Where is the cave of Ashab Kahf

Kahf in the artist's imagination. । Photo:Collected

The Holy Qur'an does not discuss the historical and geographical details of the event as per its usual method of narration. Therefore, on the basis of historical narratives, commentators and historians have expressed different opinions about its geography. According to most researchers, it happened after the ascension of Jesus (A.S.), that is, between the first and third centuries after Christ. Christian sources also describe the incident with slight differences.

Location of Cave of Ashab Kahf

Scholars disagree as to where the cave of Ashab Kahf is located. Some say it is in the city of 'Afsus' (Islamic name is 'Tarsus') in Turkey. Someone named a cave in Spain. According to some it is located in Syria. Some say it is located in Jordan. Others believe it is located in Yemen.

The predominance of being located in Jordan

Narrated Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Cave of Kahf in Ashab is located near Ayala (Gulf of Aqaba) (i.e. in Jordan). (Tafseer Tabari: 17/602)

Based on that description and many other signs, many researchers of the era preferred the cave to be in Jordan. Maulana Hifzur Rahman Siuharvi, in 'Kasasul Qur'an', Syed Sulaiman Nadvi in ​​'Ardul Qur'an', Mufti Shafi (r.a.) in 'Maariful Qur'an' have given priority to this view in the light of historical and geographical evidence. This is also the case with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (RA).

The essence of their research is that the original name of the historic city of Jordan was 'Rakim'. The Roman government changed the name to 'Petra'. And the cave is located somewhere near it.

Jordan's recent revelations

Taisir Jobayan, a prominent Jordanian researcher, claims with great conviction that this cave has recently been discovered in a mountain near Amman. He also wrote an article on its research. Based on his mentioned documents and signs, it seems more logical that it is the cave of Ashab Kahf. He found a cave in the mountains near Amman, containing some graves and skeletons, and a mosque built on top. He set out in search of the cave with one of his companions. They were able to reach the mouth of the cave by crossing a long friend's path.

Taisir Jobian continued his research. Immediately after drawing the attention of the Directorate of Archaeology, an archaeologist named Rafiq Razani carried out research with great skill and expressed the opinion that this is the cave of Ashab Kahf. The following evidences and signs are available in favor of this view:

1. The cave faces south. As a result, it matches this verse of the Qur'an: 'And when the sun rose, it passed from their cave leaning to the right. And when it set, it would cross to its left side. And they were in the spacious part of the cave. (Surah Kahf, verse 17)

The condition of the claimed cave is that the sun passes through its right and left sides at sunrise and sunset, and there is also a wide empty space inside the cave.

2. It is also mentioned in the Holy Qur'an that the villagers wanted to build a mosque on that cave. Excavations also revealed a mosque on the Alochya Cave.

3. According to the researchers, the name of 'Trajan', who took refuge in the 'Ashabe Kahf' cave after suffering the persecution of the pagan king. He was the ruler from 98 AD to 117 AD. His unspeakable torture of idol worshipers is also famous. History also proves that Trajan conquered the eastern part of Jordan in 106 AD. 

Some coins from Trajan's reign were found inside the newly discovered cave. It appears that this is the cave of Ashab Kahf.

4. The Holy Qur'an called the Companions of the Kahf 'the Caves and the Compassionate'. In the explanation of the word 'Rakim', most of the researchers are of the opinion that 'Rakim' was the name of their town.

A town 100 meters away from the newly discovered cave is called 'Rajib'. It is believed to be a corrupted form of the word 'Rakim'. Because the Bedouins here usually speak by replacing 'Qf' with 'Jim' and 'Mim' with 'Ba'. And the geographer of the fourth Hijri century, Abu Abdullah Al-Bashhari, wrote: 'Rakim is a city near Amman in eastern Jordan. Where a cave has also been discovered. (Ahsanut Takasim, p: 175)

Seventh-century geographer Yaqut Hamavi wrote in his explanation of 'Rakime', 'Kahf and Rakime are the people's idea of ​​a place near the city of Amman. (Muzamul Buldan: 3/61)

Historical narratives support the view

According to some historical accounts, early Muslims considered a cave in this region to be the cave of Ashab Kahf. It is narrated that Ubada Ibn Samit (R.A.) was on his way as an ambassador to the Roman Emperor and crossed the mountain called 'Rakim' on the way to Syria. It also had a cave. There were also a few skeletons inside the cave.

Historian Waqedi (R.A.) writes that Sa'id Ibn Amer (R.A.) while traveling towards Syria for Jihad lost his way and when he reached the mountain of Rakim, he recognized it and told his companions that it was the cave of Ashab Kahf. They prayed there and entered the city of Amman. (Futuhush Sham: 1/171)

In short, it is difficult to say with 100% certainty about the location of such an ancient event. However, there is no doubt that among all the places that have been suggested to be the place of Ahab Kahf, the cave in question has the most evidence and signs. 

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