Question 5 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 1
From WikiSavior, a source-grounded reference
Question and answer [link]
Question 5
May I know what or who is meant by the dog of the Companions of the Cave? If it was an ordinary dog, why was it mentioned more than once in this story, and sometimes in the plural form, ‘… and the fifth of them was their dog’ ([2])? Please clarify. Alaa Razzaq 8 Rabi al-Awwal 1426 AH
Ahmed al-Hasan Response:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Companions of the Cave (a) also had an ordinary dog with them, but the important matter was not this dog. Rather, it was the one who directed and controlled the dog: a jinn named Qitmir. Jinn have the ability to project themselves upon an animal, such as a cat or dog, and direct it. Through this dog, the jinn Qitmir wanted to draw their attention to his presence and to his ability to help them after he believed in their call. Qitmir is among the jinn who have the ability to fill hearts with terror and shake the hearts of the brave. The Exalted said: ‘And their dog stretched its forelegs at the entrance. Had you looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled with terror of them’ ([3]). The one who filled the hearts of those who approached them with terror was this jinn, Qitmir, who guarded them. Qitmir is one of the supporters of the Qa’im (a) ([4]). Ahmed Alhasan
Source: The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 1; Author: Imam Ahmed Al-Hasan; Question 5; Page Not available; AL-JAWAB-AL-MUNIR-V1-Q005. View Arabic source · Open the original Arabic source ↗
Source footnotes
Footnotes are kept separate from the main question and answer and preserve their source-record association.
↑ [2] The Mighty and Majestic said: ‘They will say, “Three, the fourth of them their dog,” and they will say, “Five, the sixth of them their dog,” guessing at the unseen; and they will say, “Seven, and the eighth of them their dog.” Say: “My Lord knows best their number. None knows them except a few.” So do not dispute concerning them except with an obvious dispute, and do not seek a ruling about them from any of them.’ Al-Kahf 18:22.
↑ [3] Al-Kahf 18:18.
↑ [4] Glory be to Allah. The Yamani of the family of Muhammad (a) was asked about the dog of the Companions of the Cave just as his forefather, the Commander of the Faithful (a), was asked about it. A delegation of Jewish rabbis came to Umar ibn al-Khattab and said, ‘O Umar, you are the authority after Muhammad (s) and his companion.’ They asked Umar several questions, but he bowed his head and did not answer. They said, ‘We bear witness that Muhammad was not a prophet and Islam is false.’ Salman the Persian sprang up and told the Jews to wait a little. He then came to Abu al-Hasan, Ali ibn Abi Talib (a). They began asking him about momentous matters, including the dog of the Companions of the Cave. Sheikh al-Amini narrated a long report in Al-Ghadir which includes: ‘The Jew sprang to his feet and said, “O Ali, if you are learned, tell me the dog’s color and name.” He said, “Jewish brother, my beloved Muhammad-may Allah bless him and grant him peace-told me that the dog was piebald with black and was named Qitmir.” He said: “When the young men saw the dog, some said to the others, ‘We fear this dog will expose us by barking.’ They persisted in driving it away with stones. When the dog saw them persisting in stoning and driving it away, it sat on its hind legs, stretched itself, and said in a clear, eloquent tongue, ‘People, why do you drive me away when I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner? Let me guard you from your enemy and thereby draw near to Allah, Glorious and Exalted.’ They left it and went on. The shepherd led them up a mountain and brought them down at the highest cave.”’ Al-Ghadir, vol. 6, p. 152.
References
- ↑ Ahmed Al-Hasan. The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 1. Question 5; Page Not available. AL-JAWAB-AL-MUNIR-V1-Q005. View Arabic source
Cite this page
Ahmed Al-Hasan. The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 1. Question: 5. Page: Not available. AL-JAWAB-AL-MUNIR-V1-Q005. https://ahmedalhasan.org/ar/Library/BookContent/51