Page 148 - Perished Nations

local administration of Tarsus, there is a formal request and an attached
message notifying of their demand to give salary to those people who de-
alt with the cleaning and maintenance of the cave of Ashab-› Kahf (Com-
panions of the Cave). The reply to this letter stated that in order for these
salaries to be paid to the workers from the state treasury, it was necessary
to find out whether this was indeed the place where the Companions of
the Cave had resided. The research made for this purpose has been very
useful in determining the real location of the Cave.
In a report prepared after an investigation made by the National Coun-
cil, it was stated: "To the north of Tarsus, a province of Adana, there is a
cave on a mountain two hours away from Tarsus, and the mouth of this
cave looks to the north as stated in the Qur'an." 51
The debates which developed as to who the Companions of the Cave
were, where and when they lived, has always led the authorities to rese-
arch into the subject and many comments were made on the subject. Yet,
none of these comments may be considered certain, and, therefore, ques-
tions such as: at which period these young believers lived, and where the
cave mentioned in the verses was, remain without substantial answers.

Harun Yahya
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