Iran boasts ‘Seven Sleepers’ narrative popular among followers of other religions

In Christianity and Islam, 'The Seven Sleepers' or 'The Companions of the Cave'  is an account of an event in which a group of men who hid inside a cave for religious persecution awakened hundreds of years later.

ifilm series ‘The Men of Angelos’ is one of a kind TV production hailing from Iran that highlights an impressive account related by the Quran in which a group of men hid inside a cave to escape religious persecution, only to awaken many years later.

Just like some accounts offered by Jewish and Christian traditions, the Islamic narrative of the Companions of the Cave is found in Chapter 18 of the Quran, al-Kahf (the Cave).

Below are some references in the account offered by the Quran:

1. A group of men in trouble

“Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!" chapter 18, Verse 10.

2. Inscription at the cave

The inclusion of the word "inscription" is an important detail connecting the story of the Quran with the story of the Seven Sleepers in the Christian tradition.

“Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription [ar-Raqim] were wonders among Our Sign?" (Quran Chapter 18, Verse 9)

3. Perception of time

While the men had slept in the cave for many years, the passage of time for them was “a day or some part of a day” (Quran Chapter 18, Verse 19)

4. Money for bread

One of the Companions of the Cave goes to the city to buy bread with coins.

"Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you" (Quran Chapter 18, Verse 19)

5. Fear of capture

When Allah awakens the companions, one of them who goes to buy bread is fearful of being captured and forced back into polytheism.

"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" (Quran Chapter 18, Verse 20)

6. Day of Judgement

In the Quran, the account was mentioned to strengthen the faith of believers in the Day of Judgment.

Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment ...(Quran Chapter 18, Verse 21)

7. Place of worship near the cave

The Quran mentions that a place of worship was designated at the site of the cave.

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. (Quran Chapter 18, Verse 21)

8. Duration of sleep in the cave

The Quran states that the Companions of the Cave went to sleep for some 300 years.

So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more). (Quran Chapter 18, Verse 25)

9. Number of sleepers

The Quran does not provide a definitive answer to the number of sleepers.

Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." (Quran Chapter 18, Verse 22)

Thanks to such references depicted in the series  ‘The Men of Angelos’, followers of many religions have praised the show, and Iran TV industry can be totally boastful of such masterpiece.   

AG/AG