{When the youths retreated to the Cave and said: 'Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy'}—meaning: sustenance—{'and facilitate for us from our affair a right course.'}
Muhammad said: The meaning is, 'Guide us toward that which brings us closer to You.'
Yahya said: They were a people who had believed and fled with their religion from their people; their people were in a state of disbelief, and they feared for themselves [from] being killed.
﴿إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَة﴾ أَيْ: رِزْقًا. ﴿وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أمرنَا رشدا﴾
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: الْمَعْنَى: أَرْشِدْنَا إِلَى مَا يُقَرِّبُ مِنْكَ.
قَالَ يَحْيَى: كَانُوا قَوْمًا قَدْ آمَنُوا، وَفَرُّوا بِدِينِهِمْ مِنْ قَوْمِهِمْ، وَكَانَ قَوْمُهُمْ عَلَى الْكُفْرِ، وَخَشُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمُ الْقَتْل.
