page100
their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou
wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them.
018.019 Such (being their state), we raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of
them, "How long have ye stayed (here)?" They said, "We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day." (At length) they
(all) said, "God (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here.... Now send ye then one of you with this money of
yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may) satisfy your
hunger therewith: And let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform any one about you.
018.020 "For if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case
ye would never attain prosperity."
018.021 Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of God is true, and
that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair.
(Some) said, "Construct a building over them": Their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair
said, "Let us surely build a place of worship over them."
018.022 (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being
the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou:
"My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies
concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.
018.023 Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow"-
018.024 Without adding, "So please God!" and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, "I hope that my Lord
will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road."
018.025 So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more)
018.026 Say: "God knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and
the earth: how clearly He sees, how finely He hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He
share His Command with any person whatsoever.
018.027 And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words,
and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him.
018.028 And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let
not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; no obey any whose heart We have permitted
to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.
018.029 Say, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the
wrong-doers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in:
if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink!
How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!
018.030 As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who
do a (single) righteous deed.
018.031 For them will be Gardens of Eternity; beneath them rivers will flow; they will be adorned therein with
bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade: They will recline therein on raised
thrones. How good the recompense! How beautiful a couch to recline on!
018.032 Set forth to them the parable of two men: for one of them We provided two gardens of grape-vines and
surrounded them with date palms; in between the two We placed corn-fields.
018.033 Each of those gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein: in the midst of them We
caused a river to flow.
018.034 (Abundant) was the produce this man had : he said to his companion, in the course of a mutual argument:
"more wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men."
018.035 He went into his garden in a state (of mind) unjust to his soul: He said, "I deem not that this will ever perish,
018.036 "Nor do I deem that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) come: Even if I am brought back to my Lord, I shall
surely find (there) something better in exchange."
018.037 His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: "Dost thou deny Him Who created thee
out of dust, then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man?