You would have thought they were awake, though they lay asleep. We turned them over, to the right and the left, while their dog lay at the cave's entrance with legs outstretched. Had you looked down and seen them, you would have surely turned your back and fled in terror. 18 And likewise we raised them up that they might question among themselves; there spake a speaker from amongst them: how long have ye tarried? They said we have tarried a day or part of a day. They said, your Lord knoweth best how long ye have tarried; now send one of you with this your money unto the city and let him see which food is purest there, and let him bring you a provision thereof, and let him be circumspect, and let him by no means discover you to anyone. 19 For they, if they should come to know of you, will stone you or turn you back to their religion; then ye will never prosper. 20 And likewise We caused their affair to be lit upon that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that the Hour - there is no doubt thereof, Recall what time they were disputing among themselves regarding their affair, and then they said: build over them a building - their Lord is the Best Knower about them - then those who prevailed in their affair said: surely we will raise over them a place of worship. 21 Some will say concerning them: "They were three and their dog, the fourth"; and some will say: "They were five, and their dog, the sixth" -- all this being merely guesswork; and still others will say: "They were seven, and their dog, the eighth." Say: "My Lord knows their number best. Only a few know their correct number. So do not dispute concerning their number, but stick to what is evident, and do not question anyone about them." 22