Transliteration:( Wa kazaalika ba'asnaahum liyatasaaa'aloo bainahum; qaala qaaa'ilum minhum kam labistum qaaloo labisnaa yawman aw ba'da yawm; qaaloo Rabbukum a'lamu bimaa labistum fab'asooo ahadakum biwariqikum haazihee ilal madeenati falyanzur ayyuhaaa azkaa ta'aaman falyaatikum birizqim minhu walyatalattaf wa laa yush'iranna bikum ahadaa )
"And likewise We did rouse them that they might question [36] one another. A spokesman among them said [37], 'How long have you stayed here?' They replied, 'We have stayed a day or part of a day [38].' They said, 'Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed [39]. Now send one of you with this silver coin to the city [40] and let him find out which food is purer [41], and let him bring you provision from it and let him be cautious [42], and not let anyone know about you [43]."
The Companions of the Cave were awakened by Allah after three hundred years so that:
They themselves could witness Allah’s miracle, and
Others who saw them would have their faith strengthened.
The one who spoke first was Maximillan, the eldest and the leader among them.
(Khazainul Irfaan)
They thought they had only slept for a day or part of a day.
This was because:
Allah had diverted their consciousness from worldly affairs, similar to how Hazrat Uzair (عليه السلام) was made unaware of his surroundings during his miraculous sleep.
In reality, true servants of Allah remain spiritually aware, even in sleep or after physical death.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “My eyes sleep, but my heart does not.”
His Wudhu was not nullified during sleep, as he never lost awareness.
When they noticed signs such as their long hair and nails, they understood that much more time had passed.
So they said: "Allah knows best how long we have stayed."
This shows:
Ijtihad (interpretation) is permissible based on signs and reasoning.
But one must ultimately submit to divine knowledge when uncertainty remains.
They still had a coin from the time of Daqyanus, which shows:
It is not against tawakkul (trust in Allah) to carry money and supplies during travel.
From this request for "the purer food", several rulings can be derived:
Business with non-Muslims is permissible.
Eating food cooked by non-Muslims is not inherently prohibited, as the city's population was entirely non-Muslim.
Hazrat Musa (عليه السلام) ate in Pharaoh’s home.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ ate in Abu Talib’s house before prophethood.
However, he never consumed food offered to idols, even before receiving revelation.
Enjoying pure and tasty food is not against piety.
Allah made them feel hunger intentionally, so that:
They would need food and thus go into the city, leading to the unveiling of their miracle.
Otherwise, the One who sustained them for centuries without food could have kept them from feeling hunger now as well.
This also proves the possibility of Hazrat Isa (عليه السلام) remaining in the heavens without food, as the same miracle applies.
They were advised not to let anyone know about their presence, out of fear of danger or harm.
A linguistic gem is also noted here:
The word "وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ" (let him be cautious) is unique in the Qur’an:
Its second Laam falls in the first half of the Qur'an, and the Tā in the second half — a point of beautiful symmetry.
19. Likewise, We woke them that they might question one another. A speaker among them said: “How long have you stayed (here)” They said: “We have stayed a day or part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed (here). So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town, and let him find out which is the Azka food, and bring some of that to you. And let him be careful and let no man know of you.” 20. “For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or turn you back to their religion; and in that case you will never be successful.”
(How long have you stayed (here)) meaning, `how long have you slept’
(They said: “We have stayed a day or part of a day.”) because they entered the cave at the beginning of the day, and they woke up at the end of the day, which is why they then said,
(“…or a part of a day.” They said: “Your Lord knows best how long you have stayed…”) meaning, `Allah knows best about your situation.’ It seems that they were not sure about how long they had slept, and Allah knows best. Then they turned their attention to more pressing matters, like their need for food and drink, so they said:
(So send one of you with this silver coin of yours) They had brought with them some Dirhams (silver coins) from their homes, to buy whatever they might need, and they had given some in charity and kept some, so they said:
(So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town,) meaning to their city, which they had left. The definite article indicates that they were referring to a known city.
(and let him find out which is the Azka food.) Azka means “purest”, as Allah says elsewhere,
(And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure ﴿Zaka﴾ from sins) ﴿24:21﴾ and
(Indeed whosoever purifies himself ﴿Tazakka﴾ shall achieve success.) ﴿87:14﴾ From the same root also comes the word Zakah, which makes one’s wealth good and purifies it.
(And let him be careful) meaning when he goes out buying food and coming back. They were telling him to conceal himself as much as he could,
(and let no man know of you. For, if they come to know of you, they will stone you) means, `if they find out where you are,’
(they will stone you or turn you back to their religion;) They were referring to the followers of Decianus, who they were afraid might find out where they were, and punish them with all kinds of torture until they made them go back to their former religion, or until they died, for if they agreed to go back to their (old) religion, they would never attain success in this world or the Hereafter. So they said:
(and in that case you will never be successful.)
(18:19) Likewise, We roused them[16] in a miraculous way that they might question one another. One of them asked: “How long did you remain (in this state)?” The others said: “We remained so for a day or part of a day.” Then they said: “Your Lord knows better how long we remained in this state. Now send one of you to the city with this coin of yours and let him see who has the best food, and let him buy some provisions from there. Let him be cautious and not inform anyone of our whereabouts.
16. They were awakened from their sleep in the same miraculous way that was employed in sending them to sleep and keeping them hidden from the outer world.
[782]- By the will of Allāh.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics