Story of the Companions of the Cave

It was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with them, that the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said:

«While three persons were traveling, they were overtaken by rain and they took shelter in a cave in a mountain. A big rock fell from the mountain over the mouth of the cave and blocked it. They said to each other. 'Think of such good (righteous) deeds which, you did for Allaah's sake only, and invoke Allaah by giving reference to those deeds so that Allaah may relieve you from your difficulty. one of them said, 'O Allaah! I had my parents who were very old and I had small children for whose sake I used to work as a shepherd. When I returned to them at night and milked (the sheep), I used to start giving the milk to my parents first before giving to my children. And one day I went far away in search of a grazing place (for my sheep), and did not return home till late at night and found that my parents had slept. I milked (my livestock) as usual and brought the milk vessel and stood at their heads, and I disliked to wake them up from their sleep, and I also disliked to give the milk to my children before my parents though my children were crying (from hunger) at my feet. So this state of mine and theirs continued till the day dawned. (O Allaah!) If you considered that I had done that only for Your Countenance and seeking Your pleasure, then please let there be an opening through which we can see the sky.' So Allaah made for them an opening through which they could see the sky. Then the second person said, 'O Allaah! I had a she-cousin whom I loved as much as a passionate man love a woman. I tried to seduce her but she refused till I paid her one-hundred Dinars So I worked hard till I collected one hundred Dinars and went to her with that But when I sat in between her legs (to have sexual intercourse with her), she said, 'O Allaah's slave! Be afraid of Allaah ! Do not deflower me except legally (by marriage contract). So I left her O Allaah! If you considered that I had done that only for Your Countenance and seeking Your pleasure then please let the rock move a little to have a (wider) opening.' So Allaah shifted that rock to make the opening wider for them. And the last (third) person said 'O Allaah ! I employed a laborer for wages equal to a Faraq (a certain measure: of rice, and when he had finished his job he demanded his wages, but when I presented his due to him, he gave it up and refused to take it. Then I kept on sowing that rice for him (several times) till managed to buy with the price of the yield, some cows and their shepherd Later on the laborer came to me an said. '(O Allaah's slave!) Be afraid o Allaah, and do not be unjust to me an give me my due.' I said (to him). 'Go and take those cows and their shepherd. So he took them and went away. (So, O Allaah!) If You considered that I had done that for Your Countenance and seeking Your pleasure, then please remove the remaining part of the rock.' And so Allaah released them (from their difficulty)» (1).

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth:

1- This Hadeeth indicates the recommendation of making Du‘aa' (i.e. supplication) at times of calamities, seeking nearness to Allaah The Almighty through mentioning the good deeds and fulfilling his promise by asking Him The Exalted.

2- Muslim individual should resort to Allaah The Almighty alone with Du‘aa' particularly when afflictions befall. Asking or seeking help from the absent dead people is a form of the major Shirk (i.e. polytheism), who cannot bring any benefit nor cause any harm. Allaah The Almighty says:

{وَلَا تَدْعُ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّ‌كَ ۖ فَإِن فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِّنَ الظَّالِمِينَ}

‘Translation’ {And invoke not besides Allaah, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)} [Yunus:106].

3- The great virtue of observing sincerity in all deeds. That is because one of them: "O Allaah, if You know that I did that seeking Your Countenance and Pleasure, then grant us relief." (2).

4- Virtue of respecting and being dutiful to parents and preferring them to one's children and wife and bearing hardship for their sake.

5- Virtue of chastity and refraining from committing prohibited matters while one is able to. Also, avoid committing sins cancels out the sins occurred at seeking it. Moreover, repentance wipes away whatever (sins) came before it.

6- Virtue rendering back the trusts, preserving the wages of the workers if they are able to take them along with hastening to give back such wages to them without delay. It was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: «Give the hired worker his wages before his sweat dries».

7- It is recommended to develop the property of the hired worker who left his wages. Actually, it is a great act and thus it was one of the reasons that saved them from the cave.

8- This Hadeeth proves the Karaamaat (i.e. supernatural abilities or event) for the righteous Muslim individuals.

9- This Hadeeth tells about what was occurred to the past nations so that listeners may draw lessons from their deeds and thus do their good deeds and avoid their bad and evil ones. And Allaah knows best. (3).

10- Good deeds that are done sincerely for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty during the times of ease benefit Muslim individual greatly at the times of difficult and hardship. It was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: «Remember Allaah during times of ease and He The Exalted will remember you during times of hardship» (4).

11-  This Hadeeth proves that Allaah The Almighty has a Countenance without likening it to any of His creation. Allaah The Almighty says:

{لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ‌}

‘Translation’ {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.} [Ash-Shura:11].

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(1) Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari (3465) and Saheeh Muslim (2743).

(2) Reported by Ibn Maajah No. (2443) and Sheykh Al-Albaani deemed it Hasab (good). Refer to Hadeeth No. (1055) in Saheeh Al-Jaami.

(3) Refer to Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalaani (6/510).

(4) Reported by Imam Ahmad No. (2804), and Sheykh Al-Albaani deemed it Saheeh (authentic). Refer to Hadeeth No. (2961) in Saheeh Al-Jaami‘.