young men became attached to him. He began telling them about the heavens and the earth and the news of the hereafter until they believed in him and trusted him. This continued until the king’s son came with a woman and entered the bath with her. The disciple rebuked him, and he felt ashamed. Then he returned another time, and the disciple rebuked him again, but he insulted him and scolded him and entered the bath with the woman, and both of them died in the bath. It was said to the king: “The one at the bath killed them.” He was sought but not found. It was asked: “Who used to keep company with him?” The young men were mentioned, so they were sought, and they fled. They passed by a friend of theirs who was in the same condition, working in his field, and they told him their affair. He went with them, and his dog followed them until night brought them to the cave. They said: “We will spend the night here until morning and then decide what to do.” They entered it and found a spring of water and fruits. They ate of the fruits and drank of the water. When night covered them, God struck upon their ears and appointed angels over them to turn them to the right and to the left so that the earth would not consume their bodies. The sun used to rise upon them. King Decius heard news of them and went out with his companions following their tracks until he found that they had entered the cave. He ordered his companions to enter upon them and bring them out, but whenever a man wanted to enter, he was terrified and turned back. Some of them said: “If you had caught them, would you not have killed them?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “Then build over them the door of the cave and leave them to die of hunger and thirst.” He did so, and they remained for a long time. Then a shepherd was caught by rain and said: “If I open the door of this cave, I can bring my sheep into it.” He opened it, and God returned their spirits to them the next day when morning came. They sent one of them with silver coins to buy food for them, and his name was Tamlīkhā. When he came to the gate of the city, he saw what he did not recognize, until he came to a man and said: “Sell me food for these dirhams.” The man said: “Where did you get these dirhams?” He said: “I and some companions of mine went out yesterday, and they woke up and sent me.” He said: “These dirhams were from the time of such-and-such a king.” He took him to the king, who was a righteous king, and asked him about them. He repeated their story to him. The king said: “Where are your companions?” He said: “Come with me.” They went with him until they reached the door of the cave. He said: “Let me enter to my companions before you, lest they hear your voices and become afraid, thinking that Decius has learned of them.” He entered upon them and told them the news, and they prostrated in gratitude to God and asked Him to take their souls. He answered them. He struck upon his ear and their ears. The king wanted to enter upon them, but whenever a man entered upon them, he was terrified, and they could not enter upon them. So he turned away from them, and they built a church over them in which they prayed. ʿIkrimah said: When God raised them, the king at that time was a believer, and the people of his kingdom had differed about the spirit and the body and their resurrection. One said: “God will resurrect the spirit without the body.” Another said: “Both will be resurrected together.” This distressed the king, so he put on sackcloth and asked God to make the truth clear to him. God raised the Companions of the Cave early in the morning. When the sun rose, some of them said to others: “We have been heedless of worship this night.” They went to the water—there was a spring and a tree near the cave—and behold, the spring had sunk away and the trees had withered. Some of them said to others: “Our affair is indeed strange! This spring has sunk away and these trees have withered in a single night!” God cast hunger upon them, and they said: “Which of you will go to the city and see which is the purest food, and bring you provision from it, and let him be courteous and let no one become aware of you?” One of them went in to buy food. When he saw the market, he recognized its streets but found the faces unfamiliar, and he saw that faith was openly practiced there. He came to a man to buy from him, but the man did not recognize the dirhams, so he took him up to the king. The young man said, "Is not your king so-and-so?" The man replied, "No, rather so-and-so." He was astonished at that. When he was brought before the king, he told him the story of his companions. The king gathered the people and said to them, "You have differed concerning the spirit and the body, and God has sent you a sign: this man from the people of so-and-so," meaning the king who had passed away. The young man said, "Take me to my companions." So the king and the people with him rode out. When he reached the cave, the young man said to the king, "Let me go ahead of you to my companions to inform them of your news, so that they will not be afraid when they hear the sound of your animals' hooves and your voices and think you are Decius." He said, "Do so." He went ahead of them to his companions, entered upon them, and told them the news. Only then did they realize how long they had stayed in the cave. They wept for joy and prayed to God to cause them to die and not to be seen by any of those who had come to them. They died on the spot, and God sealed his hearing and their hearing along with him. When they thought he was slow in returning, they entered upon the youths and found their bodies with nothing changed except that they had no souls in them. The king said, "This is a sign for you." The king saw a chest of brass sealed with a seal. He opened it and found in it a tablet of lead on which were written the names of the youths, and that they had fled from King Decius out of fear for their lives and their religion and had entered this cave. When Decius learned of their place in the cave, he blocked it over them. Let anyone who reads this book of ours know their affair. When they read it, they marveled and praised God Almighty who had shown them this sign of the resurrection, and they raised their voices in praise and glorification. It is also said that the king and those with him entered upon the youths and saw them alive, their faces and complexions radiant, their clothes not worn out. The youths told them what they had suffered from their king Decius. The king embraced them, and they sat with him glorifying God and remembering Him. Then they said to him, "We entrust you to God." And they returned to their resting places as they had been. The king made for each of them a chest of gold, but when he slept he saw them in his dream, and they said, "We were not created from gold; we were created from dust, and to it we shall return." So then he made for them chests of wood, and God veiled them with fear. The king built a mosque at the entrance of the cave and made for them a great festival.
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