And when he belittled their matter in relation to the majesty of His great signs, and the magnificence of His clear proofs, and the strangeness of His creations, he summarized their story which they counted as a wonder. They left aside the insight into the oneness of the One, the All-Prevailing, which is the truly amazing wonder, and the strange news. So He, the Exalted, said: ﴿When they sought refuge﴾, meaning they were in this state when they sought refuge. However, He highlighted the pronoun to indicate that they were young men, not many in number. They did not have the experience gained from trials and learning that would guide them in religion and the world. Nor did they have a multitude that would protect them from those who might harm them, whether awake or asleep. So He, the Exalted, said: ﴿The youth﴾, referring to the companions of the cave about whom the question is asked. The young men are more receptive to the truth and more guided to the path than the elders. ﴿To the cave﴾, which is close to their well-known village, fleeing with their religion, just as you and your companion sought refuge in the cave of Thawr, fleeing with your religion. ﴿They said﴾ after they settled in it: ﴿Our Lord, grant us﴾. And since the existents, as previously mentioned by al-Harali in Al-Imran, are of three ranks: those governed by the laws of customs, those extraordinary beyond the usual, and those that are engrossed in extraordinary matters, they sought the highest of them. They said: ﴿From You﴾, meaning from the hidden matters that are with You and the extraordinary ones. ﴿Mercy﴾, meaning honor that You honor us with, just as the merciful does with the one who is shown mercy. ﴿And prepare for us﴾, meaning all of us, do not disappoint any of us. ﴿A right course in our affair﴾, meaning a path that guides us to salvation in both abodes. No doubt, their story has become, according to what their Lord answered them, a unique matter in time, to be spoken of in all lands, at all times and occasions.