18.10 The supplication of the youths who slept in the cave
In the Quran one often comes across the supplication of one or another prophet of God. But this supplication is not one of them. Besides its beautiful and deep meaning, it is remarkable in that it was addressed to the Lord of the worlds by believing youths who were destined to become a sign, and whose story the Quran has told us.
These were youths who faced a hard trial. They had found faith, but their people did not share their convictions at all and had not the slightest sympathy for the religion they had chosen. Only one thing remained for these believers in the One God: to flee in order to save their religion. They left their people, foreseeing that they would make persistent attempts to turn them away from their faith.
Having rejected idolatry once and for all, they set out on their way, trusting in the Almighty Lord and surrendering entirely to His will. When they reached a cave, they decided to take refuge in it from possible pursuit and, on entering beneath its vaults, they turned to the Almighty with this sincere supplication. We know what happened next. They were destined to sleep in this cave for three hundred years and thus to become one of those miracles that Allah the Almighty has shown more than once throughout the centuries-long history of humanity.
The wonderful story of these youths reminds us not only of the boundless power and wisdom of the Lord, but also of how important it is for each of us to notice all the wonders around us in this world, to think about these great and small wonders of Allah in the universe, and to reflect on the signs He shows to His creations. He urges us to this in His Book, which is also among His greatest miracles, for these observations and reflections strengthen our faith and help us to realise the greatness of the Creator, inspiring in us a reverent awe of Him and filling our hearts with fear of God. “Our Lord!” they called out, acknowledging and emphasising that He is their Lord and that they worship Him alone. Into these words they put all their sincerity and humility, wishing to show their devotion and submission to the One in whom they believed with all their heart, so that this faith mingled with their flesh and blood.
“Grant us mercy from Yourself.” They asked Him for mercy, but they did so in the most wonderful way, adding a beautiful touch to their supplication. They mentioned that they wished to attain not just any mercy, that is, not the mercy with which all His creations are endowed to some degree, since the Lord created them, gives them their provision and sustains their existence, and this applies even to those of them who openly disobey Him and bring His anger upon themselves. They asked for a special mercy, one that implies special care and support, and with which only those close to Him are blessed: sincere, God-fearing believers.
But they did not stop there, and asked also: “And guide us rightly through our ordeal.” Guide us, Lord, help us to follow the true path that our feet have touched by Your mercy. And inspire us with prudence in words and deeds. And direct us to what is best in matters of religion and of this world.
This supplication teaches us true and proper trust in the Almighty, a trust that goes together with taking the necessary steps. Just as these youths did everything in their power, everything that could be done in those circumstances, so each of us should work and make every possible effort, and at the same time rely on the Almighty with all our heart and call upon Him with the most sincere supplications. Then the Lord will heed our supplication and make a way out for us from the most difficult situation, including those that often seem hopeless and without escape to us.
Grant us mercy from You, support us with it, protect us from evil and make it easy for us to follow the right path that will lead us to deeds pleasing to You, so that we may be those who follow the straight path and not those who go astray… What could be better than these words! And how important it is for every believer to turn to the Creator with such supplications from time to time. For we today are in no less need of God’s mercy and forgiveness than those believing youths who lived in a hard and terrible time many centuries ago.