سَيَقُولُونَ
ثَلَٰثَةٞ
رَّابِعُهُمۡ
كَلۡبُهُمۡ
وَيَقُولُونَ
خَمۡسَةٞ
سَادِسُهُمۡ
كَلۡبُهُمۡ
رَجۡمَۢا
بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ
وَيَقُولُونَ
سَبۡعَةٞ
وَثَامِنُهُمۡ
كَلۡبُهُمۡۚ
قُل
رَّبِّيٓ
أَعۡلَمُ
بِعِدَّتِهِم
مَّا
يَعۡلَمُهُمۡ
إِلَّا
قَلِيلٞۗ
فَلَا
تُمَارِ
فِيهِمۡ
إِلَّا
مِرَآءٗ
ظَٰهِرٗا
وَلَا
تَسۡتَفۡتِ
فِيهِم
مِّنۡهُمۡ
أَحَدٗا
٢٢
(Some) will say: They were three, their dog the fourth, and (some) say: Five, their dog the sixth, guessing at random; and (some) say: Seven, and their dog the eighth. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord is Best Aware of their number. None knoweth them save a few. So contend not concerning them except with an outward contending, and ask not any of them to pronounce concerning them.
— M. Pickthall
They [i.e., people] 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 Muḥammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument1 and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."
— Saheeh International
(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.
— A. Yusuf Ali
Read Tafsir
Ibn Kathir (Abridged)
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 spo
…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 fo
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