SURAH (18) AL-KAHF (AYA 1 to 10)

Sura (18) AL-KAHF (The Cave)  Aya 1 to 110 in 12 Sections                 (Revealed at Makka)

INTRODUCTION

The name of the surah is derived from the story of the cave which is very prominent in it. This surah deals with the various aspects of human life, material as well as spiritual. It starts with faith in ALLAH (SWT), giving an instance as to how far sincere believers endeavour to shun falsehood. It gives out that faith and faithfulness is always helped by ALLAH (SWT). It is made obvious with an illustration how fallacious is the calculation of the span of time on earth and how the Almigty owns the authority over it and how long age of hundreds of years could be caused by ALLAH (SWT) to pass away as only a day or two or even less. The illustrations of the fellows of the Cave, as to how the span of time might be felt by the dead until the resurrection for the Final Judgment. It indicates that even animals will have their reward for being faithfully associated with their service to godly ones. In the event of the Cave there is a great sign and a landmark of guidance to humanity toward earning the faith in ALLAH (SWT) and to be attached to godliness with all the possible resistence and sacrifice. The believers who escaped from the city and took refuge in the cave could have surrendered themselves to the brutal tortures and met death at the hands of the heathen king BUT they resorted to escape from the cluthches of the tyrant and saved their lives. It is an indication to humanity not to easily surrender life as far as possble for it is a trust, BUT to save it by all possible means and then leave the matter to the Will of the Lord. This is what the Holy Imam, Husain ibne Ali did in his campaign against the godlessness of Yazid son of Maaviah. It is made quite clear that the mysteries of life are multifarious and too infinite to be easily known to the finite mind of the ordinary mortals among men unless the All-Merciful Author of the great Mysteries Himself makes it known.

Man should always be on his guard against his puffed up by his properity and position and shall always remember that the Almighty Lord can in no time undo what he has allowed to be done and can bring to naught anything at His will. The human life on the earth has been effected to manifest as to who is who in the progeny of Adam.

In verse 28 it is presented that the really righteous and the pious ones would never yield to the attractions of wealth, pomp and the power of this world. It is also given here how miserably the disbelievers and the wicked would suffer in the Hereafter giving the details of the torments awaiting them in hell while the faithful and the righteous are assured of the blissful reward for their faith and devotion and the correct living.

Life is compared to the temporay or the timely show of prosperity effected by some rain water which only vanishes away very quickly. Satan who defied the command of the Lord to do obeisance to Adam has turned into an avowed enemy of mankind, determined to beguile the seed of Adam. On the Day of Judgment none of the fanciful deities worshipped by man or any of the false religious leaders whom he blindly followed would be of any vail to him.

Apostles were sent to warn against falsehood and the evil ways of life and not to continuously work wonders of the miracles as and when the fancy of man demands. Every Apostles of ALLAH (SWT) was treated with contempt and ridicule.

Most disillusioned about his own knowledge and asked to seek knowledge under a man of ALLAH (SWT) who had been endowed with knowledge direct from ALLAH (SWT) Himself. Patience being essential to face the mysteries of life and to know the inner meanings of the external manifestations. Service above self to be taken to please ALLAH (SWT) and not for any reward for any one in this life.

Everything in the Universe would be undone and wiped out of existence when it will be decreed by the Almighty Lord.

Good deeds without the correct faith in ALLAH (SWT) will be null and void and similarly the unintentional evils of the faithful will be forgiven. The signs of ALLAH (SWT) are unlimited in number and they could never be recored in writing. The unique position of the HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALLI ALAA MUHAMMAD WA ALI MUHAMMAD), with divine excellence endowed to him.

He who sincerely longs to meet ALLAH (SWT) should lead his life with correct faith in Him and be righteous in is conduct with none else to share his obeisance or worship to Him.

SECTION 1

Warning against the belief that God has taken a son

The Qur’an gives warning and glad tidings – The falsehood of God taking a son is proved – The Apostle Muhammad distressed for disbelievers – The Companions of the Cave.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ عِوَجًا ۜ {18:1}

[Q18:1] Alhamdu lillaahil lazeee anzala 'alaa 'abdihil kitaaba wa lam yaj'al lahoo 'iwajaa. 
[Q18:1] (All) praise is due to ALLAH (SWT), Who revealed the Book to His servant and did not make in it any crookedness.

[Q18:1] Segala puji terentu bagi ALLAH (SwT) yang telah menurunkan kepada hambaNya (Muhammad), Kitab suci Al-Quran dan tidak menjadikan padanya sesuatu yang bengkok (terpesong): 

THE QUR’AN, REVEALED TO THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD), CONTAINS PLAIN, SIMPLE AND CLEAR GUIDANCE TO MANKIND, in order that the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) as the nadhir may warn those who do not believe in his message although it is straight and there is no ambiguity in it; and as the bashir may give glad tidings to those who believe and follow him.

ä  The last verse of the preceding surah says that praise be to ALLAH (SWT) because He has begotten no son and has no partner in His authority, and this surah also begins with "praise be to ALLAH (SWT)" and states that those who say: "ALLAH (SWT) has begotten a son" are like the disbelievers. The Jews, the Christians and the infidels are warned of a terrible punishment.

The ultimate fate of a large number of human beings because of their obstinate adherence to falsehood caused utmost grief to THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD), ‘THE MERCY UNTO THE WORLDS’, WHO SUFFERED ABUSE AND PERSECUTION IN ORDER TO PREACH THE TRUTH AND SHOW THE WAY OF SALVATION TO THE WHOLE MANKIND, IN EVERY AGE, so that the maximum number of people may be saved from the certain wrath of ALLAH (SWT). His love for the human race was particular as well as general. It was his earnest desire that every living being should receive guidance from the book of ALLAH (SWT) (the word hadith has been used for the Qur’an in verse 6) and follow its guidance to attain bliss and salvation.

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(18:1) All praise is for Allah, Who has sent down this Book to His Servant, and assigned nothing crooked to it. *1

*1 That is, "There is nothing intricate or complicated in it that may be beyond anyone's understanding nor is there anything that deviates from the straight path of the Truth and thus cause hesitation in the mind of a truth-loving person." 

قَيِّمًا لِيُنْذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِنْ لَدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا {18:2}

[Q18:2] Qaiyimal liyunzira baasan shadeedam mil ladunhu wa yubashshiral mu'mineenal lazeena ya'maloonas saalihaati anna lahum ajran hasanaa, 
[Q18:2] Rightly directing, that he might give warning of severe punishment from Him and give good news to the believers who do good that they shall have a goodly reward,

[Q18:2] (Bahkan keadaannya) tetap benar lagi menjadi pengawas turunnya Al-Quran untuk memberi amaran (kepada orang-orang yang ingkar) dengan azab yang seberat-beratnya dari sisi ALLAH (SwT) dan memberi berita gembira kepada orang-orang yang beriman yang mengerjakan amal-amal soleh, bahawa mereka akan beroleh balasan yang baik.  

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(18:2) This Book says everything directly so that he may warn the people of the severe chastisement of Allah and give good news to the Believers, who do righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent recompense,

مَاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا {18:3}

[Q18:3] Maakiseena feehi abadaa; 
[Q18:3] Staying in it for ever;

[Q18:3] Mereka tinggal tetap dalam (balasan yang baik) itu selama-lamanya.  

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(18:3) which they will always enjoy

وَيُنْذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا {18:4}

[Q18:4] Wa yunziral lazeena qaalut takhazal laahu waladaa; 
[Q18:4] And warn those who say: ALLAH (SWT) has taken a son.

[Q18:4] Dan juga Al-Quran itu memberi amaran kepada orang-orang yang berkata: ALLAH (SwT) mempunyai anak. 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(18:4) and that he should warn those people who say, "Allah has begotten a son". *2

*2 "Those people" includes the Christians, the Jews and the mushrik Arabs who assigned offspring to Allah. 

مَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِآبَائِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۚ إِنْ يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا {18:5}

[Q18:5] Maa lahum bihee min 'ilminw wa laa li aabaaa'ihim; kaburat kalimatan takhruju min afwaahihim; iny yaqooloona illaa kazibaa. 
[Q18:5] They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers; a grievous word it is that comes out of their mouths; they speak nothing but a lie.

[Q18:5] (Sebenarnya) mereka tiada mempunyai sebarang pengetahuan mengenainya dan tiada juga bagi datuk nenek mereka; besar sungguh perkataan syirik yang keluar dari mulut mereka; mereka hanya mengatakan perkara yang dusta. 

(see commentary for verse 1)

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(18:5) Neither had they any knowledge of this *3 nor their forefathers; it is a monstrous word that comes out of their mouths: they utter a sheer lie.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا {18:6}

[Q18:6] Fala'allaka baakhi'un nafsaka 'alaaa aasaarihim illam yu’minoo bihaazal hadeesi asafaa. 
[Q18:6] Then maybe you will kill yourself with grief, sorrowing after them, if they do not believe in this announcement.

[Q18:6] Maka jangan-jangan pula engkau (wahai Muhammad), membinasakan dirimu disebabkan menanggung dukacita terhadap kesan-kesan perbuatan buruk mereka, jika mereka enggan beriman kepada keterangan Al-Quran ini.  

This verse speaks out as to how much the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had identified his personal interest with that of not only

[1] those who had believed in his ministry and got guided aright BUT ALSO

[2] about the others who did not believe in the Truth and were still sunk deep in falsehood.

Ä  The anxiety of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) for the victims of false belief is spoken of here to be so great that it was almost killing him.

IT WOULD BE REALISED AS TO HOW MUCH HE DEDICATED HIMSELF TO THE CAUSE OF RESCUING NOT ANY PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, TRIBE OR NATION BUT MANKIND AS A WHOLE. It is quite obvious that he would not rest until the last member of the human family, is guided aright and earns the blissful life which awaits every true believer.

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(18:6) Well, (O Muhammad), it may be that you will consume your life for their sake out of sorrow, if they do not believe in this message. *4

*4 This refers to the real cause of the anxiety of the Holy Prophet at the time of the revelation of this Surah . It clearly shows that the Holy Prophet did not grieve at the persecution from which he and his Companions were suffering but at the deviation and moral degeneration of his people. What was consuming him was that, though he was trying to bring them out from their disgraceful state, they persisted in it. He was grieved because he was convinced that their deviation would inevitably lead them to destruction and scourge of Allah. Therefore he was working day and night to save them but it appeared that they were bent upon incurring the chastisement of AIIah. The Holy Prophet himself has described this state of his mind in a Tradition to this effect: "I may describe this thing in a parable. A person kindled a fire to spread light but the moths persist in falling over it to burn themselves alive. He vies to save them from the fire but the moths reduce his efforts to failure. The same is true of me and you. I hold you by your skirts to keep you away from the fire, but you are bent upon falling into it." (Bukhari, Muslim).
Though apparently it is merely stated "...... it may be that you will consume your life for their sake out of sorrow...." it also contains a sort of consolation for the Holy Prophet, as if to say, "As you are not responsible for forcing them to believe, why should you consume yourself for their sake? Your only duty is to give good news and warning and not to turn people into Believers. Therefore you may go on carrying out your mission of giving good news to the Believers and warning of the bad consequences to the disbelievers." 

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا {18:7}

[Q18:7] Innaa ja'alnaa ma 'alal ardi zeenatal lahaa linabluwahum ayyuhum ahsanu 'amalaa. 
[Q18:7] Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try them (as to) which of them is best in works.

[Q18:7] Sesungguhnya Kami telah jadikan apa yang ada di muka bumi sebagai perhiasan baginya, kerana kami hendak menguji mereka, siapakah di antaranya yang lebih baik amalnya. 

The forests, the mountains, the rivers, the oceans, the valleys and all other natural resources created by ALLAH (SWT) are useful for man, BUT HE HAS PLACED THE HUMAN BEINGS ON THE EARTH AMID THESE BOUNTIES SO THAT HE MAY TRY THEM TO SEE WHICH OF THEM IS BEST IN DEEDS. Those who scramble for these bounties as if they shall have them forever must know that one day the earth will become dust and waste, bare and barren. Refer to the commentary of Yunus 10:10 and Hud 11:9 to 22.

Ø  Imam Jafar bin Muhammad As Sadiq said:

"In order to test the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) the pagans of Makka sent three men to Najran so that they might learn a few unknown episodes from the Jew scholars and confront him with them. They returned with the story of the "seven sleepers in the cave", and when the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was asked to narrate their story these verses were revealed."

The Qur’an, as usual, lays stress on the moral lessons of the story, and not on the exact identification of the persons concerned. The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) not only told them the main story BUT pointed out the variations that were current, and admonished them for disputing about such details. The story is treated as a parable, containing spiritual lessons of the highest value.

1.        The ashab ul kahf (the dwellers of the cave) were seven young Christian men who lived in Ephesus, a city on the west coast of Asia Minor. They lived in a society which was completely idolatrous, although they themselves were believers in only one ALLAH (SWT), as the true followers of Prophet Isa. The city in which they lived was under the rule of the Roman emperor Decius who ruled from 249 to 251 A.D. Decius was a tyrant, and an idol-worshipper. All those who lived under his rule were forced to worship the idols. He issued an order saying that any citizen who refused to worship the idols was a traitor and was condemned to death.

2.        Soon the seven young men-the ashab ul kahf-realised that they were the only persons left who refrained from worshipping the idols. This forced them to re-evaluate their situation: either give in to the majority pressure to worship idols, or refuse and be killed. None of these alternatives seemed favourable. Man must not jeopardise his life but should take all precautions to save it because it is a trust, and then leave the matter to the will of ALLAH (SWT). Therefore, they decided to leave the city and seek refuge elsewhere, away from the reach of the tyrant emperor. So they left the city. Outside the city, a dog named Qatmir joined them.

3.        They went towards the hills and finally found a cave for themselves. They prayed for ALLAH (SWT)'s help, and ALLAH (SWT) made them sleep for about 300 years. A party of investigators, headed by a minister of the emperor came to the cave. The minister, who went inside the cave and found them sleeping, was a believer, so he told the emperor that they were dead. The cave was closed and a tablet (raqim) whereon were inscribed the names of the ashab ul kahf, their religion, and what it was from which they fled was put upon the entrance of the cave. The cave is said to be in Damascus. Even today the pilgrims who call upon the shrine of Bibi Zaynab, pay a visit to this cave.

They were raised up in the reign of Theodosius 11 (408 to 450 A.D.), who was a Christian. It is written in Hastings "Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics" that the cave was reopened when ALLAH (SWT) suggested to Adolius, the proprietor of the field where the cave is, to build a sheepfold for his flock; for this purpose the workmen used the stones which closed the entrance of the cave. The long period of 300 years seemed to the ashab ul kahf, as if only a day or two passed by, or even less. So our ideas of time are fallacious. The Almighty Lord controls time and space. EVEN an animal who associated itself with the godly servants of ALLAH (SWT) was rewarded. THIS EVENT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ALLAH (SWT)'S POWER TO RESURRECT ALL HUMAN BEINGS AFTER THEIR DEATH ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.

There is another version in which it is stated that when the ashab ul kahf came out of sleep they found the mouth of the cave closed.

One of them said:

"O my Lord, once I hired a man to work for me for one full day, but he finished the work in half a day and left without taking the payment. With the amount payable to him I bought a calf. Soon it multiplied into a herd. It so happened that one day he came to see me. I told him what had happened. He did not believe. I swore in Your name and gave the whole flock to him. I did it in Your name and for Your sake. Please open the cave." One third portion of the cave opened.

Another from them said:

"O my Lord, a beautiful woman came to me for some food when there was a widespread famine in our land. I desired her very much as soon as I saw her beauty but she refused to yield to my carnal passion and went away. She came to me again and again but every time I put the same proposal to her. At last she agreed. When I held her in my arms I felt she was violently trembling. To my question she said she was trembling in fear of ALLAH (SWT). I at once freed her and gave her the provision she asked for. I did it to obtain Your pleasure. I wept and sought Your forgiveness. Now I beseech You to open the cave." Now the two third portion of the cave was open.

Another from them said:

"O my Lord, once I brought some milk for my parents, but found them asleep. I did not want to disturb them. So I waited beside them. The whole night passed and my flock of sheep perished in the field as I could not attend to them. In the morning my parents awoke and drank the milk. I did it to please You, O my Lord; so open the cave." Now the whole cave lay open before them.

WHATEVER IS STATED ABOUT THE ASHAB UL KAHF IS A MIRACLE OF ALLAH (SWT). HE IS ABLE TO DO ALL THINGS. No one has yet found the bodies of ashab ul kahf who are said to be still sleeping.

ALLAH (SWT) HAS KEPT THEM INVISIBLE AS HE HAS KEPT 1. ISA, 2. KHIZR, 3. IDRIS and 4. THE LIVING IMAM AL QA-IM HIDDEN FROM THE SIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE.

4.        When the people of the town found one of the ashab ul kahf in the market who went there to buy food they wanted to know who he was. He told them their story. They went with him to the cave. The man went inside in advance and informed his comrades that the emperor with his scholars is coming to see them.

5.        They fell prostrate before ALLAH (SWT) and prayed that the sleep might come over them again. So when the royal entourage came in they were asleep.

6.        They decided to build a masjid over them. THE ACT OF GIVING RECOGNITION TO THE MEN OF ALLAH (SWT) HAS BEEN APPRECIATED BY THE QUR’AN. TO BUILD A MASJID OVER THE GRAVES OF MEN OF ALLAH (SWT) OR TO TREAT THE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE BURIED AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP OF ALLAH (SWT) IS PERMISSIBLE according to verse 21.

On this basis the tawaf of hajr of Ismail, known as hajr al aswad, close to the Ka-bah, is obligatory during the performance of hajj.

According to a few schools of thought in Islam the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) issued orders contrary to the implication of this verse. They quote the following traditions:

                            i.            ALLAH (SWT) has cursed the Jews and the Christians for adopting the graves of their prophets as masjids (place of worship). Do not make my grave a place of worship.

                          ii.            The Christians have chosen the place where their saints are buried as objects of worship. You should not do as they do.

                         iii.            Do not glorify me as the Christians glorify Isa.

Even if these traditions are authentic,

§  They do not in any way repeal the permissibility of worshipping ALLAH (SWT) near or on the grave of a chosen servant of ALLAH (SWT).

§  They only warn the people not to treat the servants of ALLAH (SWT) like the Lord to whom they had submitted unconditionally in their lives.

§  The place where a chosen servant of ALLAH (SWT) is buried becomes a sacred place which makes the worshipper of ALLAH (SWT) remember ALLAH (SWT) in a more favourable and spiritual environment than anywhere else.

§  There is no restriction on the devotees of ALLAH (SWT) to avoid any blessed place for His worship.

IN ORDER TO SAVE THE MUSLIMS from falling into the pit of shirk (polytheism), it has been made obligatory to recite tashahud in every salat. There is no ALLAH (SWT) save ALLAH (SWT) and Muhammad is His servant and His messenger, and blessings of ALLAH (SWT) be on Muhammad and his Ahlul Bayt. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF ADOPTING ANY CREATED BEING AS AN OBJECT OF WORSHIP, BESIDE ALLAH (SWT), WHEN A MUSLIM REPEATS TASHAHUD IN EVERY SALAT, WHICH MAKES IT CLEAR THAT EVEN THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AND HIS AHLUL BAYT, INSPIRE OF THEIR HIGHEST STATUS, ARE CREATED BEINGS, THEREFORE THERE IS NONE EQUAL TO HIM AND HE ALONE IS THE SOLE OBJECT OF WORSHIP.

¥  The Qur’an gives permission to remember the chosen servants of ALLAH (SWT) as sincere worshippers of ALLAH (SWT). To pay homage to them, bowing and prostrating before them, as the angels were commanded to prostrate before Adam (Baqarah 2:34) or the family of Yusuf prostrated before him (Yusuf 10:100), is not prohibited, BECAUSE WORSHIP (IBADAT) DEPENDS ON INTENTION, AND THE INTENTION OF A TRUE MUSLIM CAN NEVER BE THEIR WORSHIP WHICH IS FOR ALLAH (SWT) ALONE.

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(18:7) The fact is that whatsoever is on the earth, We have made it as its adornment so that we may test the people as to which of them does best deeds.

وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا {18:8}

[Q18:8] Wa innaa lajaa 'iloona maa 'alaihaa sa'aeedan juruzaa. 
[Q18:8] And most surely We will make what is on it bare ground without herbage.

[Q18:8] Dan sesungguhnya Kami akan jadikan apa yang ada di bumi itu (punah-ranah) sebagai tanah yang tandus. 

(see commentary for verse 7)

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(18:8) In the end, We will turn all that is in it into a bare plain. *5

*5 V. 6 was addressed to the Holy Prophet, but vv. 7-8 have been directed to the disbelievers indirectly, as if to say, "You must understand it clearly that all the things that you see in the world and which allure you, are a transitory adornment which has been arranged merely to test you, but it is a pity that you have been involved in the misunderstanding that all these things have been created to cater for your pleasure and enjoyment. That is why the only aim and object of life you have set before you is: "Eat, drink and be merry." As a result of this you do not pay any attention to your true and real well-wisher. You must understand it well that these things have not been provided for pleasure but are actually a means of testing you. You have been placed among them to see which of you is allured by these from the real aim of life and which of you keeps steadfast in the worship of Allah, for which you have been sent to the world. All these things and means of pleasure shall come to an end on the Day your examination is over and nothing will remain on the earth because it will be turned into a bare plain." 

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا {18:9}

[Q18:9] Am hasibta anna Ashaabal Kahfi war Raqeemi kaanoo min Aayaatinaa 'ajabaa.
[Q18:9] Or, do you think that the Fellows of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wonderful signs?

[Q18:9] Adakah engkau menyangka (wahai Muhammad), bahawa kisah "Ashaabul Kahfi" dan "Ar-Raqiim" itu sahaja yang menakjubkan di antara tanda-tanda yang membuktikan kekuasaan Kami? 

This refers to the famous miraculous event of the Seven Sleepers. This verse questions those who doubted the story and wondered at it. Ephesus was a famous city which once flourished on the West Coast of Asia minor about forty to fifty miles from Smyrna. ‘Daqyanoos’, (i.e., Dacius) who ruled the place from 249 to 251 A.D. was a heathen and a violent persecutor of the faithful ones among the Christians.

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(18:9) Do you consider "the Sleepers of the Cave", *6 and the bearers of the "Inscription" *7 to be among Our strange Signs? *8

*6 The Arabic word (Kahaf) literally means a vast cave. 
*7 There is a difference of opinion about the meaning of ar-raqim. Some Companions and their followers opined that it was the name of that habitation where this event took place and that it was situated somewhere between Aylah and Palestine. There are other commentators who take it to mean the "Inscription" that had been set up at the Cave as a memorial to "the Sleepers of the Cave". Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, in his commentary, Tarjmanul-Qur'an, has preferred the first meaning and opined that it is the same place which has been called Rekem in the Bible (Joshua, 18: 27). Then he identifies it with the ancient historical city of Petra. But he has not considered the fact that Rekem, as mentioned in the Bible, belonged to the children of Benjamin and according to the Book of Joshua, the territory of this clan was situated to the west of river Jordan and the Dead Sea and that the ruins of Petra are situated to the south of Jordan. That is why the modern archaeologists do not believe that Petra and Rekem are one and the same place. (Please refer to Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1946, Vol XVII, page 658). We are also of the opinion that by "Ar-raqim"is meant "the inscription".
*8 This question has been posed to expose the sceptical attitude of the disbelievers towards the "Sleepers of the Cave", as if to say, `Do you think that AIIah, Who has created the heavens and the earth, does not have the power to keep a few persons in a state of sleep for a couple of hundred years and then to raise them up as hale and hearty as they were at the time of going to sleep? If you ever had pondered over the wonderful creation of the sun and the moon and the earth, you would never have expressed any doubt that such a thing was anything difficult for Allah. " 

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا {18:10}

[Q18:10] Iz awal fityatu ilal Kahfi faqaaloo Rabbanaaa aatinaa mil ladunka rahmatanw wa haiyi' lanaa min amrinaa rashadaa. 
[Q18:10] When the youths sought refuge in the cave, they said: Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Thee, and provide for us a right course in our affair.

[Q18:10] (Ingatkanlah peristiwa) ketika serombongan orang-orang muda pergi ke gua, lalu mereka berdoa: Wahai Tuhan kami! Kurniakanlah kami rahmat dari sisiMu dan berilah kemudahan-kemudahan serta pimpinan kepada kami untuk keselamatan agama kami. 

The cruel king pursued the fugitives and when they heard the sound of the march of the horses advancing towards them, they were mortally frightened and the young men being true believers entrusted their case to ALLAH (SWT) and prayed to Him for their rescue from the merciless heathen king who used to put those who did not worship the idols to a torturous death.

©  THIS SHOWS THAT THE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WERE MUSLIMS, i.e., strict Unitarians and they faithfully believed in ALLAH (SWT) and had confidently trusted in Him.

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(18:10) When those few young men took refuge in the Cave, they said, "Our Lord! have a special mercy on us from Thyself and guide us out of our ordeal aright."