Names of Seven Sleepers of Ashaab e Kahaf with history of 250 AD Roman era and mention of dog Katmir in Islamic narration.
Ashaab e Kahaf—Names of the Seven Sleepers and Their Era
The story of Ashaab e Kahaf (Men of the Cave) takes us back to around 250 AD, during the rule of Roman Emperor Decius. At that time, the city of Ephesus was part of the Roman Empire, and the people of that society were unfamiliar with the concept of pure monotheism. Idol worship and pagan traditions dominated religious life.
Among this environment, a group of brave young men stood firm in their belief in one God. These noble individuals are also known as the Seven Sleepers of the Cave. Their names are recorded in Islamic and historical sources, including Muksalmina (Maximilian), Tamlīkha (Malchus), Martunis (Marcian), Sanunis (John), Sarinunis (Serapion), Dhu Niwas (Dionysius), and Ka’astitiunis (Constantine). Different traditions mention slight variations of these names in Arabic, Western, and Eastern sources.
An important detail in the Islamic narration is the presence of a loyal dog named Katmir (Qitmir). The dog is mentioned in Islamic sources but does not appear in Christian accounts. This detail highlights the uniqueness of the Quranic version of the story.
The Urdu Islamic serial beautifully presents these historical personalities and their inspiring journey of faith, sacrifice, and trust in Allah.
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