سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَٰثَةٞ رَّابِعُهُمۡ كَلۡبُهُمۡ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمۡسَةٞ سَادِسُهُمۡ كَلۡبُهُمۡ رَجۡمَۢا بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبۡعَةٞ وَثَامِنُهُمۡ كَلۡبُهُمۡۚ قُل رَّبِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعۡلَمُهُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٞۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمۡ إِلَّا مِرَآءٗ ظَٰهِرٗا وَلَا تَسۡتَفۡتِ فِيهِم مِّنۡهُمۡ أَحَدٗا
They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muhammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone
Some of the citizens indulged in unnecessary arguments about the Men of the Cave. Some people said that they were three in number and the fourth was their dog. Some said that they were five and their dog was the sixth, while some maintained that they were seven and the dog was the eighth. But such discussions indicate an unsound approach. When the spirit of religion is alive, the entire emphasis is laid on the essence of the matter. When a nation or community is on the decline, the real spirit is neglected while outward formalities become the subject of heated discussions. A true God-worshipper should not indulge in such discussions and, even if another raises such questions, he should evade the issue by giving a brief reply.
اصحاب کہف کے بارہ میں کچھ لوگ غیر ضروری بحثوں میں مبتلا تھے۔ کسی نے کہا کہ ان کی تعداد تین تھی اور چوتھا ان کا کتا تھا۔ کسی نے کہا کہ وہ پانچ تھے اور چھٹا ان کا کتا تھا۔ کسی نے کہا کہ وہ سات تھے اور آٹھواں ان کا کتا تھا۔
مگر اس قسم کی بحثیں مزاج کی خرابی کی علامت ہیں۔ جب دینی روح زندہ ہو تو سارا زور اصل حقیقت پر دیا جاتا ہے۔ اور جب قوم پر زوال آتا ہے تو اصل روح پس پشت چلی جاتی ہے اور ظاہری تفصیلات بحث و مناظرہ کا موضوع بن جاتی ہیں۔ سچے خدا پرست کو چاہیے کہ وہ ان بحثوں میں نہ پڑے بلکہ اگر کوئی دوسرا شخص اس قسم کے سوالات کرے تو اس کو اجمالی جواب دے کر گزر جائے۔
Maulana does not cite this verse in the lectures indexed so far. The verses of this surah Maulana does cite →