Surah Kahf ayat 22 Tafsir Quran 18:22

﴿سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا﴾
[ الكهف: 22]

18:22 They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."

They will say that is some of those disputing the number of the youths of the cave at the time of the Prophet s in other words some of these will say that they the youths were ‘Three; their dog the fourth of them’; and they some others among them will say ‘Five; their dog the sixth of them’ — both of these sayings were those of the Christians of Najrān — guessing at random in other words out of supposition not having been present with them at the time and this statement ‘guessing at random’ refers back to both sayings and is in the accusative because it is an object denoting reason in other words they said this for the reason that they were merely supposing it. And they that is the believers will say ‘Seven; and their dog the eighth of them’ the sentence is part of the subject clause the predicate of which is the adjectival qualification of sab‘a ‘seven’ namely thāminuhum ‘the eighth of them’ with the additional wāw wa-thāminuhum which is said to be for emphasis or an indication that the adjective is semantically attached to that which it is qualifying. The qualification of the first two sayings as being ‘random’ but not the third is proof that the latter is the satisfactory and correct number. Say ‘My Lord knows best their number and none knows them except a few’ Ibn ‘Abbās said ‘I am one of these “few” described’ and he mentioned that they were seven. So do not contend concerning them except with an outward manner of contention except with that which has been revealed to you and do not question concerning them do not ask for opinions from any of them from the People of the Scripture the Jews. The people of Mecca asked him the Prophet about the story of the People of the Cave and so he said to them ‘I will tell you about it tomorrow’ but without adding the words ‘If God wills’ inshā’a’ Llāhu and so the following was revealed

Tossed with their unballasted wits in fathomless and unquiet deeps of controversies, Ahl AL-Kitab (the People of the Book) were divided in opinion relative to the number of the young men, and in the course of time, some will say: They numbered three and their dog the fourth. Others will say: Five, their dog the sixth, an exercise of divination, whereas others will say: Seven, their dog the eighth. Say to them O Muhammad: Allah, my Creator, knows best their number; it is only a few who have been given the knowledge of the number and the significance of the even. Therefore, do not involve yourself O Muhammad in the heat of their dispute but treat the subject from an objective standpoint only so as to exhibit the actual facts and never seek counsel from any of them upon the event

Their Number Allah tells us that people disputed over the number of the people of the Cave.
The Ayah mentions three views, proving that there was no fourth suggestion.
Allah indicates that the first two opinions are invalid, by saying, رَجْماً بِالْغَيْبِ ( guessing at the unseen ), meaning that they spoke without knowledge, like a person who aims at an unknown target -- he is hardly likely to hit it, and if he does, it was not on purpose.
Then Allah mentions the third opinion, and does not comment on it, or He affirms it by saying, وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ( and the dog being the eighth. ) indicating that this is correct and this is what happened. قُل رَّبِّى أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم ( Say: "My Lord knows best their number..." ) indicating that the best thing to do in matters like this is to refer knowledge to Allah, because there is no need to indulge in discussing such matters without knowledge.
If we are given knowledge of a matter, then we may talk about it, otherwise we should refrain. مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ ( none knows them but a few. ) of mankind.
Qatadah said that Ibn `Abbas said: "I am one of the few mentioned in this Ayah; they were seven.
" Ibn Jurayj also narrated that `Ata' Al-Khurasani narrated from him, "I am one of those referred to in this Ayah," and he would say: "Their number was seven." Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said: مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ ( none knows them but a few. ) "I am one of the few, and they were seven." The chains of these reports narrated from Ibn `Abbas, which say that they were seven, are Sahih, and this is in accordance with what we have stated above. فَلاَ تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلاَّ مِرَآءً ظَـهِرًا ( So debate not except with the clear proof. ) meaning, gently and politely, for there is not a great deal to be gained from knowing about that. وَلاَ تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِمْ مِّنْهُمْ أَحَداً ( And consult not any of them (about the people of the Cave ).) meaning, `They do not have any knowledge about it except what they make up, guessing at the unseen; they have no evidence from an infallible source.
But Allah has sent you, O Muhammad, with the truth in which there is no doubt or confusion, which is to be given priority over all previous books and sayings.'

(18:22) Some people will say, "They were three and the fourth was their dog", and some others will say, "They were five and the sixth was their dog." These are mere irrelevant guesses. There are still others who say, "They were seven and the eighth was their dog. " *22 Say, "My Lord alone knows best how many they were." "There are a few people only who know their correct number: so you should not enter into discussions with them about their number except in a cursory way: nor ask anyone about them *23

They will say there were three, the meaning

*22) This shows that about three hundred years after this event, at the time of the revelation of the Qur'an, different stories had become current among the Christians about the Sleepers of the Cave, but generally these stories had no authentic source behind them.' This was because that was not the age of the press in which authentic books might have been published.
Therefore naturally the stories of events were carried from place to place by means of oral traditions, and with the passage of time many tales of fiction got mixed up with the real story.

*23) This is meant to impress that the real thing in this story is not the number of the Sleepers but the lessons it teaches: ( 1 ) A true believer should not on any account turn away from the truth and bow before falsehood.
( 2 ) A believer should not merely rely on the material means but on AIIah.
He should trust in God and follow the right way, even though the outward adverse circumstances might appear to be unfavourable.
( 3 ) It is wrong to suppose that Allah is bound by any so-called " Law of Nature ", for He is able to do any thing He wills even though that might seem to be against some common experience.
He has the power to change any so-called law of nature, whenever and wherever He wills and bring about any extraordinary " supernatural " thing.
So much so that He can raise up anyone who might have been asleep for two hundred years, as if he had slept only for a few hours, without letting any change take place in his appearance, dress, health, indeed in anything, during the passage of time.
( 4 ) This teaches us that Allah has the power to bring to life all the generations-past, present and futureall together as asserted by the Prophets and Divine Scriptures.
( 5 ) It teaches us that ignorant people have always been perverting the Signs of Allah which are sent for the right guidance of the people.
That is how the miracle of the Sleepers of the Cave, which had been shown as a proof of the Hereafter, had been turned into a means of shirk, as if they were some saints who had been sent only for this purpose.

It is obvious from the above-mentioned real lessons, which one can learn from the story of the Sleepers, that a wise man will pay his attention to these things and not divert it in search of their number, their names, the colour of their dog and the like.
Only those people, who have no interest for the reality but for superficial things, will spend their time and energy in making investigations about such things.
That is why AIIah instructed the Holy Prophet: " You should not enter into useless and irrelevant discussions about such things, if other people try to involve you in them.
Instead of wasting your time in such useless things, you should concentrate your attention only on your mission. " That is why Allah has not Himself told their exact number lest it should encourage such people as are always hankering after useless things.

 

Their Number Allah tells us that people disputed over the number of the people of the Cave.
The Ayah mentions three views, proving that there was no fourth suggestion.
Allah indicates that the first two opinions are invalid, by saying, رَجْماً بِالْغَيْبِ ( guessing at the unseen ), meaning that they spoke without knowledge, like a person who aims at an unknown target -- he is hardly likely to hit it, and if he does, it was not on purpose.
Then Allah mentions the third opinion, and does not comment on it, or He affirms it by saying, وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ( and the dog being the eighth. ) indicating that this is correct and this is what happened. قُل رَّبِّى أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم ( Say: "My Lord knows best their number..." ) indicating that the best thing to do in matters like this is to refer knowledge to Allah, because there is no need to indulge in discussing such matters without knowledge.
If we are given knowledge of a matter, then we may talk about it, otherwise we should refrain. مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ ( none knows them but a few. ) of mankind.
Qatadah said that Ibn `Abbas said: "I am one of the few mentioned in this Ayah; they were seven.
" Ibn Jurayj also narrated that `Ata' Al-Khurasani narrated from him, "I am one of those referred to in this Ayah," and he would say: "Their number was seven." Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said: مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ ( none knows them but a few. ) "I am one of the few, and they were seven." The chains of these reports narrated from Ibn `Abbas, which say that they were seven, are Sahih, and this is in accordance with what we have stated above. فَلاَ تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلاَّ مِرَآءً ظَـهِرًا ( So debate not except with the clear proof. ) meaning, gently and politely, for there is not a great deal to be gained from knowing about that. وَلاَ تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِمْ مِّنْهُمْ أَحَداً ( And consult not any of them (about the people of the Cave ).) meaning, `They do not have any knowledge about it except what they make up, guessing at the unseen; they have no evidence from an infallible source.
But Allah has sent you, O Muhammad, with the truth in which there is no doubt or confusion, which is to be given priority over all previous books and sayings.'

( (Some ) will say) the Christians of Najran, al-Sayyid and his followers who were Nestorians, will say: ( They were three ) they were three young men in the Cave, ( their dog ) Qatmir ( the fourth, and (some ) say) al-’Aqib and his followers who were Jacobite Christians will say: ( Five ) they were five young men, ( their dog the sixth, guessing at random ) without having definite knowledge; ( and (some ) say) the followers of al-Malik who were Melkites: ( Seven ) they were seven young men, ( and their dog the eighth. Say ) to them, O Muhammad: ( My Lord is best aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few ) among the believers. Ibn ’Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and with his father, said: " I am among those few: they were eight young men, and the dog ". ( So contend not concerning them ) so do not argue with them concerning the number of the sleepers of the Cave ( except with an outward contending ) unless you recite the Qur’an to them outwardly, ( and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them ) do not ask any one of them about their number; enough is what Allah has clarified to you.

(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, guessing at the unseen; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "My Lord knows best their number; none knows them but a few." So debate not (about their number, etc.) except with the clear proof (which We have revealed to you). And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture, Jews and Christians) about (the affair of) the people of the Cave.

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