"A cave where, according to the Quran, youths fled persecution and slept for over three hundred years"
Ashab-i Kehf, Nakhchivan
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan
Twelve kilometres east of Nakhchivan City, a natural cave is identified as the setting of one of the Quran's most haunting narratives — the story of the Sleepers, youths who fled religious persecution, took refuge in a cave with their dog, and fell asleep for over 300 years. Today, tens of thousands of pilgrims visit annually, entering a cave complex that holds a mosque, shrines, and the quiet weight of a story about time suspended by faith.
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Quick Facts
Location
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan
Coordinates
39.2207, 45.5893
Last Updated
Mar 9, 2026
Learn More
One of several sites worldwide claimed as the Cave of the Seven Sleepers described in Surah Al-Kahf of the Quran. The Nakhchivan site is a major pilgrimage destination.
Origin Story
Around 2,000 years ago, young believers fled persecution and took refuge in a cave with their dog. They fell asleep and awoke more than 300 years later to find the world transformed. The story appears in both Christian tradition (5th century) and Surah Al-Kahf of the Quran (7th century).
Spiritual Lineage
The pilgrimage tradition at this site has sustained itself over centuries. The mosque and shrine complex has been expanded and maintained through successive periods.
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