Transliteration:( Wa tahsabuhum ayqaazanw wa hum ruqood; wa nuqallibuhum zaatal yameeni wa zaatash shimaali wa kalbuhum baasitun ziraa'ayhi bilwaseed; lawit tala'ta 'alaihim la wallaita minhum firaaranw wa lamuli'ta minhum ru'ba )
31. This tells us that they are asleep even now. They are alive, not dead. Their eyes are open so that the one who may look at them will think that they are awake. If they were dead, they would not be called "awake", because a corpse is not called one who is sleeping.
32. Twice a year, or only once a year, on the day of Ashurah. The first saying is that of Hazrat Abu Huraira, while the second is that of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) (Roohul Mu'ani and Khazainul Irfaan). From this, two issues emerge:
1. The works of some special servants of Allah Almighty are called Allah's works because this changing of sides is the work of the angels, yet, Allah Almighty is saying We are turning them about.
2. The Companions of the Cave are alive, because only the living change their sides, not the dead. Allah Almighty has the power that these persons should not turn sides and yet remain preserved from decay.
33. From this we learn that the companionship of these pious persons had such an effect on the dog, that it became worthy of mention in the Holy QUR'AAN and people began to recite incantations in its name, and it gained eternal life. Sand cannot decompose its body. If the dog can achieve these blessings, then what about those who have gained the companionship of the Prophet? We further learn that to seek the companionship of the pious is greater than every type of worship because the benefit of this is not just limited to human beings only.
34. From this we learn that miracles are shown by saints in their subconscious state as well, because this sleep and position of awe, of the Companions of the Cave, is their miracle.
35. This awe and imposing state of these Companions is a means of their protection. During the Battle of Rome when Hazrat Amir Muawiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reached this cave he tried to enter it, but Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) stopped him by reciting this very verse Then Hazrat Muawiyah sent a group of men in it, but all of them were burnt to ash (Tafseer Khazainul Irfaan). It is quite apparent that this address is made to the believers and صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم not the Holy Prophet because when he saw Allah Almighty he did not become frightened; while the Companions of the Cave are His mere servants. Says Allah Almighty: "The eye deviated not nor crossed the limit" (S53:V17) i.e. My Beloved on seeing Me did not even wink nor did he go astray. Also, it is stated in some traditions that on the night of Me'raaj, the Holy Prophet had seen the Companions of the Cave. Allah Almighty and His Rasool صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم know best:
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18. And you would have thought them awake, whereas 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 Wasid. Had you happened upon them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them.
Some of the scholars mentioned that when Allah caused them to sleep, their eyelids did not close, lest disintegration took hold of them. If their eyes remained open to the air, this would be better for the sake of preservation. Allah says:
(And you would have thought them awake, whereas they were asleep.) It was mentioned that when the wolf sleeps, it closes one eye and keeps one eye open, then it switches eyes while asleep.
(And We turned them on their right and on their left sides,) Ibn `Abbas said: “If they did not turn over, the earth would have consumed them.”
(and their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the Wasid) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah said: “The Wasid means the threshold.” Ibn `Abbas said: “By the door.” It was said: “On the ground.” The correct view is that it means on the threshold, i.e., at the door.
(Verily, it shall be closed upon them) ﴿104:8﴾ Their dog lay down at the door, as is the habit of dogs. Ibn Jurayj said, “He was guarding the door for them.” It was his nature and habit to lie down at their door as if guarding them. He was sitting outside the door, because the angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog, as was reported in As-Sahih, nor do they enter a house in which there is an image, a person in a state of ritual impurity or a disbeliever, as was narrated in the Hasan Hadith. The blessing they enjoyed extended to their dog, so the sleep that overtook them overtook him too. This is the benefit of accompanying good people, and so this dog attained fame and stature. It was said that he was the hunting dog of one of the people which is the more appropriate view, or that he was the dog of the king’s cook, who shared their religious views, and brought his dog with him. And Allah knows best. Allah says:
(Had you happened upon them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them.) meaning that Allah made them appear dreadful, so that no one could look at them without being filled with terror, because of the frightening appearance they had been given. This was so that no one would come near them or touch them until the appointed time when their sleep would come to an end as Allah willed, because of the wisdom, clear proof and great mercy involved in that.
(18:18) On seeing them you would fancy them to be awake though they were asleep; and We caused them to turn their sides to their right and to their left,[14] and their dog sat stretching out its forelegs on the threshold of the Cave. Had you looked upon them you would have certainly fled away from them, their sight filling you with terror.[15]
14. That is, if someone could have looked at the seven persons from outside and seen them turning from one side to the other at intervals, he would have thought that they were not asleep but were relaxing themselves.
15. Allah had so arranged their refuge that none dared go inside the cave and know about them for it was pitch dark in the cave and the dog was keeping watch at the entrance. If someone ever looked into the cave and saw the sleepers, he took them for some robbers and at once turned on his heels. This was the reason why their refuge remained a secret to the outer world for such a long period.
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