And when this is among the wonders [which make other wonders seem small], and the strange things which make other strange things submit, even if they have become familiar due to their frequent repetition and manifestation before the eyes, this is in addition to what has signs that exceed counting and cannot be confined by a limit, from the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the subjugation of the sun, moon, and stars - and other than that, the verse of the companions of the cave is made insignificant - even though it is among the most astonishing wonders - due to its diminishment in comparison to that, because when something is like that, its familiarity increases so it is no longer a wonder. So He pointed to that by His saying, exalted is He, in reference to what He intends: "Did you know that this and other things are wonders of Our power?": "Or did you think" based on what you have of sound intellect and sound opinion "that the companions of the cave" meaning the spacious cave hewn into the mountain like a house "and the inscription" meaning the village or the mountain "were only" they alone "among Our signs a wonder" based on what was necessary from the exaggeration of the questioners among the disbelievers from the Jews and the Arabs. The reality is that they - even if they are among the wonders - are not a wonder compared to the multitude of Our signs, and compared to this wonder [of vegetation] which you have turned away from due to your familiarity with it from its frequent repetition among you. For indeed, He, glorified is He, brought forth the vegetation of the earth with its differing kinds, and the diversity of its colors and types, and the opposing natures, from one material, it shakes with the spring, delights the onlookers and pleases the contemplators, then it stops it and then returns it to dryness and separation into dust until it mixes with it so that it cannot be distinguished from the rest of the dust. Then He sends the water and it mixes with the dust and gathers it green and flourishing, shaking with growth in the best state it has ever been, and thus every year. This is without a doubt more astonishing than those whose bodies were preserved for a time [from change] and then their souls were returned to them, and it was in ancient times that some [people] lived longer [than the duration] they had remained. This cave - it is said: [it is in the mountains] near the city of Tarsus and it is the famous one. Abu Hayyan said: It is said to be in Rome, and it is said to be in the Levant, and it is said to be in Andalusia. He said: In the direction of Granada, near a village [called] Lusha, there is a cave in which there are dead and with them a dog [of bones, and most of them] have had their flesh decay, and some of them are intact, and the centuries have passed [before us] and we have not found anyone who knew their affair, and some people claim that they are the companions of the cave. It has been reported from Ibn Atiyyah that he said: I entered upon them in the year four hundred and five hundred and I saw them in this state and upon them is a mosque, and near them is a Roman building called the inscription, [and it is] in an expanse of land, and at the highest presence of Granada, what is near the qiblah are the remains of an ancient city said to be the city of Daqyus. Abu Hayyan reported from his father that when he was in Andalusia, people used to visit this cave and mention that they make mistakes in their counting when they count them and that there is a dog with them. He said: As for what I mentioned of the city of Daqyus which is near Granada, I have passed by it countless times. He said: It is more likely that the companions of the cave are in Andalusia - this is a summary. I said: There is a consideration in it, and what supports the famous account is what al-Baghawi [and others] reported from Sa'id ibn Jubayr from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: We went out with Muawiyah to the sea of Rome and we passed by the cave [in which are the companions of the cave] for indeed Muawiyah did not reach the lands of Andalusia, and Allah knows best.