Seven Sleepers Cave, located in Mersin province of Turkey, is also known as Ashab-ı Kehf Cave. The cave, which is considered sacred, arouses curiosity with the name of the seven sleepers. The miraculous story of the cave is extremely interesting. It is rumored that the story took place in different provinces of Turkey and even in many countries of the world. The seven sleepers that gave the cave its name are known as Ashab-ı Kehf.
The Companions of the Kehf are composed of Salih youth who lived in Tarsus during the reign of Dakyanus, a pagan ruler, and fought for faith and oneness. The most well-known and popular of the Seven Sleepers Cave, which is believed to be in more than one place in Turkey, is located in Mersin. Cave; It is located near Dedeler Village, 14 kilometers northwest of Tarsus district of Mersin province. The Cave, which is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Kahf, is accepted as a holy place of visit by Christians and Muslims.
The word Ashab-ı Kehf is known as “cave man” or “inscription people”. It is mentioned that young people who were thought to have died and whose names were forgotten, reappeared after centuries. Although some consider this event as a legend, it is an event that is told in person in the Qur’an. For this reason, it is one of the stories that the Muslim community firmly believes and believes in. The Companions of the Kehf are described in the Qur’an in the 18th verse of the chapter of Kahf.
The Story of the Seven Sleepers
In the event that took place in 250 AD, the cruel ruler Dakyanus wants to make everyone a pagan. Seven young people, Yemliha, Mekselina, Mislina, Mernuş, Debernuş, Şazenuş and Kefeştatayyus, who did not want to be pagan, converted to religion. These 7 young people, fleeing from the ruler’s compulsion, take shelter in a cave by climbing the mountain to pray. The name of the dogs next to the young people is Kıtmir. The room is located in seven sleepers with the youth.
The seven sleepers who took shelter in the cave prayed to God for mercy. The soldiers of the ruler imprison the young people they find in this cave and leave them to die. The entrance of the cave is walled up and young people are left hungry and thirsty. Those young people, who slept in a deep sleep for 309 years in the cave, felt like one night. When they wake up, Yemliha, who goes to the city to buy food, sees a completely different city. He realizes that the money he extended to buy bread is from a very old time. When the public receives reactions that they have found the burial, it is understood that something is wrong. It is understood that they slept for a longer period of time in the cave rather than a night. Yemliha returns to the cave and tells the situation to her friends. They all decide to go back to sleep together and never wake up again. The people, who think that this is a miracle, then start to visit this place by building a mosque in front of the cave.
The Wisdom of the Story of the Seven Sleepers
Young people known as Ashab-ı Kehf are composed of faithful young people who defend religion. There is no clear expression about the number of people in the Qur’an, and it is stated that “they were some young people”. The main point to be emphasized in this story is not their names, numbers and hometowns. It is their sense of Ihsan and their heart structure that increases their value in the sight of Allah. An example of resurrection after death is shown in this parable, in which the power of faith against pagans is displayed. It is desired that human beings realize the divine truths.
King Dakyanus is a pagan and cruel king. This king, who increased his cruelty to the people, went so far as to claim godhood. He started to have anyone who believed in tawhid arrested and hanged at the entrances of the city by making heavy tortures. When he learned that the Companions of Keyf were believers, he called them to his presence and threatened them. However, these youths with strong faith were never afraid and resisted the cruel ruler.
Allah describes their situation as follows:
“(O Messenger of Allah!) We are telling you exactly what happened to them. Indeed, they were young believers. And we increased their guidance.” (al-Kahf, 13)
“We have made their hearts clear. Those brave men (in front of their cruel rulers) stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. We do not call anyone else a god but Him. Otherwise we would be talking nonsense.” (al-Kahf, 14)
“These people of ours have taken gods besides Allah. If only they could come up with clear evidence about these gods. (What is possible!) So, is there anyone more unjust than the one who invents a lie about Allah?” (al-Kahf, 15)
It is stated that the dog named Kıtmir, who is next to the Companions of the Kehf, will enter Paradise by getting its share of the grace that they have been granted. While the young people were sleeping, Kıtmir faithfully guarded the cave gate. In this regard, it is stated as follows; “Because that dog had been the faithful watchman of the Companions, he drank the water of the Divine Mercy in front of the cave door, without a bowl or a pot, like wise men. He deserved to be with them in Paradise too.”
