Day 17 | Ayat 21-22 | The Town Discovers the Sleepers

One of of the youth is chosen and as he travels into town, nothing looks familiar. He doesn't recognize any of the landmark, nor does he recognize any of the people, commoner or otherwise. It must have been disconcerting, but he presses on and finds a shop to buy provisions. Once he's chosen what he needs, he proceeds to pay with his now old silver coins. The shop keeper doesn't recognize it and asks around thinking this young man has come upon a treasure. The shop keepers eventually go to the King who is familiar with the story of the missing youth from hundreds of years ago, just as everyone else as it is legendary at this point. The King and the men assure the young man that he is safe and the people no longer practice that religion and/or prosecute people who don't follow the state's religion. They accompany the youth to the cave where they meet the rest of the youth who then find out they've been asleep for centuries. Once their story and who they are become known, they fall asleep again and die. Once they die, the argument that had been raging at the time of whether the soul is resurrected or the body and soul is determined. It's both the soul and body as evidence from these youths. Upon their death the people then argue over how to best honor them and a tablet or masjid is build at the opening of the cave.