(Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, guessing at the unseen; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "My Lord knows best their number; none knows them but a few." So debate not (about their number, etc.) except with the clear proof (which We have revealed to you). And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture, Jews and Christians) about (the affair of) the people of the Cave.
（ある者は）言う。 「（かれらは）3人で，4番目は犬です。」（外の者は）単なる推測で，「かれらは5人で，6番目は犬です。」と言う。（またある者は）言う。「かれらは7人で，8番目は犬です。」言ってやるがいい。「わたしの主はその数を最もよく知っておられる。かれら（の真相）を知る者は極く少数に過ぎない。」それで外部に見えることの議論の外は，かれらに関し論争してはならない。またかれらに就いて，誰にも問いかけてはならない。