Seven Sleepers of the Cave
The columnist Nazneen Gulamhussein Mukhtar (Arusha, Tanzania) is the headmistress of Yaadgare Murtazawi Madressa, She is a mother to five children and loves writing and reading. She always wanted to inspire children – her favourite audience. Writing has been her passion for as long as she can remember and believes that effective learning takes place through storytelling.
Well children do you remember the story of Nabi Musa (as) and Nabi Khidhr (as) in Sura Kahf? I am sure good readers do! Well, there are other stories in this Sura too, and one of the most amazing ones is about the Seven Sleepers of the Cave, who are known as the As-haabe Kahf. I am sure you will all find their story very interesting and you must surely read the Ayaats about them, and they will become alive to you once you know what you are reciting. It’s so wonderful to recite Qur’an and understand what you recite.
There were once seven youths who were true believers in Nabi Isa (as) at a time when the city on the west coast of Asia Minor was ruled by a very cruel King and his people who were Idol worshippers and killed all the faithful believers. When the King found out that these seven youths were believers he was very angry and wanted to kill them.
Therefore, the youths decided to run away to a place where they could not be found and then continue practising their Religion.
There were seven brave men who ran away This was because they could not stay In the city where there ruled a cruel King To run away and hide was the best thing So they went away with faith in their hearts And this is the way their story starts
They went far away from the city to hide in a cave and they met a faithful dog who became their best friend. His name was Kitmir. Now just imagine how scared and worried they were, but the best thing about them was the strong faith they had in their creator Allah (swt).
The cruel King told his people to follow them and they searched the whole city far and wide till they came outside it and saw the cave. When the youths heard the sound of the King’s men’s horses, they were terrified and prayed to Allah (swt) to save them from the King and his people . Their prayer was answered and they slept very soundly for many years, whilst they did not know what happened around them.
The 7 youths slept for a long time Believing in the truth was taken as their crime This is the way they were saved by Allah They slept on for at least 300 years Subhanallah! It is truly a beautiful story And is a sign of Allah’s power and glory
The wonderful thing was the way the dog also slept in front of the cave guarding them. When the King sent his people to enter the cave, they were frightened by this sign of Allah, so they just told him that the seven youths had died. This pleased the King and he ordered a stone Tablet to be built to cover the entrance of the cave. He was unaware of the fact that the seven youths were alive and just sleeping deeply.
Now the youths slept on for at least 300 years and more! Yet when they woke up, they did not actually remember how long they had slept. Neither did they know that the cruel King had died a long time ago, and there now ruled another King who was a believer in the right faith and religion.
Once they woke up, they realized that they felt very hungry and thus decided to come out of the cave. But on reaching the entrance they saw that the cave was blocked with a huge stone, and even if they would push it altogether they would never be able to move it.
The 7 youths whose faith no one could shake After years were finally wide awake They did not realize how long they had slept Slowly and stealthily to the entrance they crept Soon they saw that the door of the cave was blocked Then they looked at each other sad and shocked
Well children, can you imagine being asleep for so many years? The seven sleepers were surely hungry and needed to go out and look for some food. Then when they saw that the cave was blocked, what do you think happened after that?
Well, you have to read the next Qur’an Treasure article to find that out! Please look out for the continuation, because it is one of the most interesting and exciting stories of the Holy Quran.
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