“Had you looked at them in the Cave it would have appeared to you that when the sun rose, it moved away from their cave to the right; and when it set, it turned away from them to the left, while they remained in a spacious hollow in the Cave. This is one of the Signs of Allah. Whomsoever Allah guides, he alone is led aright; and whomsoever Allah lets go astray, you will find for him no guardian to direct him.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 18:17)
At the time when the People of the Cave had to take shelter in the mountains, the town of Ephesus was a major centre of idolatry and magic in Asia Minor. The splendid temple to the goddess Diana, which then adorned the town, was famous the world over. The sorcerers, soothsayers and amulet-writers of Ephesus were well-known. The Jewsalso had an important share in this business. The plight of righteous people in this atmosphere – an atmosphere charged with polytheism and superstition – was summed up in the verse 18:20.
The presence of some people in a dark cave in a mountainous area, guarded by a dog, presented such an awesome spectacle that those who observed them would have run for their lives, presumably assuming them to be robbers. This was one of the main reasons why the truth about these people remained a mystery for so long. No one simply had the courage to enter the cave and find out the truth of the matter. This was indeed a great Sign of Allah.