Science - Ears are active during sleep
Our body's activity decreases during sleep. While most of our five senses are dimmed during sleep, our hearing remains the most active. This is why we rely on alarm clocks to wake us up. Research indicates that smoke inhalation is the leading cause of fire-related deaths during sleep, as our sense of smell is not as alert as when we are awake. Touching someone during sleep may rouse them, but the motion and friction against the bed when a person turns left or right usually doesn't disturb their sleep. Similarly, a strong light may eventually wake someone up, although our sense of sight is mostly at rest with reduced sensitivity.
Qur'an - Ears are active during sleep
More than 1400 years ago, Chapter 18 of Qur'an stated that Allah placed a veil over the ears of the "People of the cave" for a number of years. The above chapter called the "Cave", gives the accurate account of the "People of the cave" and how Allah caused their bodies to sleep for hundreds of years (please also see our page on "Importance of moving in sleep").
In a concise manner, a collective of individuals who held strong faith in Allah managed to escape from a tyrannical ruler who did not believe. Seeking sanctuary, they found solace within a cave where Allah caused them to enter a deep sleep. What makes this account intriguing is the choice of words in the verse - instead of stating that Allah "made them sleep," it describes how He "drew over their ears." This small detail holds great significance, for Allah prolonged their profound slumber for over 300 years. Remarkably, Verse 18:11 explicitly highlights this scientific fact - that Allah covered their ears. In essence, their ability to hear was subdued while they slept. Moreover, the Qur'an reveals that Allah subtly moved them during their slumber, yet this action did not rouse them due to the diminished sensitivity of their sense of touch.
فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ فِى ٱلْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا
Then We drew (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not) 18:11
Another interesting fact exists in the following verse that is also related to the people of the cave. It basically says that they were sleep for 300 years plus 9 years. Why not saying "309 years"? A Lunar year is roughly 354 days while a Solar year is 365 days. Now, the first portion of the verse is giving the number of lunar years and the 2nd part of the verse gives the equivalent days for Solar year. Basically, 300 solar years is equivalent of 309 lunar years! Please see the calculation below:
(300 lunar years) x (354 lunar days) = 106200 = This is the number of days in 300 lunar years
(9 lunar years) x (354 lunar days) = 3186 = This is the number of days in 9 lunar years
106200 + 3186 = 109386 = This is the total number of days in 309 lunar years
109386 / (365 solar days) = 299.68 = This is the number of solar years; In other words 300 solar years
وَلَبِثُوا۟ فِى كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَـٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍ سِنِينَ وَٱزْدَادُوا۟ تِسْعًا
So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more) 18:25
Video courtesy of WindowsofIslam.com
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