You might have thought them awake, though they were sleeping. We turned them about to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched its paws at the entrance. Had you seen them you would surely have become filled with terror and turned your back on them in flight. 18 Such (being their state), we raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them, "How long have ye stayed (here)?" They said, "We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day." (At length) they (all) said, "Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here.... Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may) satisfy your hunger therewith: And let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform any one about you. 19 for if they find you out, they will stone you to death, or force you back into their faith. In that case you would 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: "They were three, and their dog was the fourth;" and some will also say: "They were five and their dog was the sixth," -- guessing in the dark. And some will even say: "They were seven, and their dog the eighth." Say: "My Lord alone knows best their number; none but only a few know of them." So do not argue about it with them but lightly, and do not enquire about them from any one of them. 22