Companions of the Canyon
The story of the Companions of the Canyon is one of the great Qur'anic stories that holds profound lessons about faith, patience, and persistence in the truth. It tells of a tyrannical king who tried to force his people to disbelieve, but the believers refused and chose to die in the fire rather than renounce their religion. This story remains an inspiration to believers throughout the ages, reminding them that true victory lies in standing firm on one's principles, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Background of the story
The story of the People of the Gully took place in a kingdom ruled by an unjust king who claimed divinity. The king had a magician who helped him stabilize his rule through tricks and magic. As the magician grew older, he asked the king to send him a boy to teach him magic, so the king chose a young boy to be trained by the magician.
The boy and the monk
On his way to the magician, the boy passed a believing monk who preached the worship of the one God. The boy sat with the monk and listened to his words, admired him and believed in God. The boy began to visit the monk and learn from him, while pretending to go to the magician. When the magician discovered his tardiness, he would beat him, and the monk advised him to make excuses to avoid punishment.
Test of faith
One day, a great beast got in the way of the people, and the boy asked God to kill it if the monk was right. The boy threw a stone and killed the animal, which confirmed his faith. The monk told the boy that he would face great trials and advised him not to reveal his whereabouts.
Miracles of the boy
God performed miracles at the hands of the boy, as he healed the blind and lepers and cured the sick. The news reached the king's attendant, who was blind, and he asked him for healing. The boy told him that the healing was from God, so the king's attendant believed and God healed him. When the king asked him why he was healed, he replied, “My Lord healed me.” The king became angry and tortured him until he found the boy.
Torturing the boy
When the king brought the boy, he tried to force him to disbelieve, but the boy refused. The king tried to kill him in many ways, such as throwing him off a mountain and drowning him in the sea, but God saved him every time. Finally, the boy told the king that the only way to kill him was to shoot him with an arrow and say: “In the name of God, the Lord of the boy.” The king did so, the boy died, and the people believed in the boy's God.
Grooves and fire
The king was angry and ordered to dig grooves and set them on fire, then threw all those who believed in God into the fire. The believers refused to turn back from their religion, preferring death to disbelief. Even a woman with her child refused to turn back, so the child said to her: “Mother, be patient, you are in the right.”
Epilogue
The story of the people of the grove remains a witness to the triumph of faith over tyranny. It is a story that reminds us that truth always triumphs, and that believers must persevere in their faith, even in the face of the greatest injustice. This story carries a message of hope and strength for every believer, that God is with the patient, and that victory is inevitably coming.
Lessons and lessons
- Persistence in faith: The believers preferred death to fire rather than disbelief, which teaches us the importance of persistence in principles.
- Strength of faith: The boy, despite his young age, had a strong faith and was able to change the fate of an entire nation.
- Patience in trials: The story shows that trials can be a path to victory and empowerment.
- God's victory for believers: God gives victory to his faithful servants, even when tyranny seems strong.
- The role of youth: The boy was a young man, which emphasizes that young people can be leaders of change and reform.