I suppose you must have heard about the story of the people of Cave before? If yes, did it not amaze you?
أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا
Have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? [18:9]
The story is about the youth who left their people for the sake of the religion of Allah. The ruler of this place was a tyrant who forced his people to worship deities other than Allah. So, these young men decided to leave their town.
"...Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance." And We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and declared...[18:13-14]
~Surah Kahf : Verses 14-16
We see the concern of these youth when they questioned the authenticity of what was being practiced in town. And they helped one another by reconfirming, accepting and consoling within themselves. Their attempt to reconfirm as when they asked each other about the proof less acts of polytheists, only to affirm that the people have indeed uttered a lie against Allah. Which lead them to the decision of leaving the town. They accepted and confided in one another and retreated to a cave. Lastly, they consoled each other with the belief that Allah will send down His mercy and help them with your affair(decision).
Moreover, how these young men questioned each other and supported one another through words and accompanied each other shows the role played by peers in decision-making. Also, one finds it easy to follow what his/her friends follow. Thus, we need to re-evaluate our circles and the kind of people we spend the most time with often. Because in the end, our actions are lead to be influenced by them.
This group of young men set out on their journey to migrate to a place where they can and avoid oppression and worship Allah s.w.t. They could also have fought back as they were a sturdy group. But they did not because doing such would have brought anything but not the good at the end.
Similarly, if we look into the life of Prophet s.a.w, the victory over Makkah did not come by staying over there! The Prophet s.a.w and his companions left Makkah when they were a small group and came back with an entire force eight years later.
Even in our real-life situations, when choosing religion over something can cause conflict, we must try to avoid dispute as much as possible and simultaneously, also find a way to continue with the right decision.
إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
[Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." [18:10]
They are called Fityah or young men in the Quran. What is so special about young men? Because they are most enthusiastic and physically strong with the determination to cross any obstacles that come their way. With all that, they sought help from Allah and invoked the supplication from the mentioned verse,
They asked Allah to guide them to Rashada (right conduct) and mercy from Him. They retreated to the cave as planned.
وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا
"They had remained in their cave for three hundred years, adding nine"18:25
So, Allah caused those young men to sleep for three hundred years, SubhanAllah! Adding nine; because three hundred years of Gregorian calendar equals three hundred and nine years of Lunar Calendar!
Sleep is rather a mercy from Allah and relief from distress. While they were asleep, Allah protected them from the sun. They had a dog with its stretched-out legs at the entrance keeping strangers away from entering the cave. They were caused to move on their sides which helped their body from turning stiff.
And when they woke up, they asked one another about how long they had been sleeping and made assumption as it was a day or a part of the day! SubhanAllah! But little did they knew that they were asleep for three hundred years! They sent one of the companion with silver coins to buy the best of food and warned him to stay cautious lest someone recognizes him.
إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا
"Indeed, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or return you to their religion. And never would you succeed, then - ever." [18:20]
However, Allah caused them to be known and monotheism was prevalent during the age they woke up! So that they would know that the promise of Allah is truth and that there is no doubt about the Hour.
It is mentioned in the verses that they dispute about the number of people who slept in the cave. However, their exact number is not mentioned in the Quran.
One of the biggest lessons learned from this story is that when we rely upon Allah with a righteous action we are never left alone. They relied upon Allah for guidance and mercy after they left the town and Allah caused them to escape in the form of sleep for three hundred years! SubhanAllah!
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