Companions of the cave

Society Religion & Philosophy
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http://www.perishednations.com/cave.html
if possible can anyone plz post more on this topic
or refer a book which relates this incident I read one as a child called “Qisas ul Quran” but I dont have that book anymore

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Re: Companions of the cave

here is one and they have more on

**
Title:**
Al-Kahaf 18: 9 - 26 - Who Were the As’hab-e-Kahaf (People of the Cave)

Question:
Who were the As’hab-e-Kahaf? Some sources (missionary sources) on the WWW said that it is a Christian tale transformed and used by the Qur’an without serious validation?
Is that true?

Answer:
Out of the three incidents related in Surah Kahaf, the story of As’hab-e-Kahaf (people of the cave) is the first one. Apparently Quraish asked the question but Qur’an used it for its own purpose of admonition. Why did the Quraish ask this question? What was the importance of As’hab-e-Kahaf for Quraish or for either of the other two groups – Jews and Christians – who were the direct and the first addressees of the Qur’an? In case the incident relates to the history of any one of these groups, we would be safe in assuming that they would have actually instigated the question.
Although there are many incidents of people who slept for hundreds of years in a cave or some place like that, in history, the one that comes really close to the narrative of the Qur’an is that which is mentioned in the Christian religious history as ‘The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus’. In this case, it was actually Christians who instigated the question as hypothesized above. In fact it is this Christian background of the incident which makes it more likely that the Qur’an has referred to the same incident. So in our opinion these Sleepers of Ephesus are the ones mentioned by the Qur’an as As’hab-e-Kahaf. However, it should always be kept in mind that the Qur’an has not specifically mentioned that the As’hab-e-Kahaf were actually the Sleepers of Ephesus, so we should also avoid saying that our opinion is final and the incident we found out to be as that of the As’hab-e-Kahaf is exactly the one which the Qur’an has mentioned. We should always talk about it in terms of our own understanding and knowledge, as the door for further research is always open. Now I shall briefly relate the incident according to the Christian tradition.
Ephesus, a very famous city and port on the western shores of Asia Minor, was founded in the eleventh century BC (Its remains, a big tourist attraction, are in Turkey). Afterwards it became very famous for the temple of moon goddess Diana, which was one of the old wonders of the world. This goddess was widely worshipped and the Roman Empire also accepted it as one of its goddesses. This particular incident took place in the reign of Caesar Decius (249-251 A.D), who was famous for his cruelty on Christian converts, because till that time Christianity had spread throughout the Roman Empire and Christians were being persecuted by the Romans. These were seven young men who had converted to Christianity. Decius called them and warned them against this act, when they admitted to have belief in one God, giving them three days to convert back to their old religion. Taking advantage of this period they fled from the city and went to the nearby hills. On the way to the hills a dog started following them. Reaching there they found a cave and hid themselves there, while the dog remained at the opening of the cave. Tired, they fell into sleep. When they woke up, almost one hundred and ninety six years had passed and it was the reign of Caesar Theodosius II (408-450 A.D). Christianity had become the state religion. At this time there was a heated debate going on among the people about life after death and resurrection. Caesar was worried about this trend. When these seven sleepers woke up at this time they started asking themselves about the duration of their sleep. They thought they had slept only for a few hours. Feeling hungry they sent one of their companion to the market with a few coins to buy some food, warning him to be cautious and not to reveal his identity. When that companion reached the market he was surprised to see every thing changed, and when he gave the shop keeper the coins he had, the shop keeper was amazed to see a two hundred year old coin. He inquired about it. The companion whose name was Jean told him that it was his own money. The dispute reached the high official of the city. He told Jean that the coin was two hundred years old. Jean was dumbfounded. Then he revealed that it was a matter of only yesterday that he and his six companions fled the city due to fear of Decius’ persecution. Hearing this the people gathered around him were amazed and went towards the hills where the rest of the men were hiding. Finally it became clear that they were people belonging to the reign of Decius. Caesar Theodosius II also came to visit them. After this these seven men went back to their cave and died. Viewing this, the people accepted the fact that indeed there is life after death. Afterwards, a shrine was built on the cave by Caesar in their memory.
This is the incident as explained in the Christian tradition. However, one thing should be kept in mind that the Qur’an has neither mentioned their number nor the time period during which they slept. The Qur’an has only stated the versions of different people. The reason is that the Qur’an is neither interested in their number nor in the time period during which they slept. The Qur’an has stated this incident not in response to the question asked, but for its own purpose of admonition. Admonition to Quraish, Jews and Christians. So all the criticism in regard of their number or time period is uncalled for.
Now, if anyone is of the opinion that the incident never took place or that the Qur’anic narrative of the incident is unfounded, the burden of proof lies on him. I would like to stress once again that the Qur’an has not mentioned who these people were. The point that the Qur’an wants to make through this narrative is to encourage the Muslims - who, at that time were being severely oppressed by the leaders of Quraish - by telling them that when God decides to save a people from the persecution of another, then no one can harm them, irrespective of the odds against them.
*Note: This Response is written by [EMAIL=“[email protected]”]Mr. *[EMAIL=“[email protected]”]Amar Ellahi Lone
(Primary source of information for this piece of writing is Moudoodi’s Tafheem-ul-Quran, vol. III)

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Re: Companions of the cave

As a side note, Surah Kahaf is an amazin surah..don’t you agree,
The best resource when someone feels uncertain about something or sad about an outcome of an event in life…
it tells you that Allah SWT is alone in His decision making and specially the story of Mus and Khidr and how Musa (AS) a prophet could not understand the wisdom behind what Khidr did under Allahs orders untill they were explained to him, Subhan Allah…it always strenghtens my eeman on Allah and gives me hope when I am down..

Top Thread :k:

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Re: Companions of the cave

People of the cave are wrapped in myths just as fallen angels of babylon, or solomon's jinns. Surah Al-Kahaf has given the whole history of early christianity by mentioning the people of the cave. There was nothing supernatural about them. The surah mentions the people of the cave as the generations of early persecuted christians who fled to catacombs (Caves) to avoid Roman army. They re-appeared three hundred years later (their generations) when Roman Emperor converted to Christianity.

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Re: Companions of the cave

I think there is already a topic regarding this Surah, in the archives, which was discussed briefly.

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Re: Companions of the cave

Maybe not.

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/showthread.php?t=227902&highlight=Companions+Cave
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/showthread.php?t=138035&highlight=Companions+Cave
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/showthread.php?t=43014&highlight=Companions+Cave

I will contribute some important info regarding this Surah, soon.

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Re: Companions of the cave

scholars now believe that the "peopple of cave" mentioned in the Quran had lived in jordan, and recently a cave too has been found which bears full resemblance with the description of the cave mentioned in the Quran, hence many scholars today agree that the cave in jordan is the best guess....

destino, we muslims believe in Quran and stories like people of the cave, and solomon's jinns r mentioned in Quran, hence do not try to hurt the feelings of the muslims in this holy month by calling the words of Quran as "myths"....

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Re: Companions of the cave

The as-habe kaahf cave is known to be on a mountain in syria. Many folks have been there and back. We were supposed to go too, but it was closed due to wor being done during off peak period.

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Re: Companions of the cave

^^ yeah that is what I heard too,

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Re: Companions of the cave

CALCULATING THE LUNAR YEAR

It is He Who appointed the sun to give radiance, and the moon to give light, assigning it phases so you would know the number of years and the reckoning of time. Allah did not create these things except with truth. We make the Signs clear for people who know. (Qur’an, 10:5)

And We have decreed set phases for the moon, until it ends up looking like an old date branch. (Qur’an, 36:39)

[MEDIA]](http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/images_miracles_of_the_quran/ay.jpg)http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/images_miracles_of_the_quran/ay.jpg[/MEDIA]](http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/images_miracles_of_the_quran/ay.jpg)

In the first of the above verses, Allah has clearly revealed that the Moon will be a means of measurement for people to calculate the year. Furthermore, our attention is also drawn to the fact that these calculations will be performed according to the positions of the Moon as it revolves in its orbit. Since the angles between the Earth and Moon and the Moon and Sun constantly change, we see the Moon in different forms at different times. Furthermore, our ability to see the Moon is made possible by the fact that it is illuminated by the Sun. The amount of the lighted half of the Moon we see from Earth changes. Bearing in mind these changes, a number of calculations can be made, making it possible for human beings to measure the year.

In former times a month was calculated as the time between two full moons, or the time it took the Moon to travel around the Earth. According to this, one month was equal to 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes. This is known as the “lunar month.” Twelve lunar months represent one year, according to the Hijri calendar. However, there is a difference of eleven days between the Hijri calendar and the Gregorian calendar, in which a year is the time it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun. Indeed, attention is drawn to this difference in another verse:They stayed in their Cave for three hundred years and added nine. (Qur’an, 18:25)

We can clarify the time referred to in the verse thus: 300 years x 11 days (the difference which forms every year)** = 3,300 days**. Bearing in mind that one solar year lasts 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45.5 seconds, 3,300 days/365.24 days = 9 years. To put it another way, 300 years according to the Gregorian calendar is equal to 300+9 years according to the Hijri calendar. As we can see, the verse refers to this finely calculated difference of 9 years. (Allah knows best.) There is no doubt that the Qur’an, which contains such pieces of information, which transcended the everyday knowledge of the time, is a miraculous revelation.

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Re: Companions of the cave

http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/?page=411&region=T4&CR=E1