201

HAROOT &
MAROOT
ASHAB KAHF
Surah Baqra, Ayat 102 | Surah Kahf
Did Haroot & Maroot Teach Magic? Did angels teach magic?
Who was Ashab Kahf?

Shujaat Hussain Bhatti

 [HAROOT AND MAROOT ASHAB KAHF] November 11, 2010

Table of Contents

Table of Contents....................................................................................................... 2

Chapter 2 Verse #102................................................................................................3

Key Points of Ayat.......................................................................................................4

Ayat Detailed Findings................................................................................................5

Ibn e Kaseer............................................................................................................ 5

Tafseer by Ibn e Kaseer, describes this Verse (Ayat) in detail and describes Hazart
Suleman was not magician as propagate by Jews. Ibn e Kaseer describes in the that
period of time, it become famous and known to everyone that Satan (Jins) have
knowledge of heavens.. Hazart Suleman stores all these books in trunk and buried
them. Then Hazart Suleman give directives that if anyone found saying the same
for Hazrat Suleman, he will be punished to death. In some references it is also said,
after the death of Hazart Suleman, Satan (Jins) buried these books under Hazart
Suleman’s chair and added on front page that these knowledgeable books is
collected by by Asif bin Barkhia who is minister to him as well as close friend..........5

Jews are known that Hazart Suleman was not prophet but the magician, and this
Ayat neglect this concept. Jews become panic to hear about Hazart Suleman in the
list of prophets that is why this story was taught in detail.........................................5

Hazart Suleman also take oath from animals to not harm people, any animals do
not harm when remembered this oath, but Jews again create dummy magic words
and linked it with Hazart Suleman..............................................................................5

Did Angles teach the Magic to people?.......................................................................6

Did Haroot and Maroot were sent for assessment or punished?.................................7

Haroot and Maroot was allowed by Allah to teach people the knowledge they had
and purpose is to assess the Iman of people by giving them knowledge, in which
they failed and commit sins........................................................................................7

Ishab-e- Kahf.............................................................................................................. 8

Understanding - Ashaabul Kahf...............................................................................9

The lesson.............................................................................................................12

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 ‫‪[HAROOT AND MAROOT‬‬ ‫‪ASHAB KAHF] November 11, 2010‬‬

‫س ۡوَرُة الَبَقَرة‬
‫ُ‬
‫ن َكَفُرواْ‬ ‫طي َ‬‫شَي ٰـ ِ‬
‫ن ٱل ّ‬ ‫ن َوَل ٰـِك ّ‬ ‫سَل ۡيَم ٰـ ُ‬
‫َۖوَما َڪَفَر ُ‬ ‫سَل ۡيَم ٰـ ‌َۖن‬
‫ك ُ‬ ‫عَل ٰى ُم ۡل ِ‬ ‫ن َ‬ ‫شَي ٰـ ِ‬
‫طي ُ‬ ‫َوٱّتَبُعوْا َما َت ۡتُلواْ ٱل ّ‬
‫ن ِم ۡن َأ َ‬
‫حٍد‬ ‫ۖ َوَما ُيَعّلَما ِ‬ ‫ت َوَم ٰـُرو ‌َۚت‬ ‫ل َه ٰـُرو َ‬ ‫عَلى ٱ ۡلَمَل َڪ ۡي ِ‬
‫ن ِبَباِب َ‬ ‫ل َ‬ ‫س ۡحَر َوَم ٓا ُأنِز َ‬ ‫س ٱل ّ‬ ‫ن ٱلّنا َ‬ ‫ُيَعّلُمو َ‬
‫ج ۦ‌ِۚه َو َ‬
‫ۖما ُهم‬ ‫ن ٱ ۡلَم ۡرِء َوَز ۡو ِ‬ ‫ن ِب ۦِه َب ۡي َ‬ ‫ن ِم ۡنُهَما َما ُيَفّرُقو َ‬ ‫ل َت ۡكُف ۡ‌ۖر َفَيَتَعّلُمو َ‬ ‫ن ِف ۡتَن ٌ۬ة َف َ‬
‫ل ِإّنَما َن ۡح ُ‬ ‫ٰى َيُقو ٓ َ‬
‫ن ٱ ۡشَتَرٰٮُه َما‬ ‫ل َينَفُعُه ۡ‌ۚم َوَلَق ۡد َ‬
‫عِلُموْا َلَم ِ‬ ‫ضّرُه ۡم َو َ‬ ‫ن َما َي ُ‬ ‫ۖ َوَيَتَعّلُمو َ‬‫ن ٱ ّ‌ِۚل‬ ‫ل ِبِإ ۡذ ِ‬ ‫حٍد ِإ ّ‬‫ن ِب ۦِه ِم ۡن َأ َ‬ ‫ض ٓاّري َ‬
‫ِب َ‬
‫ن )‪(١٠٢‬‬ ‫سُه ۡ‌ۚم َل ۡو َڪاُنوْا َي ۡعَلُمو َ‬ ‫َۖ‬ ‫شَر ۡوْا ِب ۦِۤه َأنُف‬‫س َما َ‬ ‫َۖلِب ۡئ َ‬
‫خَل ٰـ ۬‌ٍۚق َو‬
‫خ َلَرُهِة ِم ۡن َ‬
‫ۥ ِفى ٱ ۡلَأ ِ‬

‫اور انہوں نے ايسی چيز کا )يعنی سحر کا( اتباع کيا جس کا چرچا کيا کرتے تھے شياطين‬
‫)يعنی خبيث جن( حضرت سليمان)ؑ( کے عہد سلطنت ميں اور حضرت سليمان )ؑ نے(کفر‬
‫نہيں کيا مگر )ہاں( شياطين کفر کيا کرتے تھے اور حالت يہ تھی کہ آدميوں کو بھی )اس(‬
‫سحر کی تعليم کيا کرتے تھے․ اور اس )سحر( کا بھی جو کہ ان دونوں فرشتوں پر نازل‬
‫کياگيا تھا شہربابل ميں جن کا نام ہاروت و ماروت تھا اور وہ دونوں کسی کونہ بتلتے جب‬
‫تک يہ )نہ( کہديتے کہ ہمارا وجود بھی ايک امتحان ہے سو تو کہيں کا فر مت بن جائيو )کہ‬
‫اس ميں پھنس جاوے( سو )بعضے( لوگ ان دونوں سے اس قسم کا سحر سيکھ ليتے تھے‬
‫جس کے ذريعہ سے )عمل کر کے( کسی مرد اوراس کی بيوی ميں تفريق پيدا کرديتے تھے‬
‫اوريہ )ساحر( لوگ اس کے ذريعہ سے کسی کو بھی ضررنہيں پہنچا سکتے مگر خدا ہی‬
‫کے )تقديری( حکم سے اور ايسی چيزيں سيکھ ليتے ہيں جو )خود( ان کو ضرر رساں ہيں‬
‫اور ضرور يہ )يہودی( بھی اتناجانتے ہيں کہ جو شخص اس کو اختيار کرے ايسے شخص‬
‫کا آخرت ميں کوئی حصہ )باقی( نہيں اور بے شک بُری ہے وہ چيز )يعنی سحرو کفر(‬
‫جس ميں وہ لوگ اپنی جان دے رہےہيں کاش ان کو )اتنی( عقل ہوتی۔ )‪(١٠٢‬‬

‫‪Chapter 2 Verse #102‬‬

‫‪Quran Surah # 2, Surah Baqara and Ayat # 102, explicitly defines the‬‬
‫‪people who learn the magic to produce disadvantages for the other people,‬‬
‫‪which will be surely punished on the Day of Judgment. Although, people‬‬

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 [HAROOT AND MAROOT ASHAB KAHF] November 11, 2010

cannot practice these magic without the will of Allah but for the purpose of
assessment on earth.

Allah subhan-u-watallah, clearly indicate the people who peruse the magic,
teaches by sins (Satans (Jin)), during the kingdom of Hazarat Suleman, face
punishment on the Day of Judgment. But also defines that Hazart Suleman
never commit the sin, but he Satans (Jin)’s used to commit sins even they
teach people for the same sins of magic. Satans (Jin) also teach the
knowledge which was given by Allah to those two angels, names as Haroot
and Maroot.

Key Points of Ayat

1. Haroot and Maroot, the two angels were sent to earth for the people
assessment

2. Haroot and Maroot, the two angels were sent with the extended
knowledge and Magic

3. Haroot and Maroot the two angels, taught Magic to the people, but
with due respect and will of Allah and they make sure people are
known that they are sent for assessment of people.

4. Satan (Jin) teaches magic to the people of Babul.

5. Satan (Jin) knows the knowledge of Haroot and Maroot

6. Haroot and Maroot intimate people about their presence for the
purpose of people assessment

7. People who practice the magic, learnt from Satan’s (Jin), will surely
face punishment on the Day of Judgment.

8. People cannot practice the magic without the will of Allah.

9. Ayat defines the time period of Hazart Suleman Kingdom. And the city
of Babul.

10. Hazart Suleman Never commit any Sin.

11. Satan (Jin) and people who practice magic commit the sin and do
Kufr.

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 [HAROOT AND MAROOT ASHAB KAHF] November 11, 2010

12. People usually use magic to create difference in the relation of

husband and wife.

Ayat Detailed Findings

Ibn e Kaseer

Tafseer by Ibn e Kaseer, describes this Verse (Ayat) in detail and describes
Hazart Suleman was not magician as propagate by Jews. Ibn e Kaseer
describes in the that period of time, it become famous and known to
everyone that Satan (Jins) have knowledge of heavens.. Hazart Suleman
stores all these books in trunk and buried them. Then Hazart Suleman
give directives that if anyone found saying the same for Hazrat Suleman,
he will be punished to death. In some references it is also said, after the
death of Hazart Suleman, Satan (Jins) buried these books under Hazart
Suleman’s chair and added on front page that these knowledgeable
books is collected by by Asif bin Barkhia who is minister to him as well as
close friend.

Jews are known that Hazart Suleman was not prophet but the magician, and
this Ayat neglect this concept. Jews become panic to hear about Hazart
Suleman in the list of prophets that is why this story was taught in detail.

Hazart Suleman also take oath from animals to not harm people, any
animals do not harm when remembered this oath, but Jews again create
dummy magic words and linked it with Hazart Suleman.
Khawja hasan basra said, it is proved from Quran that magician were there in the
era of Hazart Suleman. It is also proved from Quran that Hazrat Suleman era was
after Hazart Musa.

Jews also believe that Haroot and Maroot was Satan’s which is denied by this Ayat.
Ibn e Kaseer describes that Hazart Suleman did not commit sin and Allah did not
taught magic to Angels. But satans(Jins) commit the sin and taught magic to people
of Babul. And the name of their two Sardar’s was Haroot and Maroot.

Ibn e Harir describes the same oppositely and said that Haroot and Maroot was two
angels, sent by Allah to earth for the people of babul assessment and Allah taught
them Magic for the purpose and these angels was following Allah directives.

There is another verdict about them that these were two Qabila’s (groups)

There is another story about Haroot and Maroot that when Allah sent Adam to earth,
Adam sons bring earth in Kiosk and fights with each other, than Angels said to Allah,
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see how human bring kiosk oto earth then Allah asked angels to select 2 off them to
go on earth. Angels claims that if they were sent earth, they will never do such
kiosks. Haroot and Maroot were those two angels who were selected and send to
earth. Allah creates Human nature in them and said, see I have conveyed my
message to humans through Prophets, but I am directly guiding you, that never
standby any one with me, never commit sin of sex and vine. Then Haroot and
Maroot were sent to earth and Star Zahra was sent for their assessment. Firstly Star
Zahra appears as beautiful women, both shows interest in her but Zahra asked
them to commit sin and standby someone with Allah, they refused, then she come
again and said to murder a child, they again refused then Zahra comes to them and
asked them to drink vine, both angels agreed and commit the sin and disobey
Allah’s guidance and instruction. Due this sin both commit other 2 sins to murder
have sex because they were drunk.

When Angels comes to normal, Zahra told them that you commit all the sins which
you initially denied. Both angels were embraced and they were asked to choose the
punishment on earth or in hell. And they selected the punishment on earth.

This story is narrated by others as well but still unverified.

There is another known story that Zahra was a woman who asked these angels
about the magic words which took angels to sky. Haroot and Maroot taught her the
magic words and she went to sky and become static in sky as a star.

The overall understanding behinds these stories is to make angels realize that the Adam who is way
away from Allah and keep Iman without seeing Allah is the key and committing sin in such condition is
somewhat normal.

Did Angles teach the Magic to people?

This clearly explains that’s the Haroot and Maroot, the two Angels, never
teaches the magic to the people but the Satan’s (Jin) who actually commit
the sin to teach the magic and knowledge to people, in the city of Babul,
which was given to Haroot and Maroot by Allah.

Satan’s (Jin) knows the knowledge of Haroot and Maroot, and they teach the
same to people.

Haroot and Maroot, the two Angels never teach the magic but teach the
knowledge they have with clear understanding that this may also lead
people on wrong path or on the oath of death and punishment.

But even after clear intimations of the assessment by Haroot and Maroot, the
two angels, people learn the knowledge and use it for the illegal purposes
and commit sins like, to create differences between husband and wife.

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On the other hand, this Ayat defines, these people cannot even practice
these magic’s without the will of Allah, which evenly produce bad
consequences on them (the people who practice the magic). Also, Quran
indicates in this Ayat, that the jews are well aware of the consequences of
such practices (practicing magic) on the day of Judgment

Quran defines in this Ayat, that these Kufr and Magics are surely bad
practices to be followed and there is no repentant for them on the Day of
Judgment. People must not waste their lives in these practices (magic and
kufr). This Ayat also wish to these people if they able to avoid these
practices.

Did Haroot and Maroot were sent for assessment or punished?

This Ayat also defines that Haroot and Maroot were sent for the assessment
of people. Two angels (Haroot and Maroot) did not share their knowledge of
Magic, with people of babul, until they declare themselves as assessment for
people and mention the use of magic will leads to death with punishment at
the end.

It is also been known from this Ayat, that Angels did not teach the magic to
people, but purely with the will of Allah and for the sake of assessment.
Angels do not misguide the people but ensure people that their presence on
earth is an assessment. Still people did not follow the claim (claim for
assessment) made by Haroot and Maroot (The Angels), and practice the
magic negatively which eventually put them in to disaster of their lives.

Haroot and Maroot were not punished but sent to earth by Allah, for the
assessment of people.

Haroot and Maroot was allowed by Allah to teach people the

knowledge they had and purpose is to assess the Iman of people
by giving them knowledge, in which they failed and commit sins.

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Ishab-e- Kahf

Because, there are so many assumptions made by Islamic scholars as well as

references in others religion regarding Ashab Kahf, I tried my level best to
keep the Quran as focal point of reference and followed the references which
are according to Quran.

Briefly, it is a story about young believers who resisted the pressure from
their people to worship others beside God, and took refuge in a cave, then
fell asleep for a long time. When they woke up they thought that they slept
for a day or so, and they sent one of them with old silver coins to carefully
buy them food. This revealed them to the town, and then they died and the
people of their town built a place of worship at the site of their burial (the
cave).

The Quran does not give (did not disclosed and keep it secret) their exact
number, rather it mentioned that some people would say that they were 3,
others would say 5 and some would say 7, in addition to one dog, and that
they slept for 300 years, plus 9, which could mean 309 solar years or 309
lunar years (300 solar years are equal to 309 lunar years)

The Quran emphasized that their number and the length of their stay is
known only to God and few people, and that these issues are not the
important part of the story, rather the lessons that can be learned from it.

Some Muslim scholars mentioned more details to the story, but the sources
of these details can't be proven as Islamic (likely to be from the writing of
the Christians and Jews)

Muslims firmly believe in the story as it is mentioned in the Quran. However,

there are aspects of the story that is not mentioned in Quran (kept secret by
Allah). These include the site of the Cave.

Site of the Cave

Some allege that it is in Ephesus, Turkey, others cite a place near Amman,
Jordan. The exact dates of their long sleep is also not known, Some allege
that they went to the cave at the time of Decius (250 AD) and they woke up
at the time of Theodosius I (378-395) or Theodosius II (408-450), but neither
of these dates can be reconciled with the Quran’s account of sleeping 300 or
309 years.

People of the Cave and Tablets

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These people are referred to in the Quran which means the people of the
cave and tablets. It is clear why they would be referred to as the people of
the cave, but many Muslim scholars did not understand the other reference.
In some of the Christian account of the story, the soldier who closed the cave
on them was hiding his belief in Christianity. He inscribed tablets (made out
of brass) at the entrance of the cave mentioning their names and their story.
This could be the reason why Allah referred to them as the people of the
tablets.

Arianism and People of Cave

There may be a connection between the story of these people and Arianism
(The version of Christianity followed by Arius and his followers. Some
Christian sources alleged that Arius was the priest who found them. It is
possible that these people were witnesses for the original Christian belief as
to the nature of Jesus. It is clear that they went to the Cave before the
Council of Nicaea (325) and woke up long after that. The Roman Empire
declared a war on Arianism and its followers after The Council of
Constantinople (381).

Time Span

If the date of their disappearance was 250 AD, then they were discovered in
550 in Ephesus, which is not far from Cappadocia, the birth place of
Heraclius, the emperor of the Roman Empire (610-638), who reigned during
the time of Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. The story of the people of the Cave
should have been well known to him. We also know that he was a Christian
scholar himself and he must have been very familiar with Arius and his
teaching. We also need to consider that The Prophet sent Heraclius a letter,
where he stated “If you don't accept the call to Islam, you will be
responsible for the sins of the Arians (followers of Arius)”. Surat Al-
kahf (Surat 18) starts by warning those who claim that God has a son,
without any knowledge, and then relates the story of the people of the Cave.

Understanding - Ashaabul Kahf

The story of Ashaabul Kahf, the companions of cave from surah Kahf (18),
is full of lessons and virtues that we can reflect and act upon.

One such lesson is how Allah ta’ala spreads His Mercy for those who sacrifice
for Him.

In ayah 16, the youth say to one another:

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ْ
‫من‬ ّ ‫كم‬ُ ّ ‫م َرب‬ْ ُ ‫شْر ل َك‬ُ ‫ف َين‬ ِ ْ‫ه فَأُووا إ َِلى ال ْك َه‬َ ّ ‫ن إ ِّل الل‬
َ ‫دو‬
ُ ُ ‫ما ي َعْب‬
َ َ‫م و‬ ُ ُ ‫وَإ ِذِ اع ْت ََزل ْت‬
ْ ُ‫موه‬
ً َ‫مْرف‬
‫قا‬ ُ ِ‫مر‬ َ ُ َ‫ئ ل‬
ّ ‫كم‬ ْ ‫نأ‬ ْ ‫م‬ّ ‫كم‬ ْ ّ ‫ه وَي ُهَي‬
ِ ِ ‫مت‬
َ ‫ح‬
ْ ‫ّر‬
“And when you withdraw from them, and that which they worship, except
Allah, then seek refuge in the Cave, your Lord will open a way for you from
His Mercy and will make easy for you your affair.” (18:16)
َ ‫كم م‬
They end by saying, ‫قا‬ ً َ‫مْرف‬ ُ ِ‫مر‬
ّ ‫كم‬ ْ ‫نأ‬ْ ّ ُ َ‫ئ ل‬
ْ ّ ‫ – وَي ُهَي‬and He will facilitate for you
your affair. Mirfaqa is from ra-fa-qaaf, rifq. Mirfaqa, which literally means a
tool, has several meanings:

1. He will give you ease and convenience through means (ex: food,
security in the cave).
2. He will create facility, ease and convenience for you regarding your
matter.
3. He will create for you means which will be easy. There will be no
hardship, Allah will make everything easy.

In the next two ayaat, we learn how Allah ta’ala spread His mercy for them:

‫م ِفي‬ْ ُ‫ل وَه‬ ِ ‫ما‬َ ‫ش‬ ّ ‫ت ال‬ َ ‫م‬

َ ‫ذا‬ ْ ُ‫ضه‬ُ ِ‫قر‬ ْ ّ ‫ذا غ ََرَبت ت‬ َ ِ ‫ن وَإ‬ ِ ‫مي‬ِ َ ‫ت ال ْي‬ َ ‫ذا‬َ ‫م‬ ِ ْ‫عن ك َه‬
ْ ِ‫فه‬ َ ‫ذا ط َل ََعت ت َّزاوَُر‬ َ ِ‫س إ‬ َ ‫م‬ ْ ‫ش‬ّ ‫وَت ََرى ال‬
‫دا‬
ً ‫ش‬
ِ ‫ر‬ ‫م‬ ‫يا‬ِ ‫ل‬ ‫و‬
ْ ّ ّ َ ُ َ ِ‫ه‬َ ‫ل‬ ‫د‬ ‫ج‬َ ‫ت‬ ‫لن‬َ َ ‫ف‬ ‫ل‬ْ ِ ‫ل‬ ‫ض‬ ‫ي‬
ْ ُ َ َ ‫من‬‫و‬ ۖ ِ ‫د‬َ ‫ت‬ ‫ه‬ ‫م‬ ْ
ْ ُ َ ُ ُ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ ‫و‬ ‫ه‬ َ ‫ف‬ ‫ه‬ ّ ‫ل‬‫ال‬ ِ ‫د‬ ‫ه‬‫ي‬
َْ َ ‫من‬ ۗ‫ه‬
ِ ّ ‫ل‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ت‬
ِ ‫يا‬ ‫آ‬
َ ْ ‫ن‬ ‫م‬
ِ َ
‫ك‬ ِ ‫ل‬ٰٰ‌
‫َذ‬ ۚ ‫ه‬
ُ ّ َ ‫ج‬
ْ ‫ن‬ ‫م‬ ‫ة‬
ٍ ‫و‬ ْ َ‫ف‬

And you would have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from
their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they
lay in the midst of the Cave. That is of the signs of Allah. He whom Allah
guides, is rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find
no guiding friend to lead him. (18: 17)

When Ashaabul Kahf went to sleep, the direct light of the sun, nor its heat
reached them. When the sun rose, it would rise from the front of them, in
such a direction that the sun was rising from their right side. Then when the
sun would set, it was not directly on them when they were sleeping but on
their left side. So the mouth of the cave was located towards the north or the
south, because the sun was on their right side when rising and on their left
side when setting. Another meaning of this is that the sun inclined away from
the right when it rose so no heat or light reached them, but when it set,
some of the light and heat reached them just enough for their sustenance,
just enough for them to live and so they would not wake up from the heat or
light of the sun.

‫ه‬
ُ ْ ‫من‬ ْ َ‫م ِفي ف‬
ّ ٍ‫جوَة‬ ْ ُ‫وَه‬

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They were in an open space therein. Fajwah means a vast and open space, a
gap. They were not in the entrance of the cave, but in the vast openness of
the cave, showing that it was not a small cave but a large one that was not
constricting, but comfortable and spacious enough to lie down. Allah took
care of all of their needs, even their sleeping arrangements.

Allah ta’ala says,

ِ ّ ‫ت الل‬
‫ه‬ ِ ‫ن آَيا‬
ْ ‫م‬ َ ِ ‫‌ٰٰل‬
ِ ‫ك‬ ‫َذ‬- ‘That is from the ayaat of Allah!”

Their leaving of the people and going to the cave, the location of the cave,
the sun inclining away, the sun not reaching them, the heat not burning
them, the open space of the cave, all of this are miraculous signs of Allah’s
Qudrah: His Power and Might. This story was not a mere coincidence, they
did not just fall upon the cave, randomly found it to be an open space, the
sun just happened to not fall upon them when they were sleeping, rather
Allah ta’ala made it all happen for them. This is how Allah helps those
who stand up for His cause. This is the mercy of Allah in action.

ۚ ِ‫صيد‬ِ َ‫ه ِبال ْو‬ِ ْ ‫ط ذ َِراع َي‬ ٌ ‫س‬ ِ ‫لۖ وَك َل ْب ُُهم َبا‬
ِ ‫ما‬ َ ‫ش‬ ّ ‫ت ال‬ َ ‫ذا‬َ َ‫ن و‬
ِ ‫مي‬ ِ َ ‫ت ال ْي‬ َ ‫ذا‬ ْ ُ‫قل ّب ُه‬
َ ‫م‬ َ ُ ‫م ُرُقود ٌ ۚ وَن‬
ْ ُ‫ظا وَه‬ َ ْ ‫م أ َي‬
ً ‫قا‬ ْ ُ‫سب ُه‬
َ ‫ح‬
ْ َ ‫وَت‬
‫م ُرع ًْبا‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ن‬‫م‬ ‫ت‬ ْ ‫ئ‬‫ل‬ ‫م‬َ ‫ل‬ ‫و‬ ‫را‬ ‫را‬ ‫ف‬ ‫م‬ ‫ه‬
ْ ُْ ِ َ ِ ُ َ ً َ ِ ْ ُْ ِ َ ْ َ ْ ِْ َ َ ْ ‫ن‬‫م‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ي‬ّ ‫ل‬ ‫و‬َ ‫ل‬ ‫م‬ ‫ه‬‫ي‬َ ‫ل‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ع‬َ ‫ل‬ّ ‫ط‬ ‫ا‬ ‫و‬
ِ َ ‫ل‬

And you would have thought them awake, while they were asleep. And We
turned them on their right and on their left sides, and their dog stretching
forth his two forelegs at the entrance. Had you looked at them, you would
certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have
been filled with awe of them. (18:18)

ٌ ‫م ُرُقود‬
ْ ُ‫ظا وَه‬ َ ْ ‫م أ َي‬
ً ‫قا‬ ْ ُ‫سب ُه‬
َ ‫ح‬
ْ َ ‫وَت‬

“And you would have thought them awake, while they were asleep. ” If you
were there and you looked at them sleeping in the cave, you would assume
them to be awake but rather they were sleeping. Some scholars say they
were sleeping with their eyes open, and other say they were reclining in a
way that they looked awake.

‫ل‬
ِ ‫ما‬ ّ ‫ت ال‬
َ ‫ش‬ َ َ‫ن و‬
َ ‫ذا‬ ِ َ ‫ت ال ْي‬
ِ ‫مي‬ َ ‫ذا‬ ْ ُ‫قل ّب ُه‬
َ ‫م‬ َ ُ ‫وَن‬

“And We turned them on their right and on their left sides.” They were not
lying on their stomachs or backs, because the correct way to sleep is on the
right, and they were changing sides, over and over. It is a mercy of Allah to
us that we are able to change sides, because if we stay in the same position,
our skin would become hard and deteriorate because of the pressure. Even
nowadays, nurses are taught to constantly move immobile patients because
they can easily develop a bed sore. To add, these youth were sleeping on the
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ground, and the natural property of sand and soil is that it eats skin so if they
were not changing their sides their skins would have deteriorated.

ِ َ‫ط ذ َِراع َي ْهِ ِبال ْو‬

ِ‫صيد‬ ٌ ‫س‬
ِ ‫وَك َل ْب ُُهم َبا‬

“And their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance.” Allah ta’ala
also protected them with a guard dog at the front entrance of the cave.

‫م ُرع ًْبا‬
ْ ُ‫من ْه‬ ُ َ ‫م فَِراًرا وَل‬
َ ْ ‫مل ِئ‬
ِ ‫ت‬ ْ ُ‫من ْه‬ َ ْ ‫م ل َوَل ّي‬
ِ ‫ت‬ ْ ِ‫ت ع َل َي ْه‬
َ ْ‫و اط ّل َع‬
ِ َ‫ل‬

“Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned back from them
َ ْ‫اط ّل َع‬-
in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them.” ‫ت‬
ittala’at, means to look down at something while a person is facing it. This
shows that the cave was at an angle, so that if one wanted to look in the
cave, they would have to ascend. Allah made the cave so that no person
would be able to remain there, such as a passerby, because the atmosphere
was made that the person would feel fright and feel terror so they would not
be able to stay, but rather run in terror.

From these two ayaat, we learn how Allah spread His Mercy for them:

1. He put them to sleep in cave.

2. He gave them the ability to change their sides while sleeping
3. The sun’s direct light and heat did not reach them, or just enough for
their sustenance.
4. The environment was made such that if anyone passed by, they had
fear in their hearts and they were not able to stay there.
5. They had a guard dog at the entrance of the cave

Why did Allah bestow His Mercy upon them? These youth had emaan, they
acted on their emaan and they completely relied upon Allah.

The lesson

If you put your emaan first, act on it and completely rely on Allah, Allah will
make things happen for you.

If you are sincere to Allah, if you sacrifice for Allah, He will facilitate your
way, make arrangements for you, and spread His Mercy for you through
ways you can never imagine.

And Allah knows best.

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