Perhaps you will destroy yourself out of grief because they disbelieve this Book.

We have caused earthly things to seem attractive so that We can see who will excel in good deeds.

Let it be known that We will turn all things on earth into dust.

Do you not think that the story of the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription was one of Our marvelous miracles?

When the youth sought refuge in the cave they prayed [Lord, grant us mercy and help us to get out of this trouble in a righteous way].

We sealed their ears in the cave for a number of years.

Then We roused them to find out which of the party had the correct account of the duration of their sleep in the cave.

We tell you this story for a genuine purpose. They were young people who believed in their Lord and We gave them further guidance.

We strengthened their hearts when they stood up against the idols and said, [Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We shall never worship anyone other than Him lest we commit blasphemy.

Our people have considered other things equal to God. Why cannot they present clear proof in support of their claim. Who is more unjust than one who invents falsehood against God?]

(They were told), [Now that you have abandoned them and what they worship instead of God, seek refuge in the cave. God will, certainly, grant you mercy and provide you with help to safely get out of this trouble.]

No sunlight could reach them during their sleep in the cave. One could see the rising sun decline to the right of their cave and the setting sun move its way to the left whilst they were sleeping in an opening of the cave. This is one of the miracles of God. Whomever God guides receives the right guidance and you will never find a guardian or guide for those whom He causes to go astray.

One would think them (the youths) awake while, in fact, they were sleeping. We turned their bodies from right to left and their dog stretched its front legs on the ground. Had one looked them over, he would have run away from them in terror.

We roused them from their sleep so that they would question each other about their stay in the cave. One of them said, [How long do you think we have stayed here?] They replied, [A day or part of a day.] They added, [ Your Lord knows better how long we have stayed here. Let us send one of us with this money to the city to get some pure food so that we might eat. He should be careful so that no one will know about us. If they were to recognize us,

they would certainly stone us to death or force us to follow their religion. Then we shall never be able to have everlasting happiness.]

We caused their story to become public so that people would know that God's promise was true and that there is no doubt about the coming of the Day of Judgment. They started to argue with each other about the matter (Resurrection) and some of them said, [Let us establish a building at the youths' sleeping place (to hide them). Their Lord knew best their intentions about them. The majority prevailed in their suggestion of the establishment of a mosque in that place.

(With regard to the number of the youths) some say, [There were three and the dog was the fourth one,] Others say, [There were five and the dog was the sixth one.] In reality, they are just feeling around in the dark. Still some of them say, [There were seven and the dog was the eighth one.] (Muhammad), say, [My Lord has the best knowledge of their number. You know very little about it.] Do not insist on arguing with them, but merely tell them the story as it has been revealed to you and do not ask anyone about them.

Never say of something, [I shall do it tomorrow,]

without adding, [if God wills.] Recall your Lord if you forget to do something. Say, [I hope that my Lord will provide me better guidance.]

They, in fact, stayed in the cave for three hundred plus nine further years.

(Muhammad), say, [God knows best how long they stayed there; to Him belongs the unseen of both the heavens and the earth. How clear is His sight and how keen His hearing! No one other than Him is their guardian and no one shares His Judgment.

Read whatever is revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. No one can change His words and you can never find any refuge other than Him.

Be patient with those who worship their Lord in the mornings and evenings to seek His pleasure. Do not overlook them to seek the worldly pleasures. Do not obey those whom We have caused to neglect Us and instead follow their own desires beyond all limits.

Say,] Truth comes from your Lord. Let people have faith or disbelieve as they chose.] For the unjust We have prepared a fire which will engulf them with its (flames). Whenever they cry for help they will be answered with water as hot as molted brass which will scald their faces. How terrible is such a drink and such a resting place!

The righteously striving believers should know that We do not neglect the reward of those who do good deeds.

They will be admitted to the gardens of Eden wherein streams flow. They will rest on soft couches, decked with bracelets of gold and clothed in green silk garments and shining brocade. How blissful is such a reward and resting place!

(Muhammad), tell them the parable of the two men. To one of them We had given two gardens of vines surrounded by the palm trees with a piece of farm land between them