8 And We shall surely make what is on it dust, without herbage.

9 Or, thinkest thou that the companions of the Cave and the Inscription were of Our wonderful signs?

10 When the youths sought refuge in the Cave, they said: Our Lord, grant us mercy from Thyself, and provide for us a right course in our affair.

11 So We prevented them from hearing in the Cave for a number of years,

12 Then We raised them up that We might know which of the two parties was best able to calculate the time for which they remained.

13 We relate to thee their story with truth. Surely they were youths who believed in their Lord and We increased them in guidance.

14 And We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and said: Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth; we call upon no god beside Him, for then indeed we should utter an enormity.

15 These our people have taken gods beside Him. Why do they not bring clear authority for them? Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allāh?

16 And when you withdraw from them and what they worship save Allāh, take refuge in the Cave; your Lord will spread forth for you of His mercy, and provide for you a profitable course in your affair.

17 And thou mightest see the sun, when it rose, decline from their Cave to the right, and when it set leave them behind on the left, while they were in a wide space thereof. This is of the signs of Allāh. He whom Allāh guides, he is on the right way; and whom He leaves in error, thou wilt not find for him a friend to guide aright.

18 And thou mightest think them awake while they were asleep, and We turned them about to the right and to the left, with their dog outstretching its paws at the entrance. If thou didst look at them, thou wouldst turn back from them in flight, and thou wouldst be filled with awe because of them.

19 And thus did We rouse them that they might question each other. A speaker from among them said: How long have you tarried? They said: We have tarried for a day or a part of a day. (Others) said: Your