After much pondering on their new strategy someone finally suggested:

“Let one of us go to Yasrib and ask the Jewish scholars for advice! We can take action based on their recommendations, for they are more knowledgeable in this area than we are…”

This made sense to everyone. Nadr bin Haris and Uqba bin Muayt went to Yasrib (Madina) and found the most eminent Jewish scholar of the time. They told him about our Master and his traits, and asked:

“In your possession is the Torah, surely you must have some knowledge about this, can you please help us?”

The Jewish scholar thought on it then suggested:

“Ask him three questions… If he can answer these then know that he is indeed the Rasul of Allah! But if he can’t, then he is a cheat and a liar, do with him as you like!”

The chiefs of Quraish accepted. The three questions were:

1.     What is the story of the People of the Cave?

2.     What is the story of the man who has travelled the entire earth, from its East to its West?

3.     What is the reality of the spirit?  

“If he can answer the first two questions but can’t give an accurate and concise answer to the third then know that he is the Rasul of Allah… But if he only gives a general overall answer to all, or can’t answer the first two questions then be sure that he is nothing but an exploiter and an impostor…”

Nadr and Uqba were content. They went back to Mecca and gave the good news. They now had a way of determining his true identity!

“O brothers, we have acquired a method by which we can determine Muhammad’s identity. Let us now go and ask him these questions and see who he really is!”

Intrigued with their new scheme they went to Muhammad:

“O Muhammad, we are going to ask you three questions that we learnt from a Jewish scholar. If you can answer these, great! But if you can’t, we will be sure that you are a lying defrauder!

1. Tell us about the story of the People of the Cave who lived in the past…

2. Tell us about the man who travelled the entire Earth…

3. Tell us about the reality of the soul!”

Our Master said, “I will give the answers to your questions tomorrow!” forgetting to say “Insha’Allah” (by the will of Allah).

The next day the polytheists came but there was no news. The day after they came again and still there was no news... Fifteen days had past, but no new revelation was given.

The polytheists were ravished and thrilled, “He said tomorrow it’s been fifteen days! There you go, clearly, he does not receive revelation from his Rabb but from someone else, who obviously couldn’t answer these questions!”

Finally, Gabriel (pbuh) appeared with the revelation of the chapter al-Kayf.

Our Master, distressed and troubled, asked, “O Gabriel, why haven’t you visited me for so long when you used to visit me so frequently?” 

To this Gabriel answered with the verse:

“We only become revealed (dimensionally) with the command of your Rabb! Everything within and outside and beyond our knowledge belongs to Him! The concept of forgetfulness does not apply to Him!”[1]

Then continued with the following verses:

Do not say “I will definitely do it tomorrow” about anything (for you do not know if Allah wills that thing or not)!

Except when adding, “Insha Allah – If Allah wills” (you cannot know how Allah’s new manifestation will be)! And remember (dhikr) your Rabb (the Names comprising your essence) when you forget! And say, “I hope my Rabb enables me to attain perfection in His closeness (the dimension of the Reflection of Attributes, in the experience of the unity of existence. [See the topic of the Reflection of Divine Attributes in The Perfect Man, by Abdulqadir al-Jili.])[2]

After making this reminder, Gabriel went on to reveal the following verses from chapter al-Kahf to answer the question regarding the people of the cave:

Or did you think that (only) the Ashab-al Kahf (companions of the cave) and the inscription (on stone) were among Our wondrous signs?

And when the youths retreated to the cave and said “Our Rabb (the Name composition comprising our essential reality), grant us a grace (a blessing with your favor) from Yourself (Your ladun) and form within us a state of perfection in this matter.”

So, We cast (a veil) over their ears (closed their perception to the world; put them to sleep) in the cave for many years.

Then We revived them (with a new understanding of life) that We might know (‘Know’ here denotes ‘reveal’ so that they may know – Elmalili Tafsir, Vol 5, Pg 3226) which of the two factions were most precise in calculating the time they had remained there.

(My Rasul) We narrate their story to you in truth... Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Rabb (B-Rabbihim; as their essential reality in their consciousness) ... Hence, We increased them in experiencing their essential reality.

We put a nexus in their hearts (fixed their consciousness upon a state of constant observation)! They (those youths) stood up and said, “Our Rabb (the dimension of Names comprising our essence) is the Rabb of the heavens and the earth (the One who forms everything in existence with His Names)! Never will we accept a god (an administrator in existence) besides Him (equivalent to Him)! For if we speak the contrary, we would have spoken an absurd thing that defies the mind and logic.”

These, our people (who have deified the results of their baseless assumptions) have taken gods besides Him... If only they can show a clear proof of the power of these gods! So, who is more unjust than one who lies and slanders against Allah?

Since you have distanced yourselves from them and the things they worship besides Allah, retreat to the cave so your Rabb may spread His grace over you and form a benefit for you from what you do.

When the sun rises it turns from the right side of the cave... And when it sets it passes from their left side... They are within an open space thereof... This is a sign of Allah... Whoever Allah guides (to his essential reality) is enabled to reach the reality... And whoever He leads astray, never will you find for him a friend/guide to enlighten him.

You would have thought they were awake though they lay asleep (as though dead) ... We turned them to the right and to the left... And their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance (of the cave)! Had you seen them in that state, you would have turned away from them in flight; you would have been apprehensive and frightened!

Thus, We revived (resurrected) them (a quality of the Name Baith manifested upon them) so that they may question one another about what they experienced... One of them said, “How long have you remained?” Some of them said, “We have remained a day or a part of a day” ... The others said, “Your Rabb knows better how long you remained... So, send one of you with this silver coin (money) to the city and let him see what food is clean and bring back some sustenance for you; let him be cautious and not let others be aware of you.”