The holy Qur’an declares the GPS coordinates of real cave of Ashab Al-kahf (the Seven Sleepers). It is 38°N; 36°51'17"E (Afsin/Kahramanmaras/Turkey)
This article was written by Ibrahim Esinler, MD. Professor of OBGYN
All rights reserved by Ibrahim Esinler. You can share some or all of this article wherever you wish without permission. The only requirement is that the article must be cited.
The story of Ashab Al-kahf (the Seven Sleepers) is a common belief of both Christianity and Islam. It is very important for us because it is mentioned in our honorable Qur'an.
‘Al-kahf’ means cave and ‘Ashab’ means companion in Arabic language. There is a surah in the Qur'an. The name of this surah is Surah Kahf. Between the 9th and 26th verses of this surah, the events that happened to some young men who took shelter in a cave are mentioned. That is why these young men are called cave companions.
These monotheistic young men who escaped from the oppressors of the Roman Empire and took refuge in a cave were put to sleep for 300 solar years (309 lunar years) by our Almighty Lord. There are about 40 caves that are claimed to be the cave where the young men took refuge. Most Christians believe that this cave is located in Ephesus, Turkey. However, the cave at Ephesus has no more evidence than any other alleged cave of the Ashab Al-kahf. It is clear that no one will be able to prove with conclusive evidence where the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf is located. Surely only Allah Almighty can show us the exact location of the real cave.
The 17th verse of Surah Kahf gives very interesting technical information about the location of the cave where the young men entered.
By the year 2023, you will witness a great miracle of the Qur'an, with permission of Allah Almighty. A letter-level technical analysis of this verse, which contains a total of 34 words and 125 letters, gives us the location of the real Ashab Al-kahf (Seven Sleepers) cave with a precision of meter as a miracle of Allah Almighty. The Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates given below are the location of the actual cave of Ashab Al-kahf (Seven Sleepers) according to the Qur’an.
38°N
36°51'17"E
Let us notice how Allah Almighty, in just 34 words and 125 letters, has shown us the location of the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf (Seven Sleepers) with meter precision. Let’s witness to this marvelous miracle.
Please read firstly the 17th verse of Surah Kahf carefully in which this marvelous miracle is manifested.
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18|17|وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا wataraỳ -lššamsa ʾiiḏaʾ ṭalaʿat ttazaawaru ʿan kahfihim ḏaʾta -lyamiyni waʾiiḏaʾ ġarabat ttaqriḍuhum ḏaʾta -lššimaʾali wahum fiỳ faǧwaẗí mminhu ḏaalika min 'aʾyaati -lllahi man yahdi -lllahu fahuwa -lmuhtadi waman yuḍlil falan taǧida lahuۥ waliyyáʾ mmuršidáʾ And you see the sun when it rose, it bends from their cave to the right, and when it set, it cuts/crosses them to the left, and they are in a breach/cavity of it (the cave); that is from signs/evidences of Allah/God; whom Allah/God guides so he is the guided, and whom He leads astray, so never you find to him a guardian (close protector), a correct/mature path. |
Explanation of the 17th verse:
East and west directions never change. East is always the direction in which the Sun rises. West is always the direction in which the Sun sets. However, this is not so certain for the right and left directions. In order to understand the verse well and to understand what kind of a cave it is, we need to determine where is the right direction and where is the left direction. The right and left directions can point to different directions depending on the position of a person. If a person whose right side is north turns 180 degrees, his right side becomes south. It is of course the same for the left.
We need to find out exactly which direction the left and right are pointing. This is why Allah Almighty says at the very beginning of the verse, "And you see the sun". The phrase "And you see the sun” addresses directly to the Prophet Muhammad. We must therefore read the verse from the perspective of someone other than the ones in the cave. The analysis should not be done through the eyes of the young men in the cave. This point is very important. Otherwise, one can never understand where the left direction is and where the right direction is. It is very clear that the determination of the left and right directions in the verse must be based on a person facing the sunrise.
Figure 1. The right direction and the left direction should be determined through a person watching the sunrise.
The marvelous sign given by the bending of the sun to the right:
Allah Almighty gives us the following information in the verse; "It (Sun) bends from their cave to the right". At this point, the cave is pointed out as a second point of reference. We understand that this person, who is looking in the direction of the rising of the Sun, and at the same time is somewhere near the cave, will see the Sun rising after it rises, leaning towards the side of his right arm. The sun will rise leaning to the right. This person does not necessarily have to be in front of the cave entrance. Wherever he is outside the cave, he will see the Sun bending towards to the right from the cave.
We understand that by this sign Allah Almighty is informing us that this cave should be in the northern hemisphere. Anyone who watches the sunrise and sees the sun bending to his right should be definitely in the northern hemisphere.
We noted that the right direction referred to in the verse is the south direction.
Figure 2. The phrase "It (Sun) bends from their cave to the right" tells us with certainty that this cave is in the northern hemisphere.
Figure 3. If the cave had been at the equator, the Sun would not have made a rightward tilt relative to the cave. It would have risen directly without tilting and passes over the cave.
Figure 4. If the cave had been in the southern hemisphere, the Sun would have been tilted to the left, that is, to the north.
A very important evidence:
Allah Almighty has not given any information about the Sun cuts/crosses young men inside the cave during the rising of the Sun. However, immediately after in the same verse, we are informed that the Sun cuts/crosses the young men when it sets. Thus, we understand that the cave entrance is sunless during the sun rising and tilting to the right, that is, to the south.
The verse continues, "and when it (the Sun) sets, it cuts/crosses them to the left". The pronoun "them" in the verb "cuts/crosses them", ‘تَّقْرِضُهُمْ’ , 'ttaqriḍuhum' refers to the young men inside the cave. We have already mentioned that the analysis should be done on a person watching the sunrise. We also understood at the beginning of the verse that the right side is the southern direction, so the left side is necessarily north. The left of a person watching the sunrise would be the north. Our Lord informs us that a different situation occurs during the setting of the sun. As the sun sets, the sun's rays illuminate the entrance of the cave in a way that crosses it in relation to the young men inside. This crossing is to the left (to the north). We understand that the sun's rays fall inside the north wall of the cave entrance at sunset. From the word "cuts/crosses" we understand that near sunset the sunlight begins to fall in the direction of the north inner wall of the cave entrance. As the sun bends down to set, this illumination moves up the north inner wall of the cave entrance into the cave and higher up.
Figure 5. The young men inside the cave must have seen the setting sun shining on the inner wall of the cave on the north side.
The young men in the cave are in a breach/cavity on the south side of the cave.
Verse 17 says "and they are in a breach/cavity of it (the cave)".
The root of the word (فَجْوَةٍ) ‘faǧwaẗí’ (فجو) means an opening, an aperture, a breach, a gap, a gap, an interstice. Hans Wehr 4th ed., page 817 (of 1303)
We clearly understand that inside the cave, there is a breach/cavity. The young men have not only entered the cave, they have hidden in its most secret, deepest, most invisible place. Since the evening sun, which cuts/crosses the young men, crosses them from the left, that is, from the north, surely these young men must have hidden in a breach/cavity, located towards the south of the cave.
Figure 6. We also understand that the young men were hiding deep inside the cave in the southern part.
In the verse, Allah Almighty has magnificently informed us about the position of the cave. The entrance of the cave should not see the sun in the morning and should not see the sun at noon and afternoon, but in the evening, when the sun bends down to set and the sun sets, the entrance of the cave should see the evening sun in the north direction. The entrance of a cave that meets these conditions must necessarily face north-west direction.
Let's move on:
Verse 17 says: "that is from signs/evidences of Allah/God; whom Allah/God guides so he is the guided, and whom He leads astray, so never you find to him a guardian (close protector), a correct/mature path." This is precisely correct. If Allah Almighty sees that a person is worthy of guidance, He guides him to the right path, and then Allah Almighty becomes his close protector and guardian. Allah Almighty has been the guardian, the close protector of those young men who are free from polytheism.
It is very interesting that the verse 17 gives technical information about the location of the cave. If a miracle of Allah Almighty is to be manifested regarding the position of the cave on the Earth, it is surely expected to be manifested in verse 17.
You are about to witness a great miracle of the Qur'an, from the creator of the universe, from Allah Almighty. You will see with astonishment that our Almighty Lord has informed us in verse 17 where the cave of Ashab Al-kahf (Seven Sleepers), which is the common point of the two biggest religious beliefs of the world, Christianity and Islam, is located. Even with a meter precision.
Where is the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf (Seven Sleepers)?
There are about 40 caves that claim to be cave of Ashab Al-kahf (Seven Sleepers). Some caves in Turkey, Jordan, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ukraine, China and Abyssinia are claimed to be the cave of Ashab Al-kahf (Seven Sleepers). Unfortunately, it is impossible to find out where the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf is with conclusive evidence. We need the help of Allah Almighty. He is the only one who can tell us beyond any doubt where the real cave is.
Prepare yourself to see a great miracle;
The Qur’an gives the GPS coordinates of the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf:
Allah Almighty has increased the probability of finding the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf by informing us of some of the characteristics of the cave in His honorable Qur'an in verse 17. According to the Qur'anic indication, the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf should have the following characteristics:
- The cave is in the northern hemisphere.
- The cave entrance faces northwest.
However, despite this information given by verse 17, we cannot find the exact location of the cave. We need more precise information. If Allah Almighty wished to let us know where this cave is, surely, He must have put information in the Qur'an that show us precisely where this cave is on Earth. What we need to do is to follow the signs that our Lord has shown us.
How do we know exactly where something is on Earth?
With latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude values allow us to determine the exact location of a place on Earth. For this, let's briefly learn about meridians and parallels:
Meridian:
Meridians are hypothetical arc-shaped lines that divide the globe into 360 equal parts at right angles to the equator and meet at the poles. Each meridian is half of a great circle and all meridians are the same length. Meridians start at the North Pole, cross the Equator exactly perpendicularly and end at the South Pole.
Figure 7. West of the prime meridian is defined as the western meridians and east of the prime meridian is defined as the eastern meridians.
The meridian passing through the Greenwich observatory in England is considered the prime meridian and is shown as 0° degrees. The areas to the east are called the eastern hemisphere and the areas to the west are called the western hemisphere. The 0° (Greenwich) and 180° meridians are opposite each other and complete each other in a circle. For this reason, the 180th meridian is also called the "antimeridian".
Figure 8. The 0° degree meridian passing through Greenwich. East of this meridian is the eastern hemisphere and west is the western hemisphere.
Since the 6th century, different places have been accepted as the starting meridian by different societies. In 1884, 41 representatives from 25 countries, including the Ottoman Empire, gathered in Washington for the "International Meridian Conference". In this meeting, Greenwich was chosen as the 0 meridian with 22 votes. The fact that 70% of the world's sailors used the Greenwich time zone at that time was effective in the selection of this meridian. Today, all countries and societies recognize Greenwich as 0 meridian. There is no other alternative to Greenwich.
What is a parallel?
Parallels are circles drawn parallel to the equator in the north and south directions at one degree intervals up to the poles. The equatorial circle is the circle at the center of the Earth and equidistant from the poles. Therefore, it is considered the initial parallel. The location of the equator has emerged from the shape of the Earth. The equator divides the Earth into two equal hemispheres, north and south.
Figure 9. A virtual line passing through the equator is considered the beginning of parallel lines.
Figure 10. Parallel lines are graded according to their distance from the equator, the starting line.
The parallels to the north are called "northern parallels" and those to the south are called "southern parallels".
What is longitude?
It is the meridian of a location expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds. In other words, it is the measure of the angular distance (in degrees, minutes, seconds) of the meridian of a location from Greenwich, the starting meridian.
Example: If point A is on the 20th east meridian, the longitude of A is 20° degrees east longitude.
Since longitudes are also determined according to the meridian, they are divided into eastern and western longitudes.
What is latitude?
It is the expression of the parallel where a location is located in degrees, minutes and seconds. In other words, it is the angular expression of the distance of that location from the Equator. The latitude of the Equator is by definition 0° degrees.
Example: If point A is on the north parallel at 40° degrees north, the latitude of point A is 40° degrees north latitude. The distance of this point from the Equator is 40° degrees north.
Let us give one example from a single point so that the issue can be fully understood.
The picture below shows the location of Empire State Building on Earth. Empire State Building is at 73° degrees 59 minutes 08 seconds west longitude and 40° degrees 44 minutes 54 seconds north latitude.
Figure 11. GPS location of Empire State Building.
As can be seen, the location of a place on Earth can be known precisely with west-east longitude and north-south latitude information.
Let us investigate if Allah Almighty, in our honorable Qur'an, has pointed out to us the location of the actual cave of Ashab Al-kahf with longitude and latitude information.
We need to start from verse 17, where the location of the cave is technically indicated. Because if our Lord has given a sign, we must surely see it in this verse.
Let us give the beautiful verse again here.
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18|17|وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا wataraỳ -lššamsa ʾiiḏaʾ ṭalaʿat ttazaawaru ʿan kahfihim ḏaʾta -lyamiyni waʾiiḏaʾ ġarabat ttaqriḍuhum ḏaʾta -lššimaʾali wahum fiỳ faǧwaẗí mminhu ḏaalika min 'aʾyaati -lllahi man yahdi -lllahu fahuwa -lmuhtadi waman yuḍlil falan taǧida lahuۥ waliyyáʾ mmuršidáʾ And you see the sun when it rose, it bends from their cave to the right, and when it set, it cuts/crosses them to the left, and they are in a breach/cavity of it (the cave); that is from signs/evidences of Allah/God; whom Allah/God guides so he is the guided, and whom He leads astray, so never you find to him a guardian (close protector), a correct/mature path. |
This verse is such a marvelous verse! Only a deity can describe a place so succinctly. For 1400 years this verse has been in the Qur’an. For 1400 years it was not understood. The secrets in it had not been revealed. Our Almighty Lord showed us the secret of this verse. He showed us why the verse says, "That is from signs/evidences of Allah/God" and what it refers to. He showed us the miracle of this verse. Thank Allah/God that we recognized it; we saw it. I am endlessly grateful to my Lord.
We will analyze verse 17 technically at the letter level. But do not be intimidated immediately. I can hear some of you saying, "I don't know Arabic! How can I count the letters?". Do not worry at all. You do not need to know Arabic to witness this miracle. Verse 17 consists of 34 words in total. These 34 words contain a total of 125 letters. The Arabic alphabet consists of a total of 28 letters. I will show you the Arabic alphabet below. Firstly, we will separate the words in the verse, then we will separate the words into their letters. Then we will check the letters and count them together. There is no difficulty.
Let us split the verse 17 into its words. In this verse, there are 34 words.
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Word Order in the Verse |
Arabic |
English translation |
Pronunciation |
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1 |
وَتَرَى |
And you see |
wataraỳ |
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2 |
ٱلشَّمْسَ |
the sun |
-lššamsa |
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3 |
إِذَا |
when |
ʾiiḏaʾ |
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4 |
طَلَعَت |
it rose |
ṭalaʿat |
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5 |
تَّزَٰوَرُ |
it bends |
ttazaawaru |
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6 |
عَن |
from |
ʿan |
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7 |
كَهْفِهِمْ |
their cave |
kahfihim |
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8 |
ذَاتَ |
to |
ḏaʾta |
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9 |
ٱلْيَمِينِ |
the right |
-lyamiyni |
|
10 |
وَإِذَا |
and when |
waʾiiḏaʾ |
|
11 |
غَرَبَت |
it set |
ġarabat |
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12 |
تَّقْرِضُهُمْ |
it cuts/crosses them |
ttaqriḍuhum |
|
13 |
ذَاتَ |
to |
ḏaʾta |
|
14 |
ٱلشِّمَالِ |
the left |
-lššimaʾali |
|
15 |
وَهُمْ |
and they are |
wahum |
|
16 |
فِى |
in |
fiỳ |
|
17 |
فَجْوَةٍ |
a breach/cavity |
faǧwaẗí |
|
18 |
مِّنْهُ |
of it (cave) |
mminhu |
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19 |
ذَٰلِكَ |
that is |
ḏaalika |
|
20 |
مِنْ |
from |
min |
|
21 |
ءَايَـٰتِ |
signs/evidences |
'aʾyaـati |
|
22 |
ٱللَّهِ |
of Allah/God |
-lllahi |
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23 |
مَن |
whom |
man |
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24 |
يَهْدِ |
Allah/God guides |
yahdi |
|
25 |
ٱللَّهُ |
-lllahu |
|
|
26 |
فَهُوَ |
so he is |
fahuwa |
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27 |
ٱلْمُهْتَدِ |
the guided |
-lmuhtadi |
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28 |
وَمَن |
and whom |
waman |
|
29 |
يُضْلِلْ |
he leads astray |
yuḍlil |
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30 |
فَلَن |
so never |
falan |
|
31 |
تَجِدَ |
you find |
taǧida |
|
32 |
لَهُۥ |
to him |
lahuۥ |
|
33 |
وَلِيًّا |
a guardian (close protector), |
waliyyáʾ |
|
34 |
مُّرْشِدًا |
a correct/mature path. |
mmuršidáʾ |
Allah Almighty shows us that we should analyze this verse in 3 parts which points different subjects.
Verse 17 is divided into 3 parts according to what it refers to.
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Parts of the verse |
The issue it points to |
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Part 1 And you see the sun when it rose, it bends from their cave to the right. |
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Part 2 And when it set, it cuts/crosses them to the left, and they are in a breach/cavity of it (the cave); that is. |
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Part 3 From signs/evidences of Allah/God; whom Allah/God guides so he is the guided, and whom He leads astray, so never you find to him a guardian (close protector), a correct/mature path. |
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Detailed review;
Part 1:
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وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ |
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And you see the sun when it rose, it bends from their cave to the right. |
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wataraỳ -lššamsa ʾiiḏaʾ ṭalaʿat ttazaawaru ʿan kahfihim ḏaʾta -lyamiyni. |
It is pointed out that the right direction is the southern direction through a person watching the sunrise; it is pointed out that the sun is tilted to the right; and it is also pointed out that the cave is in the northern hemisphere.
The first direction pointed out in this part is east. Therefore, part 1 should tell us which eastern longitude the cave is in. Note: East-west direction can only be in longitude.
Part 2:
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وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ |
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and when it set, it cuts/crosses them to the left, and they are in a breach/cavity of it (the cave); that is. |
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waʾiiḏaʾ ġarabat ttaqriḍuhum ḏaʾta -lššimaʾali wahum fiỳ faǧwaẗí mminhu ḏaalika. |
The sign that the setting sun crosses the young men inside the cave to the left, that is, to the north, indicates that the entrance to the cave should face north-west. The sign of the 2nd part is expected to be latitude. This is because longitude was first indicated in part 1 by pointing to the east. In part 2, latitude is indicated by pointing to the left/north (in the northern hemisphere, the left of a person watching the sunrise is always north). Part 2 also indicates that the young men entered a separate breach/cavity in the cave, to the south. Part 2 ends with a very important word. The word 'ذَٰلِكَ' 'zālike' 'that is' is the 19th word in the verse and it is the word that will bring out the miracle in the verse.
Figure 12. The picture shows part 1 and part 2 according to the topic it refers to.
Part 3:
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مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا |
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from signs/evidences of Allah/God; whom Allah/God guides so he is the guided, and whom He leads astray, so never you find to him a guardian (close protector), a correct/mature path. |
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min 'aʾyaati -lllahi man yahdi -lllahu fahuwa -lmuhtadi waman yuḍlil falan taǧida lahuۥ waliyyáʾ mmuršidáʾ |
The 1st and 2nd part of the verse was about the position of the cave on Earth and the position of the young people in it in a breach/cavity of the cave. Immediately at the beginning of the 3rd part of the verse, Allah Almighty has declared that the first 19 words will be a miracle from Him with phrase ‘from signs/evidences of Allah/God'.
The word (âyât) (ءَايَٰتِ) 'signs/evidences' is plural. It is used to describe the miracles, signs, proofs and evidences from Allah Almighty. We understand that in verse 17 there will be a great miracle/sign/indication/proof of Allah Almighty. This verse/miracle will be a definitive proof that the Qur'an is from Allah Almighty. And for all mankind. This verse/miracle will also be revealed through the first 19 words.
Those who are guided to the right path will witness the miracle of the first 19 words. Those who do not deserve to be guided to the right path will not be able to witness this miracle, which is one of the signs of Allah Almighty. Those who are not guided to the right path will have no guardian or helper. They will never, ever find the right path.
Let us move on;
Our detailed examination will be letter by letter. Therefore, let us briefly recognize the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet.
Figure 13. There are a total of 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet.
Arabic letters are written differently depending on whether they are at the beginning, middle or end of the word. Therefore, in technical analysis, we will separate the letters that make up the Arabic word so that we can count them easily.
Part 1:
Table 1: The great sign/proof/evidence of verse 17, part 1.
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And you see the sun when it rose, it bends from their cave to the right. |
وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ |
wataraỳ -lššamsa ʾiiḏaʾ ṭalaʿat ttazaawaru ʿan kahfihim ḏaʾta -lyamiyni. |
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Word count =9
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Total number of letters in part 1=36 |
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Figure 14. The first direction indicated in part 1 of the verse is the east. Therefore, the number of letters in part 1, 36, indicates 36 degrees of longitude towards the east.
Let's see how the 1st part of the verse is written in an old Qur'anic manuscript. Let us also separate the words and count the letters.
Figure 15. An old Qur'anic manuscript dated to 900-1100 AD in the University of Cambridge (Or. 771 AD) showing the spelling of the 1st part shown above in verse 17. The 9 words that make up part 1 are enclosed in brackets. The number of letters in each word is given next to the word. Arabic is written from right to left. https://corpuscoranicum.de/en/manuscripts/1587/page/9r?sura=18&verse=17
Figure 16. The 9 words that make up part 1 are illustrated in more detail in an old Qur'anic manuscript, along with the number of letters they contain.
With just 9 words and 36 letters, Allah Almighty has given us the first indication of where the cave might be. Let us have a look to the 36 degrees east longitude on the Earth.
Figure 17. The locations on Earth with a longitude of 36 degrees east are shown as lines.
As we have seen, Allah Almighty has passed 36 letters in 9 words, separating the real cave of Asbah Al-kahf from the other caves, which numbered 40, like a lightsaber. This is the Qur'an. This is the (ٱلْفُرْقَانَ) ‘furqan’ ‘separator’ characteristic of the Qur'an. It separates the right from the wrong like a lightsaber.
In fact, Allah Almighty has shown us the location of the real Cave of Ashab Al-Kahf with 36 letters in only 9 words. There is only one cave which is claimed to be the Cave of As-hab Al-Kahf at 36 degrees east longitude which Allah Almighty has pointed out. In the following chapter you will see in amazement that Allah Almighty has shown us the cave with a meter precision.
It can be easily seen that the above line showed in the figure also passes through Turkey. Let us go into a little more detail and show the places in Turkey that have a longitude of 36 degrees east.
Figure 18. Places with a longitude of 36 degrees east are shown on Turkey.
After witnessing the marvelous sign that the verse shows us in the first 9 words and 36 letters, let us move on to see new miracles;
Part 2:
Table 2: The great sign given by part 2 of verse 17.
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and when it set, it cuts/crosses them to the left, and they are in a breach/cavity of it (the cave); that is. |
وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ |
waʾiiḏaʾ ġarabat ttaqriḍuhum ḏaʾta -lššimaʾali wahum fiỳ faǧwaẗí mminhu ḏaalika. |
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Word count =10
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Total number of letters in part 2=38 |
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In the beginning of part 2, the west direction given by the setting of the sun cannot be used as a sign. Because 36 degrees east longitude was already indicated in part 1. Since a place cannot be located in both east longitude and west longitude, it is expected that latitude information is given in part 2. Therefore, the west direction cannot be included in the analysis. It is necessary to follow the sign of our Lord. Apart from east-west, the first direction pointed out in part 2 is north. We have already learned that the left direction is north. Thus the number 38, which is the letter number of part 2, should tell us how many degrees north of the equator the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf is. In other words, the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf should be located at 38 degrees north latitude.
Figure 19. The direction indicated in the 2nd part of the verse is left (north). Therefore, the number 38, the letter number of the 2nd part, gives the north latitude angle of the cave.
Let's see how the 2nd part of the verse is written in an old Qur'anic manuscript. Let us also separate the words and count the letters.
Figure 20. An old Qur'anic manuscript dated to 900-1100 AD in the University of Cambridge, showing the spelling of the 2nd part shown above in verse 17 (Or. 771 AD). The 10 words that make up part 2 are enclosed in brackets. The number of letters in each word is given next to the word. Arabic is written from right to left. https://corpuscoranicum.de/en/manuscripts/1587/page/9r?sura=18&verse=17
Figure 21. The 10 words that make up the 2nd part are shown in more detail in an old Qur'anic manuscript with the number of letters they contain.
Figure 22. Locations on Earth with a latitude of 38 degrees north are shown as lines.
It is easily seen that 38 degrees north latitude passes through Turkey. For a more detailed view, the places with a latitude of 38 degrees north are shown below.
Figure 23. Locations in Turkey with a latitude of 38 degrees north.
The great miracle;
The 1st and 2nd parts of the verse pointed us the longitude and latitude information of the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf in only 19 words, 9+10 words. The longitude and latitude angular position of the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf is as follows:
36° degrees east longitude.
38° degrees north latitude.
Figure 24. The picture below shows the intersection of the lines 36 degrees east longitude and 38 degrees north latitude. The cave should be in this intersection.
It is clearly seen that the intersection area is located on Turkey. A more detailed view is given in the picture below.
Figure 25. The intersection area with 36 degrees east longitude and 38 degrees north latitude is shown below.
The real cave of Ashab Al-kahf should be in the above intersection. Let us see this area on a real map with higher resolution.
Figure 26. The great miracle that Allah Almighty pointed out in 19 words, 10+9 words, is shown below. The cave somewhere in the center of the picture is the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf.
In my opinion, 36 degrees east longitude and 38 degrees north latitude, indicated by 9+10 words, are sufficient for the manifestation of the miracle of Allah Almighty. Because only one cave in this square meets the conditions of cave of Ashab Al-kahf. It is the cave in Afsin ‘Afşin’ district of Kahramanmaras ‘Kahramanmaraş’ province in Turkey ‘Türkiye’. However, if this honorable Qur'an came from Allah Almighty, then surely Allah Almighty must have given us the location of the cave in meters.
Great miracles continues…
Analysis of part 3;
After parts 1 and 2, which give information about the position of the cave on Earth and the position of the young people in it in a breach of the cave, Allah the Almighty suddenly changes the subject and begins part 3 by stating that the first 19 words are a miracle from Him.
"from signs/evidences of Allah/God; whom Allah/God guides so he is the guided, and whom He leads astray, so you never find to him a guardian (close protector), a correct/mature path." The passage 'مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ' 'min âyâtillâh' ‘from signs/evidences of Allah/God’ is important. We have seen that the first 19 words were a sign, a miracle of Allah Almighty. The 19 words showed us the location of the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf. The 3rd part from the 19th word to the end of the verse will take us one step further to the location of the cave of Ashab Al-kahf. Allah Almighty will guide the purified persons to the right paths to find the true cave of Ashab Al-kahf.
Figure 27. The picture below shows the technical analysis of part 3.
The formation of the 3rd part, of course, depends on the 19th word from the beginning of the verse.
Figure 28. The 19th word enables the miracle to be manifested.
Let's continue:
With east longitude 36° degrees and north latitude 38° degrees, Allah Almighty has given us the GPS values of the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf. With east longitude 36° degrees and north latitude 38° degrees, Our Lord directly separated the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf from many other alleged caves and showed us the real cave. But as I said, this book is from the creator of the universes. If Allah Almighty is going to show us, His servants, a miracle, He will do it precisely. Therefore, it is expected that He will point to the cave with more precise GPS values.
More detailed GPS data:
As detailed above, the latitude and longitude values of a location are not just degrees. For a more detailed location report, minutes and seconds are also required.
The Qur'an gives the location of the cave as 36 degrees east longitude and 38 degrees north latitude. We will now examine whether the GPS coordinates of the cave are indicated in minutes and seconds.
A technical analysis of the 3rd part of verse 17;
Table 3: The great sign given by the 3rd part of verse 17.
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from signs/evidences of Allah/God; whom Allah/God guides so he is the guided, and whom He leads astray, so you never find to him a guardian (close protector), a correct/mature path. |
مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا |
min 'aʾyaati -lllahi man yahdi -lllahu fahuwa -lmuhtadi waman yuḍlil falan taǧida lahuۥ waliyyáʾ mmuršidáʾ. |
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Word count =15
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Total number of letters in part 3=51 |
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Let's see how the 3rd part of the verse is written in an old Qur'anic manuscript. Let us also separate the words and count the letters.
Figure 29. An old Qur'anic manuscript dated to 900-1100 AD in the University of Cambridge, showing the spelling of the 3rd part shown above in verse 17 (Or. 771 AD). The 15 words that make up the 3rd part are enclosed in brackets. The number of letters in each word is given next to the word. Arabic is written from right to left. https://corpuscoranicum.de/en/manuscripts/1587/page/9r?sura=18&verse=17
Figure 30. The 15 words that make up the 3rd part are shown in more detail in an old Qur'anic manuscript with the number of letters they contain.
Important note: The counting of letters is done in the same way as the first Qur'anic manuscript were written. The old Qur'anic manuscripts did not have the hamza (ءَ). The hamza was added later, like the Arabic movements. The best example is the hamza in the word (ءَايَٰتِ) ''aʾyaati' (verses) in verse 17. This hamza is not found in the old Qur'anic manuscripts, although it is written in today's manuscripts.
Figure 31. In another old Qur'anic manuscript dated between 700-900 AD, we see that the word (ءَايَٰتِ) (verses) in verse 17 is written without a hamza.
It is clear that as a rule of counting letters, the hamza should not be included in the counting of letters.
As we can see, Almighty Allah continues to show His miracles. By informing us of 36 degrees east and 38 degrees north in 19 words, our Lord has indicated that we should follow the number 51 by passing 51 letters after these 19 words until the end of the verse.
Figure 32. Technical analysis of verse 17, part 3.
We have already seen that verse 17 first started with a person watching the rising of the sun. In the first part of the analysis, the passage of 36 letters pointed us to 36 degrees to the east. In short, the angle of the eastern longitude was first pointed out. Logic dictates that this time the number 51 should indicate the eastern longitude of the cave in one step more detail. It is easily seen that this should be the minute value of eastern longitude.
Thus, it is understood that the cave is at 38 degrees north latitude and 36 degrees 51 minutes east longitude.
In the picture below, the line with the values of 36 degrees 51 minutes in 38 degrees north latitude is drawn. The cave must be somewhere on this line.
Surely the Qur'an is from Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty has given us a great sign in verse 17 with the occurrence of 36 letters in 9 words, 38 letters in 10 words and 51 letters in 15 words. Even this data shows us where the cave is located.
With this line you can clearly see that Allah Almighty has brought us one step closer to the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf.
Figure 33. Locations at 38 degrees north latitude and 36 degrees 51 minutes east longitude are drawn with a white line.
But we have one more piece of data that will put the final point and strike the golden blow. That is the number 17, which is the number of the verse. Allah Almighty has shown us that we will be traveling along the eastern longitude. Therefore, let us take the number of the verse, 17, as the second of the longitude that will allow us to find the cave in meters.
By the sign of Allah Almighty,
Let's take a look at the 38 degrees north latitude with an east longitude of 36 degrees 51 minutes 17 seconds.
Figure 34. In the picture below, taken from the program called Google Earth, the line 38 degrees north latitude to 38 degrees north with an east longitude of 36 degrees 51 minutes 17 seconds is shown. Please witness that this line marks the exact location of the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf.
As we can see, Allah Almighty has pointed out the location of the actual cave of Ashab Al-kahf to us in verse 17 in meters. However, very interestingly, the coordinates that the Qur'an points us to are 34.6 meters further east than the location of the cave in the images taken with the Google Earth program on 22.10.2022.
Figure 35. The longitude 36 degrees 51 minutes and 17 seconds east that the Qur'an points us to is 34.6 meters further east than the cave. The cave is exactly under the white circle, inside the rocks.
Why is there a difference of 34.6 meters? Why is the cave 34.6 meters further west than the coordinates indicated by the Qur'an?
Our Lord gave us the GPS coordinates of the cave in verse 17. Just before this verse, the entrance to the cave is indicated.
18:16 And when you separated/withdrew yourselves from them and what they worship, except Allah/God, so take shelter/refuge to the cave, your Lord spreads/extends for you from His mercy, and He prepares for you from your matter/affair a convenience/ease/comfort.
Thus, we realize that 36 degrees 51 minutes 17 seconds east longitude is the location of the cave in the year the young men entered the cave. So why is the cave 34.6 meters further west in the Google Earth image dated 22.10.2022?
This is due to the displacement of tectonic plates. As seen in the picture below, the Arabian plate is pushing the Anatolian plate westwards. This push is so strong that it forms the Eastern Anatolian fault line. The energy accumulated here is intermittently released in the form of earthquakes. The real cave of Ashab Al-kahf in Kahramanmaras Afsin is located on the Anatolian plate. The cave is being pushed westward by the Anatolian plate.
Figure 36. The Arabian plate is pushing the Anatolian plate westward.
How fast is the Anatolian plate moving westward?
The westward sliding of the Anatolian plate along the East Anatolian fault line is about 18 mm per year. In other words, every year the Anatolian plate moves westward by 1.8 cm. A simple calculation shows that a westward shift of 34.6 meters can take place in approximately 1922 years. This is a sign from our Lord. Since the Google Earth image was taken in 2022, when we go back 1922 years from 2022, we get the year 100 AD. This means that the young men must have entered the cave around 100 AD. Of course, it will not be possible to give an exact year since measurements made at the millimeter level will have an effect at the level of decades. However, when the signs of the Qur'an are considered as a whole, it can be said that these young men entered the cave between 100-150 AD.
Let us meet the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf, which we have found by the sign of the Qur'an:
The real cave of Ashab Al-kahf is located in Afsin ‘Afşin’ district of Kahramanmaras ‘’Kahramanmaraş province in Turkey-Türkiye.
Figure 37. Kahramanmaras city in Turkey.
Figure 38. Afsin district is located in the north of Kahramanmaras.
Figure 39. A view of Afsin district from the hill where the cave of Ashab Al-kahf is located.
The cave of Ashab Al-kahf is located in the northwest of Afsin, 6 km away from the district, south-east of Bencilus Mountain, on the foothills of Binboga Mountain, facing the district, on a steep slope, quite high from the valley.
Figure 40. The layout of the cave is shown. It is located on a rocky and small hill.
Figure 41. The picture below is from the video I recorded when I visited the cave on August 31st 2023. I am on the southeast side of the madrasah right next to the cave. Please pay attention to the GPS readings.
Let me briefly tell the story of this photograph: On August 31st 2023, I went to investigate the cave in Afsin. I wanted to see with my own eyes and take measurements to see if the cave meets the technical signs described by our Lord in verse 17, that is, whether the entrance of the cave faces northwest. I recorded plenty of videos, of course. However, I was not yet aware of the exact GPS readings that Allah Almighty had pointed to the cave in verse 17. I returned to Ankara (Capital city of Turkey) and continued my studies. As a gift from Allah Almighty, I realized the GPS data in verse 17. Later, when I watched the videos that I had recorded during my retrospective visit to Afsin, I was really surprised. It revealed that I was unknowingly standing right on the GPS readings that Allah Almighty had miraculously pointed to in verse 17. It revealed that I was unknowingly standing where the cave was located in 100-150 AD when the young men entered the cave.
Please pay attention to the data my phone receives from GPS satellites in the open air. Exactly 38 degrees north (N) latitude; 36 degrees 51 minutes 17 seconds east (E) longitude. I only realized that afterwards.
Figure 42. It revealed that I was shooting a video right on the GPS coordinates that Allah Almighty pointed out in verse 17. It is a gift from Allah Almighty.
Figure 43. View of the entrance of the cave from the masjid/preying building built in front of the cave entrance.
Figure 44. Entrance section of the cave. The cave is behind the partially build wall with stones. The cave goes deeply inwards towards south and south-west.
Figure 45. There is the southeastern part of the cave behind the stone-built wall. This part is the entrance to the cave. After the entrance, the cave deeply curves inwards towards the southwest.
Figure 46. My face is looking exactly at the entrance and inside the cave. As can be seen, the cave entrance is in the northwest direction.
Figure 47. My face looking out of the cave from the entrance of the cave. As can be seen, the cave entrance is in the northwest direction.
Figure 48. View of the south-eastern part from inside the cave. Please note that the upper wall has a very interestingly flat structure.
Figure 49. Another photograph showing that the upper wall in the southeastern part of the cave has a flat structure.
Figure 50. The young men must have been hidden deeper in the southwestern part of the cave. This must be exactly the place where the ‘فَجْوَةٍ’ 'fecvetin' in the verse refers to a breach/cavity. That breach/cavity is in a deeper part of the cave. The young men hiding here must have seen the light shining the north wall of the cave as the sun was setting. Towards the western part of the cave, water from the rocks makes a puddle.
Figure 51. The young men must have been hidden deeper in the southwestern part of the cave.
Some of the stone remains of the Byzantine church built at the entrance of the cave.
Figure 52. Byzantine stone remains just in front of the cave entrance.
Figure 53. Stones belonging to the Byzantine Church in front of the cave.
Figure 54. A church was built in front of the entrance of the cave during the Byzantine period. A stone structure remaining from this church.
Figure 55. Close-up view. Byzantine church.
Figure 56. Stones from the Byzantine church can still be seen outside the cave.
Figure 57. Stones from the Byzantine church can still be seen outside the cave.
Result;
The great miracle in Surah Kahf, the 18th Surah of the Qur'an, has manifested with the permission and knowledge of Almighty Allah. The location of the cave in which the monotheistic young men took refuge have been revealed by universal mathematical and scientific evidence.
The cave that Allah Almighty points to with technical information in verse 17 is the cave of Ashab Al-kahf in the Afsin ‘Afşin’ district of city Kahramanmaras ‘Kahramanmaraş’, located at 38 degrees north latitude and 36 degrees 51 minutes 17 seconds east longitude. This is the real cave of Ashab Al-kahf mentioned in the Qur'an.
- Blessed are those who witness to these miracles in the Qur'an!
- Blessed are those who are the Qur'anists!
- Blessed are those who are monotheists like cave companions!
- Blessed are those who abandon hadiths, sects, cults and follow only the Qur'an.