return you to their religion, and then you will never succeed.} (Al-Kahf: 19-20).

And the saying of the Sublime: {...Those who prevailed in their matter said: "We will surely take for them a mosque [place of worship]..." (until His saying): "...except for a few. So do not argue about them except with an apparent argument (mira’an zahiran) and do not inquire about them from anyone [among the People of the Book]."} (Al-Kahf: 21-22).

I say: Indeed, the Almighty’s intent regarding the "pure food"—which He did not want anyone to notice nor feel [their presence] through—is Esoteric Knowledge (Al-Ilm al-Batin). Explicitly declaring the inner gnosis of the People of the Cave to those who are not its people [is forbidden], for if they recognized our belief regarding them, they would stone us or return us to their creed.