The People of the Cave: a Quran story for kids

In an old city there were some young men who believed in Allah alone, while the people of their city worshipped others.

﴿إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَـٰهُمْ هُدًۭى﴾

Al-Kahf 18:13

It means: They were young men who believed in Allah, and Allah gave them even more guidance.

So they left the city for a cave in the mountain, and prayed to their Lord:

﴿رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا﴾

Al-Kahf 18:10

It means: Our Lord, have mercy on us, and help us do what is right.

They fell asleep in the cave, with their dog beside them, its front legs stretched out at the entrance.

﴿وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌۭ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ﴾

Al-Kahf 18:18

It means: And their dog stretched its front legs at the cave’s entrance.

When the sun rose, it turned away from their cave, so it did not harm them.

﴿وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ﴾

Al-Kahf 18:17

It means: When the sun rises, it moves away from the cave.

And they slept for a very long time: three hundred and nine years!

﴿وَلَبِثُوا۟ فِى كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَـٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍ سِنِينَ وَٱزْدَادُوا۟ تِسْعًا﴾

Al-Kahf 18:25

It means: They slept in their cave for 309 years.

Then Allah woke them up, and they asked one another: how long did we sleep? They said:

﴿لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍۢ﴾

Al-Kahf 18:19

It means: They thought they had slept a day, or less.

Think: How did Allah keep them safe all that time?

So they sent one of them to the city with silver coins, to buy them some food.

﴿فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ﴾

Al-Kahf 18:19

It means: Send one of you with your silver coins to the city.

And the people came to know their story, and it was a sign for them:

﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ﴾

Al-Kahf 18:21

It means: Allah let the people find them, so they would know that Allah’s promise is true.

And Allah protects those who believe in Him.