Page 142 - Perished Nations

ve where these young believers took shelter. Some Muslim researchers and
the Qur’anic commentators agree with the Christians regarding Ephesus.
Some others explained that Ephesus could not be the place, and then tri-
ed to prove that the event took place in Tarsus. In this study, both of the-
se alternatives will be dealt with. Yet, all those researchers and commen-
tators - including the Christians - concur that the event took place at the ti-
me of Roman Emperor Decius (also called as Decianus), around 250 AD.
Decius, together with Nero, is known to be the Roman Emperor who
most severely tortured the Christians. During his short reign, he passed a
law that compelled everyone under his rule to offer a sacrifice to the Ro-
man gods. Everyone was obliged to offer a sacrifice to these deities, and
moreover, to get a certificate showing that they had done this, which they
had to show to state officials. Those who did not obey were executed. In
Christian sources, it is written that a great majority of the Christians refu-
sed this idolatrous act and fled from "one city to another", or hid in secret
shelters. The Companions of the Cave are most probably a group among
these early Christians.
Meanwhile, there is a point that has to be emphasised here: this topic
has been narrated in a story-like manner by some of Muslim and Christian
historians and commentators, and turned into a legend as a result of the
addition of much falsehood and hearsay. However, this incident is a histo-
rical reality.

Are the Companions of the Cave in Ephesus?
As regards the city where these young people lived and the cave in
which they took shelter, various places are indicated in different sources.
The main reasons for this are: people's wish to believe that such courage-
ous and brave-hearted people lived in their town, and the great similarity
of the caves in those regions. For instance, in almost all of these places,
there is a place of worship said to be built over caves.
As is well known, Ephesus was accepted to be a holy place by the
Christians, because, there is a house in this city which was said to be the
Virgin Mary's and which was later turned into a church. So, it is highly pro-

Harun Yahya
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