[18:16]
And when ye withdraw from them and that which
they worship except Allah, then seek refuge in the Cave; your Lord will spread
for you of His mercy and will prepare for you a pillow in your plight.
[18:17]
And thou mightest have seen the sun when it rose
move away from their cave to the right, and when it set go past them on the
left, and they were in the cleft thereof. That was (one) of the portents of
Allah. He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth
astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.
[18:18]
And thou wouldst have deemed them waking though
they were asleep, and We caused them to turn over to
the right and the left, and their dog stretching out his paws on the threshold.
If thou hadst observed them closely thou hadst assuredly turned away from them
in flight, and hadst been filled with awe of them.
[18:19]
And in like manner We
awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them
said: How long have ye tarried ? They said: We have
tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what
ye have tarried. 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.
[18:20]
For they, if they
should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion;
then ye will never prosper.