Some people will say, “They were three and the fourth was their dog,” and some others will say, “They were five and the sixth was their dog.” These are mere irrelevant guesses. There are still others who say, “They were seven and the eighth was their dog.”22 Say, "My Lord alone knows best how many they were." "There are a few people only who know their correct number: so you should not enter into discussions with them about their number except in a cursory way: nor ask anyone about them23 and never say about any matter, “I will do this tomorrow (for you cannot do anything) except that Allah wills it.” If ever you inadvertently utter anything like this, you should at once remember your Lord and say, “I hope that my Lord will guide me24 in this matter with that thing which is nearest to the right way for me”and some people say that they remained in their Cave for three hundred years and some others add nine more years25 (to the reckoning of the period). O Prophet, say, “Allah knows best about the period of their stay there, for He is fully aware of all that is hidden in the heavens and the earth.” What an excellent Seer and Hearer He is! There is no other guardian of the creation in the heavens and the earth, and He does not associate anyone with Himself in His authority. O Prophet,26 recite (the very same) that has been revealed to you in the Book of your Lord, for no one is authorized to make any change whatsoever in the Word of your Lord and (if you will make any change to please any one) you will find no place of refuge to protect you from Him.27 And keep yourself whole-heartedly content with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening in order to win His approval, and do not turn your attention away from them. Do you desire the allurements of the world?28 Do not follow the one"29 whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who follows his own lust and goes to extremes in the conduct of his affairs.30 Proclaim, “This is the Truth from your Lord: now whosoever will, he may accept it and whosoever will, he may reject it.”31 (As for those who reject this,) We have prepared for such workers of iniquity a fire whose flames have encircled them.32 If they will ask for water there, they will be treated with such a drink as will have its residue like that of oil33 and burn their lips: what an evil drink and what an evil abode! As regards those, who accept it and do righteous deeds, they should rest assured that We do not let go waste the reward of such people: they will have evergreen gardens with canals flowing beneath them: they will be adorned with bracelets34 of gold and will wear green colored robes of silk and rich brocade and will be reclining upon raised thrones.35 What an excellent reward and what an excellent abode!